NEW YORK (TIP): Association of Indians in America, New York Chapter hosted the 35th DEEPAVALI festival Annual Benefit fundraising Gala and Fashion Show on Sunday September 18, 2022, at Muttontown Golf Club, a classy place with great ambiencewhich attracted our friends and supporters from Long Island, Queens, NYC, NJ and Westchester area. The cocktails were set up surrounding the outdoor golf area with wonderful lighting and various food stations.

Subsequently all were taken to the Grand Hall for the evening program and were very much liked by the audience. Consisting of presidents of AIA, various community leaders of other organizations and Media personnel. President HARISH THAKKAR addressed the audience briefly highlighting AIA and its activities and NY chapter organizing Annual DEEPAVALI festival attracting a huge crowd including Indian Americans, Chinese and Hispanic population. With its pioneering efforts over the past three decades, they brought Indian culture, food, and dances to the grassroot population. It is the first time a Khadi & Saree fashion show depicting Unity in Diversity & Indian Culture was organized at AIA NY Deepavali Gala dinner. The AIA fashion extravaganza had an impressive designer from the fashion industry showcasing her finest collections.

With this Annual Gala fund-raising efforts AIA marches ahead for grand DEEPAVALI function in Manhattan. President Harish Thakkar also mentioned all AIA NY past events & all achievements.

AIA honors the top SIX community members for outstanding contributions to the community

Dr. Samin Sharma, Director of Clinical & Interventional Cardiology at Mount Sinai Hospital, a renowned interventional cardiology expert in New York, well known for performing high-risk complex coronary interventions (more than 1,500 interventions per year) with an extremely high success rate (greater than 99 percent) while achieving an extremely low complication rate (less than 0.2 percent major complication). He has received the prestigious two-star designation (significantly lower than expected mortality) numerous times by the New York State Department of Health and the Governor’s Award of Excellence in Medicine in 1996, NY introduced Prem Bhandari who is Rana President and Chairman of Jaipur Foot, USA was honored for his outstanding community service. Prem Bhandari is a successful entrepreneur, leader in philanthropy, has served the humanitarian cause globally having done international camps in 39 countries. As mentioned by Dr. Samin Sharma from his personal experience that Mr. Prem Bhandari is the prominent Indian and Rajasthani person who can make things happen for any given critical stipulation, globally.

Dr. Vijay Mattoo introduced Dr. Buddhadev Manvar for his immense contributions in Cardiology who has brought great honor to our community.

Dr. Prakash Krishnan whose immense contribution in interventional cardiology and vascular intervention has brought great honor to our community was introduced by Dr Samin Sharma, Director of Clinical & Interventional Cardiology at Mount Sinai Hear

Dr. Pratichi K Goenka A star Pediatric, GME Director, Diversity & Health Equity & Assistant Professor of Pediatrics who has brought great honor to our community was introduced by her two cute sons Aarav & Anmay as most compassionate and loving mother who is always there for them

Jatin P. Shah, M.D, holds The Elliott W. Strong Chair in Head and Neck Oncology, and Chaired the department of Head and Neck Surgery at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), for 23 years. He is Professor of Surgery at Cornell University Medical College, in New York. In addition to his superlative patient care activities, Dr. Shah is an international leader in the field of head and neck surgery. He has delivered over 2000 scientific presentations worldwide, over 80 eponymous lectures, and published more than 650 peer reviewed articles which have been cited over 62000 times according to Google scholar. His h-index is 141 and i10 index is 554. He has published 14 medical textbooks. His textbook on Head and Neck Surgery and Oncology, now in its Fifth edition has been recognized as the best book in Head and Neck surgery by the British Medical Association and the Royal Society of Medicine and it has been translated in Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Russian and Greek. He has served as president of The New York Cancer Society, The New York Head and Neck Society, The Society of Head and Neck Surgeons, The North American Skull Base Society and the International Academy of Oral Oncology. He founded The International Federation of Head and Neck Oncologic Societies (IFHNOS) and serves as its CEO. He is listed amongst the Top Doctors in USA directories for 60 times in last 20 years. He was awarded Honorary Fellowships from The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, London, Ireland and Australia and Honorary Ph.D. degrees from Belgium and Greece, Honorary D. Sc, from India, the Blokhin Gold Medal from Russia, Sir William Wilde medal from Ireland, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor from the US. He was inducted to “Living Legends in Oncology” in India

Dr. Jatin Shah was introduced by Dr. Shashi Shah, who is the Dr Shashi Shah and has been very prominent in the community. An eminent Urologist, he is Chief, Division of Urology at LIJ Valley Stream Hospital and associated with many other hospitals. He has held several leadership positions in Indian American professional and community organizations. Dr. Shah has been Chair of Trustee Board of AAPI (Association of American Physicians of Indian Origin), President of AAPI-QLI, as well as RAJMAAI (Rajasthan Medical Alumni Association). He has also served as President of the New York chapter and National President of Association of Indians in America (AIA), and RANA (Rajasthan Association of North America).

Captain Zoya Agarwal Youngest Woman Commander in 2013 to fly the Boeing 777.1st Woman Commander to fly over the North pole on one of the world’s longest air routes in 2021.1st Woman Commander to pilot Air India‘s first Boeing 777 aircraft over the Hindu Kush Mountain range. Aspire to inspire young girls and youth through motivating them on various platforms as the future of this world to be the change-makers of tomorrow!

Captain Zoya Agarwal was introduced by Heeta Thakkar is currently a student at the Bronx High School of Science. Dedicated to saving our environment and making a change, Heeta founded Zero Waste Schools. Furthermore, Heeta has been serving our communities for years, working with outside organizations to feed the hungry during Covid-19 and conducting seminars about our effect on the environment.

Added spirit and help provided by past president’s honorable members of the community. The entire program had music & good food. All this to gear up for the upcoming AIA 35th Deepavali Festival on Sunday October 2, 2022 at South Street Seaport, NYC 12.30pm to 7;00pm Contribution from everyone is highly appreciated by the President Harish Thakkar & AIA NY Committee.

(Based on a Press release issued by Harish Thakkar)