FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016
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community news FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2016
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FIA Chicago organizes R-Day gala banquet
BY A STAFF WRITER C H AU M B U RG , I L – T h e Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), Chicago celebrated the 67th Republic Day of India, followed by a Gala Banquet, with traditional enthusiasm and fervor on January 26 at Shalimar Banquets, 280 W North Ave, Addison, IL. About 750 people attended the celebrations that began with the singing of the National Anthem of India, followed by the traditional lighting of lamp by the FIA executive committee, trustees and dignitaries. Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, Consul General of India in Chicago, who was the chief guest. Keerthi Kumar Ravoori, FIA trustee, introduced Chicago Alderwoman Debra Silverstein of 50th Ward also introduced State Senator and Committeemen Ira Silverstein, Judege Anthony E. Simpkins & Congressional Candidate Raja Krishnamoorthi. Niranjan Shah, chairman & CEO, Globetrotters Engineering Corporation and FIA Trustee the guest of honor. Iftekhar Shareef, trustee and past president, said that FIA Chicago was an umbrella organization, comprising many associations as its members.
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Indian graduate student is awarded AHA grant
Iftekhar Shareef
Traditional lighting of lamp by the FIA Executive Committee, Trustees, and the dignitaries
Syed Hussaini, vice president, Wintrust Community Bank, who was the Chair of the gala banquet, said that his bank had been sponsoring the events of the FIA, considering the fact that it represented the true face of Indian-Americans. Nakul Chand of Air India is one of the sponsors of the event. Dr. Sayeed and Niranjan Shah presented an award, on behalf of the FIA, to Wintrust Community Bank as the Best Financial Institution, which was received by Syed Hussaini.
In addition, an award was presented to Gulam Mustafa known as Faheem as the best community supporter. He is the owner of Shalimar Banquet, Masood Shaikh won an award as the best event organizer. An award was also presented to Ravi Harsoor as the best community leader, He is a great supporter of FIA Chicago. A multifaceted entertainment program, presented. Sunny Gabhawala proposed a vote of thanks. Sanhita Agnihotri conducted the
Air India holds special screening of ‘Airlift’
(L-R) Niranjan Shah & Pratima Shah
proceedings of the event with a professional touch. The event was sponsored by Win Trust Community Bank, Globe Trotters, Bombay Grill Lombard, Eyebrow Designer 21, Hollywood Trendz, and Shalimar Banquet.
Indian physician to be honored soon
(L-R) Dr Silas Leavesley, Student Naga Annamdevula & Dr Thomas Rich
BY A STAFF WRITER ASHINGTON, DC- An Indian American graduate student at the University of South Alabama, Naga Annamdevula, was recently awarded an American Heart Association grant. Annamdevula, as well as fellow University of South Alabama graduate student Emily Turner, will put the $52,000 grant towards helping support doctoral research as part of an interdisciplinary biomedical engineering track. It is a collaborative effort between the university’s College of Medicine graduate program in basic medical science and the College of Engineering. “The ultimate goal of this merger was to develop a synergistic educational environment that promoted collaboration between the various disciplines,” College of Medicine dean Dr. Samuel J. Strada said in a statement. The biomedical engineering track was launched six years ago. “Naga and Emily are both very qualified and promising doctoral students working on highly interdisciplinary biomedical engineering projects,” said Dr. Silas Leavesley, who teaches in the program. The research — half engineering; half biological science — helps provide more insight towards biological approaches. The Indian American student received a B.Tech degree in India and a master’s in the US in chemical engineering.
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Dr. Mukta Panda (L-R) Katherine Thorat, Manager-Midwest, Air India Mr Nakul Chand with wife
BY A STAFF WRITER HICAGO, IL -- Air India, Chicago organized a special screening of Akshay Kumar’s latest Hindi blockbuster movie, “Airlift--Air India’s Call for Duty”, on January 31 at Movie Max (Big Cinemas), 9180 W Golf Road, Niles, IL 60714. Among the 200-plus eminent people who watched the film included staff of Indian Consulate General, community leaders, corporate and retail customers of Air India, travel agents, airport service providers of Air India. D B Bhati and O P Meena Consuls at the Consulate General of India in Chicago Vinesh Virani from The Art of Living foundation and Minhaj Akhtar, president, FIA, Chicago were the special guests at the screening. The movie showcases the daredevil mission of airlifting of a staggering 1,11,711 Indians who were rendered penniless and homeless, consequent upon Iraq’s attack on Kuwait in 1990.
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The mission, which was accomplished by Air India, involved 488 flights spread over a more 59 days, is considered to be the largest air evacuation in the history of mankind and the most glorious chapters in Indian civil aviation history. Air India, thus, entered into Guinness Book of World Records for the civil airline that had evacuated the most people till date. Nakul Chand, manager-Midwest, Air India, said that ‘Airlift’ was an uplifting, entertaining, and edge-of-the-seat thriller that every Indian, and every Bollywood buff looking for genuinely high quality storytelling, must watch. Nakul Chand was courtesy-personified. Being the perfect host, he informally interacted with all the guests and thanked them profusely for gracing the occasion. ‘Airlift’ has been directed by Raja Krishna Menon, presented by T-Series and Cape of Good Films, and produced by Crouching Tiger and Emmay Entertainment.
BY A STAFF WRITER HATTANOOGA, TN -- The American College of Physicians has announced that Dr. Mukta Panda will be among those honored for contributions to medicine. Panda, as well as 21 awardees, 54 new Masters of ACP and more than 400 new Fellows will be honored at ACP’s annual convocation ceremony on May 5. The ACP is honoring the Indian American physician with the award for outstanding educator of residents and fellows. A graduate of Goa Medical College in India, Panda trained in Saudi Arabia, and completed her OB/GYN residency at Kings Hospital in London. She completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine Chattanooga where she remains as assistant dean. She was named Chair of the department of medicine at UT College of Medicine in 2009 and received a Laureate award from ACP in 2011. Panda has been an internist for 29 years.
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