Desi News Millia Davenport Award for Indian author India Post News Service
NEW YORK: Pravina Shukla, an associate professor of folklore and ethnomusicology at Indiana University, has been awarded the 2009 Millia Davenport Publication Award given by the Costume Society of America for her book 'The Grace of Four Moons: Dress, Adornment, and the Art of the Body in Modern India' (2008, Indiana University Press). The Davenport Publication Award, named to honor the memory of Millia Davenport (1896-1992), noted costume scholar and theater designer, recognizes excellence in scholarship in the study of costume. Details on page 14
Sikh Coalition appoints Sapreet as Exec Director India Post News Service
NEW YORK: Sapreet Kaur has been named as the new Executive Director of the Sikh Coalition. Ms. Kaur was most recently the managing director of human assets strategy for Teach for America, a national non-profit which focuses on eliminating educational inequity. Sapreet Kaur served on the Sikh Coalition's Board of Trustees for the last one and a half years and will now lead the organization in a staff role. Details on page 15
Bhagwat Katha by Goswami Mridul Maharaj HARISH RAO
CHICAGO: Hundreds of Hindus from across Chicagoland flocked to Itasca Swaminaryan Mandir for six days beginning September 7 to hear a religious discourse on Shrimad Bhagwat by one of its great exponents from India, Goswami Mridul Krishna Shastri Maharaj. It was sponsored by Friends of Gujarati Samaj and devotees at large. Details on page 16
COMMUNITY ACROSS AMERICA
12 India Post
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IAFPE meet highlights value of political engagement
October 2, 2009
Details on page 17
Punjabi woman seeks to be South Carolina Governor SURI SWAMY
DALLAS, TX: Indian Americans across the country are set to create history in mainstream politics. The second generation is all set to join the political process seeking elective position. In Chicago, it is Raja Krishnamoorthy who is eyeing a billion dollar Comptroller Office while Dr. Amerish Bera hopes to go to US Congress from 3rd Congressional district in California. Both are young and energetic And now comes Nikki Randhawa, State Representative of South Carolina, who has entered the Governor race for 2010 in South Carolina. The State never had a female or a minority governor, but that could change next year with the entrance of IndianAmerican Nikki Randhawa Haley deemed a rising Republican star in political firmament by Republican Party bosses. The Indian American Friendship Council (IAFC) hosted a reception for Nikki Randhawa Haley on September 19 at Roma Palace Banquet Hall in Dallas. Several
Indian American community leaders attended the event. IAFC is a non-profit, non-partisan organization supporting elected officials who help to build better Indo-US relations. Prasad Thotakura, General Secretary IAFC, introduced the Chief
She has earned a reputation as one of the most honest, hardworking, fiscally conservative government officials in South Carolina. She built a name for herself opposing exploding government spending and, most recently, fighting to put every legislative vote on the
The State never had a female or a minority governor, but that could change next year with the entrance of Indian-American Nikki Randhawa Haley deemed a rising Republican star Nikki Randhawa
Guest to the audience and mentioned that Nikki is the right person to lead South Carolina State as a Governor. "We are going to one more governor of Indian origin in 2010 after Bobby Jindal's victory as a Louisiana Governor.
record to be accountable to the people," Prasad pointed out. In her brief response, Nikki Haley said that "unemployment in South Carolina is at 12% and as a Governor her first priority would be to create jobs, provide quality
education, maintain a fiscally responsible government just like any business. Running a government is not rocket science, just common sense." Piyush Patel, Vice-President of IAFC, thanked all sponsors, Nikki Haley and her staff who came all the way from South Carolina to attend the reception. IAFC Board of Directors, Rao Kalvala, Dr. Sat Gupta, Taiyab Kundawala, and several other entrepreneurs and community members attended the event Nikki's parents migrated from Punjab in 1969. Nikki was born and raised in Bamburg, South Carolina. She graduated from Clemson University with a B.S. degree. Currently, she is serving as the Assistant Executive Director of the Lexington Medical Foundation. The wife of a military officer, mother of two children, and a small businesswoman, Nikki made headlines on the political scene when she defeated a long time incumbent and got elected as the State Representative of South Carolina in 2004.
Community backs Debbie Halverson for US Congress MOHAMMAD GHOUSE India Post News Service
CHICAGO: Members of Indian community recently joined their counterparts from the American community to host a fund raiser
Illinois for Debbie Halverson, a Democratic candidate for US from the 11th Congressional District of Illinois, in Chicago downtown. The
fund raiser got an added significance with the presence of US Vice President Joe Bidden. Balwinder Singh, a spokesman for the Indian community, said that Debbie is a friend of not only Indian Americans but also for the minorities per se and that she has promised to work for closer ties with India. "This was one of the important considerations for us to join hands and support her candidacy," he said. Cont’d on page 15
A group of Indian Americans supporting Debbie Halverson. Among others in the picture are Kalpesh Joshi (left) Balwinder Singh (4th from left) Vinesh Virani, Sunil Patel, Dr. Kamal Patel, S.Paul and Bashir Mohammad.