Community organizations are powerful engines of action. From culture to politics, they are the ones to bring the community together in a meaningful relationship, promoting amity and cordiality among the community members, projecting Indian values -social, cultural, religious and moral. They also play an effective role in bringing the mainstream American communities closer to their groups. And, on top of it, they are the bridges between their country of origin and the country of their adoption. These organizations, in fact, empower the community.

The Indian Panorama approached some of the organizations to know from them about their vision of 2018. We are glad that most responded. And response, indeed, has been, overwhelming. We wish to carry all responses, but find it difficult to carry them all in one go. We are, therefore, serializing. We request our friends who do not find their response published to wait for the next issue of The Indian Panorama on January 26.

Anu Jain

Wishing a Very Happy and Prosperous New Year to all the readers of one of the most prestigious newspapers–The Indian Panorama. My name is Anu Jain and I am an accountant/finance controller and based in Long Island. I am also involved in community work and holding different positions with some of the prestigious non-profit organizations like Rajasthan Association of North America, Jain Center of America, Vegetarian Vision, along with my involvement with the Indian Association of Long Island, two years back.

I am involved in the social organizations, Rajasthan Association of North America, Vegetarian Vision and Indian Association of Long Island with the purpose serving the respective communities. Similarly, being involved in Jain Center of America, a religious organization, I have the goal of promoting Jainism which is represented by the “Live and Let Live” principle, along with non-violence, peace, and love.

Through my efforts along with the organizations ’support, I am able to achieve many of my goals such as providing scholarship and advisory support to students for them to excel in their education and career, supporting and serving the underprivileged. In addition to, promoting our rich Indian traditions and spreading awareness of Indian culture and its values between American Indians and the members of the other ethnicities. We also celebrate our Indian festivals with everyone in the community to enhance the feeling of “Home Away From Home”. Inspiring the new generation/youth to get involved with their new ideas to help people in need, whether locally or back in the villages of India and other countries. Forming strong connections with our roots and our traditions to learn and keep the values of our rich culture alive, along with educating others about health benefits of being vegetarian.

Indian American Forum Inc. (IAF)

Indian American Forum Inc. (IAF) is a non-for-profit organization of Asian Indians in America to promote the cultural, secular heritage and values of India as well as the furtherance of friendship and understanding with people of other cultural backgrounds.

Since 1997, IAF is striving to provide a forum for fostering a mutual and better understanding through its socio-cultural activities and enjoys a very cordial relationship amongst local associations and communities.

IAF various activities that include India Republic Day, Indian American Night; Celebrating India Independence Day, Outstanding Women’s Achievement Gala, International Children Day, Senior Programs, Yoga and Health awareness camps and others are organized as self-funded activities. These have been possible through our motivated and dedicated volunteers who work tirelessly to make each of the activity as a success.

IAF aims to have Asian Indian community’s participation to promote local socio-cultural interactions through charitable and educational activities and to help them become a part of the mainstream American life. IAF truly believes that each person of Indian American decent is a true ambassador to promote cultural, secular heritage and values of India.

STRAY THOUGHTS

Our company headed by our flagship company SB International, Inc. has been in business for the past almost 37 years and has had its upticks and downticks in the cycles of it business. We have concentrated on Energy, Metals and International Trade from the start of our company to develop a sound growth oriented business.

While succeeding in business, I have never lost focus on propagating the message for creating the awareness and richness of our heritage and culture. At any given opportunity, I have put forth my views on the various lessons one can learn from them, be it from Swami Vivekananda or from Mahatma Gandhi, as some leading examples.

These thoughts continually fire me up to make continuous efforts to contribute to numerous community related projects which can going forward make a difference individually to human lives and the country in the bigger context. One can notice that organizations are facing a lot of pressures to broaden their identity and mission to ensure social and environmental aspects are focused on along with their usual economic value creation. This is something I have always focused on right from the beginning.

To ensure I continue to meet the above, my business goal is to create a much more sustainable and meaningful organizations in our group which can carry my message forward for creating a balanced social & environmentally correct process with a sound economic value, to reach our business and community service targets. On a long-term basis, I feel Corporate Social Responsibility should be an important aspect for any organization which is purpose driven to give a meaningful purpose both for its owners and their employees.

Some of the characteristics one needs to develop to support the above thought processes that I follow are: care about doing the right thing with appropriate transparency, have strong and visible morals and values, demonstrate through actions my beliefs, identify the passions in the team and see how it can be made to work towards the goals and build meaningful relationships. Last but not the least I try to make each member of the team to contribute in such a way to be perceived as making a difference both to the business and doing good for the society.

INDIA ASSOCIATION OF LONG ISLAND: A Historical Perspective

By Rajeshwar Prasad

It was mid -seventies in the last century when a group of enthusiastic and concerned Indian professionals at the Central Islip State Hospital joined hands and started deliberations for developing an association. This informal group was celebrating Indian festivals and other special events while planning for an organization. In late seventies and early eighties their well-conceived dream came true and the India Association of Long Island (IALI) was formed and incorporated as a nonprofit entity. IALI is the only broad-based grassroots organization in Long Island, aimed at fostering unity among Indians from all regions of India, sustaining our cultural and social values, and above all to have one effective voice.

In the last almost four decades, IALI has made its dent not only in Long Island but in the entire NY/NJ metropolitan region. There have been ups and downs, but the strong foundation laid by dedicated and committed community leaders has withstood turmoil and continued moving ahead.  Today the IALI, started just with 30 members, has close to 1700 subscribing members. Over the years IALI has undertaken activities such as Valentine Dinner Dance, Holi Festival, Tennis Tournaments, Family Picnics, Youth Activities including Disco Dancing, Celebration of India’s Independence through India Day Parade, Food Drive through Interfaith Nutrition Network, IndiaFest – a showcase of Indian Arts and Crafts, Diwali  Festival, Senior Citizen Forum and Women Forum (including monthly get-togethers). The annual Fund-Raising Dinner initiated in 1979 has honored over 130 individuals of Indian origin for their accomplishments in fields such as science, medicine, social and community work, business and entrepreneurship. The association toyed with some other programs such as Info-India Project, Essay Competition among children on “India as I Know It.” It has participated in Breast Cancer Walk-a-thon; Multicultural activities and Kite Flying competition at Indian American Night at the Eisenhower Park with the help of Indian American Forum.  It has also participated recently in the Vegetarian Vision event, founded by Mrs. Malti and Harshad K. Shah, who were honored also by IALI last year. The event is held in Manhattan where thousands of people show up.  IALI continue to collaborate with scores of other Indian and American associations.

Over the years, IALI developed working relationship with teaching institutions such as Dowling College, Old Westbury College, State University of New York at Stony Brook, Farmingdale University, and Hofstra University in various activities. It also established liaison with and representation on Institutions such as Police Departments, Offices of District Attorneys, American Jewish Congress (Center for Prejudice Reduction), Human Rights Commissions, Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN) and many more. Nassau County and Suffolk County Executives cherish IALI and participate in celebrations of Indian festivals such as Diwali and National holidays such as India’s Independence Day.  It also has maintained close working relationship with many Indian community organizations such as Federation of Indian American Associations (FIA), Association of Indians in America (AIA), American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), and the National Indo-American Association for Senior Citizens (NIAASC). It had also interacted with the Town of Huntington in 2005 in celebrating diversity where about three dozen countries participated. It has played an active role in celebration Asian American Festival sponsored by the Town of North Hempstead. For the last four years it has played a leading role and joined many other organizations in displaying its accomplishments through India Day Parade in Long Island.

IALI has come forth to support humane causes in USA, in India and other places. It has collaborated with other entities to support victims of earthquake in India. It also joined many other organizations to condemn acts of violence as projected by an attack on September 11, 2001 and prayed for the victims and their families. IALI initiated fundraising for Tsunami victims and earmarked entire raffle collection from Valentine Dinner/Dance for this purpose in 2005. It arranged an interfaith prayer gathering for the Mumbai tragedy in November 2008 where leaders of different faiths spoke and prayed for peace.

During the last two years IALI has been consolidating its activities in its HOME, bought just recently in Hicksville. The association has come a long way, but it is still challenging to visualize the future path in light of changing demographics and environment. IALI has a daunting task to develop resources and facilities for seniors so that they stay in Long Island, and other generations can utilize their rich and valuable experiences in moving forward.

All these IALI accomplishments have been possible due to the commitment of its members and that of the Indian community at large. It is expected that Indian Americans living in both the Counties will enhance its professional impact and make in-roads in the broader and diversified community structure of the region by playing more active role in its economic, social and political spheres.

(Rajeshwar Prasad is past president of IALI, co-founder and president of NIAASC, former Human Rights Commissioner of Suffolk County. He has now moved with his wife, Prem, to ShantiNiketan in Tavares, Florida).

VISION OF WORLD PEACE

Goa is a beautiful place. Sri Chinmoy’s statue in the capital city Panaji enhances the beauty and adds to the divinity.  His aphorism at the statue reads:

There shall come a time when the world of ours will be flooded with Peace.

Who will bring that radical change? It will be you, you and your sisters and brothers who are an extension of your reality existence.

This aphorism expresses Sri Chinmoy’s vision for world peace and encourages everybody to participate in it.  Even if a single person becomes peaceful, it will be a significant contribution for the World Peace as we all are connected, and we are a part of the Universal Consciousness. Meditation makes one peaceful. Soulful music is another thing next to meditation.

Sri Chinmoy dedicated his life for the world peace and for the fulfilment of unlimited potential of human spirit. He established meditation centers in more than 60 countries and one at The United Nations.  He wrote 1600 books and composed 22,000 soulful songs.  He encouraged sports and athletics.  Sri Chinmoy created a vast outpouring for art. His paintings are exhibited at the galleries worldwide.  Through all his activities he was conveying the message of oneness of humanity.  He travelled extensively and took India’s ancient message, “The world is one family” to the far corners of the world. In 1987 Sri Chinmoy founded the Sri Chinmoy Oneness-Home Peace Run. The longest relay runs for peace inspiring millions in more than 140 countries.

Inspired by Sri Chinmoy’s work his students around the world are offering free meditation classes and musical concerts.  Sri Chinmoy Marathon team is world’s leading organization for the ultra- run events.  The vision is – World Peace and Self-transcendence leading to spiritual progress.

For more information see www. srichinmoy.org

Indian American Intellectuals’ Forum

Every nation has a history and people living on that land has created own special culture.

One billion Hindus have a great history and culture.

But Hindus have not yet realized their future is dark if they have no Hindu Nation.

No culture can expand or stay alive without support of a nation.

Today in last 1400 years many nations are have lost their own roots own culture.

Many poor and uneducated locals in different land have adopted the culture of the enemy who invaded them.

These local converts have now become enemy of their own root cultures.

Today all convert nations are on war path. Every convert has forgot their roots and busy killing each other.

Converts in each nation are busy destroying own land, roots culture and history.

Its shame our media and intellectuals are not helping these converts to look back into the history ever to find their lost culture and why and how they should shed the adopted culture to live a better life.

They all need to come back and live a better life.

If media and our historian don’t speak the truth to educate the masses.

We will soon be in another world war and see major destruction.

Some cultures are not peaceful.

Some cultures teach hate and freedom and right to destroy other cultures.

Some cultures are so peaceful they have not united them self to save from these evil cultures.

But I am hopeful 21 century eras of information, freedom of press and liberty will soon expose these evil forces and Good will unite and destroy evil cultures.

Our organization Indian American Intellectuals forum bring yearly seminar to expose these evil forces.

Its time more people should joined expose these evil cultures and find a way to expose and help the followers to leave and go back to their own root culture of ancestors,

Everyone should look for his own roots.

Our roots depend on where we come from and based on our DNA.

Find Your DNA in 2018 and look for you roots and reeducate yourself to live in peace and prosperity.

Arish Sahani

President