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OBAMA ADMINSTRATION APPOINTS MORE INDIAN AMERICANS TO KEY POSTS
CELEBRATING INDIAN AMERICAN HERITAGE
GOPIO TO CELEBRATE 20TH ANNIVERSARY WITH GLOBAL CONVENTION IN NEW YORK
GOPIO NEW YORK, IAAC AND THE INDIAN CONSULATE HOST FORMER PRESIDENT DR. ABDUL KALAM
GOPIO, GEICA AND ST. JOHN'S UNIVERSITY HOLD HERITAGE WEEK EVENT
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Obama Administration has appointed several Indian Americans to key posts. Mr. Aneesh
Chopra has been nominated to be the Chief Technology officer; Mr. Vivek Kundra as the
Chief Information Officer; Ms. Sonal Shah has been appointed head of the new Office of
Social Innovation and Civic Participation in the White House; Dr. Rajiv Shah has been nominated as under secretary for research, education and economics in the Department of
Agriculture; Ms. Anju Bhargava on White House Faith Council and TV actor Kal Penn as the new associate director for the White House Office of Public Liaison.
ANEESH CHOPRA TO HELP OBAMA CUT WASTERFUL SPENDING
U.S. President Barack Obama has formed a three-man team, including two Indian-
Americans, to help break Washington's "bad habits" of wasteful spending and move recession-hit America from recovery to prosperity. Announcing the appointment of
Aneesh Chopra, Virginia's secretary of technology, to serve as the chief technology officer, Mr. Obama said: "Aneesh will promote technological innovation to help achieve our most urgent priorities - from creating jobs and reducing health care costs to keeping our nation secure."
Aneesh Chopra who is cited as "one of technology's leading lights" initially made his name as Fourth Secretary of Technology in expanding Virginia's high-speed Internet.
Mr. Chopra presently leads Virginia's strategy to effectively leverage technology in government reform, to promote the state's innovation agenda, and to foster technologyrelated economic development. Previously, he worked as Managing Director with the
Advisory Board Company, leading the firm's Financial Leadership Council and the
Working Council for Health Plan Executives.
Mr. Chopra and Jeffrey Zients, a CEO, management consultant and entrepreneur, who was named as the chief performance officer, will work with another Indian American,
Vivek Kundra (GOPIO News, March 25, 2009), to help give "Americans a government that is effective, efficient and transparent".
SONAL SHAH TO HEAD OBAMA'S OFFICE OF SOCIAL INNOVATION
Sonal Shah, a member of the Obama Transition Team, who formerly led Google Global
Development Initiatives, has been appointed head of the new Office of Social Innovation and Civic Participation in the White House. The Innovation office has until now been in what entrepreneurs call "stealth mode," with few details forthcoming about what the office is charged to accomplish beyond broadly promoting innovative approaches to social issues.
Shah was a member of the brain trust that advised the incoming Obama administration on
"innovation and civil society" during the transition period.

Shah graduated in 1990 from the University of Chicago with a B.A. in economics and received a master's in economics from Duke University. She worked in the Clinton administration's Treasury Department and in the National Security Council for seven years, covering economic issues as director of African nations, responsible for all of sub-
Saharan Africa.
In 2001, Shah and siblings Roopal and Anand founded Indicorps, which offers one-year fellowships to young expatriate Indians to return to India and work on development projects. From 2001-03, she was director of operations and programs at the Center for
Global Development and from 2003-04 she joined the Center for American Progress as associate director, advising government executives on topics. Before joining Google
Global Development Initiatives, Shah worked for Goldman Sachs, focusing on their environmental strategy and implementation since 2004.
DR. RAJIV SHAH NOMINATED AS UNDER SECRETARY IN THE DEPT. OF
AGRICULTURE
President Barack Obama has named Indian American scientist Dr. Rajiv J. Shah wgo is managing a program at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation as under secretary for research, education and economics in the Department of Agriculture. Shah is currently the director of agricultural development in the global development program for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, where he manages the foundation's agricultural development program with the goal of helping the world's poor lead healthy and productive lives.
His work includes grant-making portfolios in science and technology, farmer productivity, market access, and policy and statistics. Shah joined the foundation in 2001 and previously served as its director of strategic opportunities and deputy director of policy and finance for global health.
In these roles, he helped develop and launch the foundation's global development program and the international finance facility for immunization - an effort that raised more than $5 billion for child immunization and hopes to save more than five million lives around the world.
Prior to joining the foundation, Shah was the health care policy advisor on the Al Gore
2000 presidential campaign and a member of Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell's transition committee on health.
Shah earned his MD from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School and Master of
Science in health economics from the Wharton School of Business. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and the London School of Economics (LSE) and has published articles on health policy and global development.
In 2007, he was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum.

COMMUNITY ACTIVIST ANJU BHARGAVA APPOINTED TO THE WHITE
HOUSE FAITH COUNCIL
President Barack Obama has appointed Indian American management consultant Anju
Bhargava, who is also an ordained 'pujari' (priest), as the member of a faith-based advisory council of the White House. The council is part of the White House Office of
Faith Based and Neighbourhood Partnerships and includes religious and secular leaders and scholars from different backgrounds as its members.
The office acts as a resource for nonprofits and community organizations, both secular and faith based, looking for ways to make a bigger impact in their communities, learn their obligations under the law, cut through red tape, and make the most of what the federal government has to offer. Bhargava is the second Indian American to be appointed to the council after Eboo S Patel, founder and executive director of Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago. Both appointments are for one year.
Principal Director at Global Synergy Associates, an international management consulting firm, Bhargava is the founder president of the New Jersey-based Asian Indian Women of
America. In the community arena, she served as a Community Builder Fellow for
President Bill Clinton's White House initiative (1998-2000) where she fostered partnerships, facilitated economic, workforce and business development.
Bhargava co-started Asian Indians in Livingston and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. initiative. She is an ordained pujari and counselor and volunteers at St. Barnabas Pastoral
Care Department and Livingston's Interfaith Clergy Association.
Bhargava began her career over two decades ago as a banker and has held senior level positions in Corporate America. She has developed an Executive Education program,
Chakravyuhu or the labyrinth, a program for mentoring women to make the "stepchange" in their careers in the Corporate World.
She is a graduate of Stella Maris College, Madras University and Rutgers University
(MBA), with training at Harvard's Kennedy School of Government, American
University, Kellogg, Graduate School of Management and Dale Carnegie Institute.
President Obama, on May 1, 2009, proclaimed May 2009, as Asian American and Pacific
Islander Heritage Month and called upon the people of the United States to learn more about the history of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders and to observe this month with appropriate programs and activities.
To celebrate Indian American Heritage, Indian community in Southern California organized a tribute function on May 3, 2009 at Woodlands Banquet Hall to pay tribute to pioneers who struggled for long to get US citizenship rights for Indian nationals and patriots who in 1914 started
Gadar movement to free India from the Britishers. Inder Singh, President of GOPIO
Int'l coordinated the event and emphasized, "If we, Indian Americans, want others to know about us, then we must first know who we are."

The first session was chaired by Prof. Arnold Kaminsky, Director of Yadunandan Center of India
Studies, Cal State University, Long beach.
Professor Emeritus Ram Mohan Roy, Cal State Northridge spoke on "Migration & Struggle for
Survival" and talked about the discriminatory laws against Indian nationals during the first half of the twentieth century. Indians were mistreated and thrown out of the hotels. Since then, many things have changed while some still persist. The influence of Indians then living in America also changed the ideology of Indian nationalist leaders in their struggle for India's independence.
Surinder Pal Singh from Atlanta, grandson of late Bhai Bagwan Singh Giyani, second president of
Gadar party, talked about the Gadar Movement with reference to the struggle for self survival during that time when the British Government kept a close watch of his nationalistic activities first in India, then in Hong Kong where he was arrested twice and Canada from where he was deported. Soon after coming to America, he became president of Gadar Party and started the movement of "do or die" and "Allan-e-Jung" in 1914.
Roshn Lal Sharma of Dallas who came to the US in 1949, talked about the after math of Gadar
Movement as witnessed by his father-in-law Abnashi Ram who came in 1920 and financially supported the activities of the movement. Abnashi Ram wrote over 1000 letters from which
Roshan has prepared a book chronicling the history of struggle and fight for independence by the
Indian community activists of that time.
David Thind, son of Bhgat Singh Thind talked about the struggle for US citizenship which his father had to wage. Thind got citizenship three times and it was revoked each time. His citizenship case went to the US Supreme Court where the judge denied him citizenship as he was not a white person though he was Caucasian. Bhagat Singh had joined US army, became sergeant and was honorably discharged in 1918 at the end of WWI. He eventually got his citizenship in 1936 only after US Congress passed a law granting citizenship to all veterans of
WWI.
Mohinder Singh, Editor of India Journal talked about how US citizenship was gained, lost and then regained. He talked about the cruelty that Indian nationals suffered at the hands of INS. He mentioned that it was not only the citizenship of Mr. Thind which was revoked but of many more who had been given citizenship by various US courts. After losing faith in the justice system,
Indian community activists, Dalip Singh Saund, J.J. Singh, Anup Singh and some others, pursued with the members of the Congress and eventually succeeded when President Truman, on July 2,
1946, signed a bill passed by the US Congress allowing 100 Indian nationals to get US citizenship annually.
Rani Cardona is granddaughter of Vaishno and Kala Bagai, who immigrated to US in 1915 with
$25,000 worth of gold to start a new life in the US. Rani related the story of her grandfather who got citizenship in 1923 but was nullified after Thind decision. It was a major shock for Rani's grandfather. He could not buy a house, had problem owning a business and eventually took his own life. His suicide note which was published in San Francisco Examiner at that time, moved every heart in the audience.
The second session was chaired by Professor Emeritus Bala Sardeshi of UCLA, and author of many books. Dr. Parakash Narain, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Cypress talked about the Religious and Yoga movements. Swami Viveknand was the first to introduce Hindu religion to Americans.
The successive religious leaders and yoga teachers, continued to spread the message of the
Vedas.
Baljit Toor talked about Indian philanthropy starting with Jawala Singh, farm laborer turned potato farmer, who in the beginning of the twentieth century, instituted Guru Gobind Singh scholarship to attract Indian students to come to America for higher education. She mentioned names of many

Indian philanthropists who have donated millions for various causes in India and the US. She also mentioned names of Indian Americans from Los Angeles area who have given their due share.
Navin Doshi, in 1999, endowed "the Pratima and Navin Doshi" chair of Indian history at UCLA and a professorship in Loyola Marymount University. Jagdish Khangura started Baba Kartar
Singh Dukki higher secondary school in his grandfathers' name in his village Latala, India.
Inder Singh, in his concluding remarks, urged the audience that just as we have contributed to build temples and gurdwaras, it is high time that we also build institutions to truly pay tribute to the memory of our pioneers and patriots.
Pic below L-R: Roshan Sharma, David Thind, Prof. Ram Mohan Rai, Inder Singh, Prof. Arnold
Kaminsky, Mohinder Singh and S.P Singh
Picture above L-R: Dr Praksh Narain, Baljit Toor and Harry Sidhu
GOPIO's Global Convention 2009 will re-examine and re-evaluate GOPIO's role during the last
20 years with respect to goals and aspirations of 25 million people of Indian origin (PIO) living outside of India. Conference topics include: human Rights, political participation, economic trends, socio-cultural and Diasporic related issues and concerns, tnter-generational conflict, challenges and opportunities for the future. The Convention theme and program details are as follows:
"People of Indian Origin: Enhancing Global Networking"
August 20-23, 2009
Crowne Plaza Hotel LaGuardia Airport
104-04 Ditmars Blvd., East Elmhurst, New York 11369, USA
Tel: 718-457-6300
PROGRAM
Thursday (8/20) Day - GOPIO Exec Committee Meeting, General Council Meeting and Country

Reports
Thursday (8/20) Evening - Reception
Friday (8/21) Day - GOPIO Business Conference
Friday (8/21) Eve - Reception and Inauguration
Saturday (8/22) Day - GOPIO General Council Meeting and Election of New Office Bearers
Saturday (8/22) Day - GOPIO Diaspora Conference
Saturday (8/22) Eve - Banquet & Cultural Program
Sunday (8/23) Day - GOPIO General Council Meeting (Cont'd.)
VENUES
Hotel and Conference Center: Crowne Plaza Hotel LaGuardia Airport
Tel: 1-718/457-6300 (call to make reservation, mention GOPIO Convention for discounted room rates)
Reception on August 20th and Banquet August 22nd
World Fair Marina Banquet Hall, Flushing, New York
(near Crowne Plaza Hotel at LaGuardia Airport)
CONFERENCES
GOPIO's Global Convention 2009 will re-examine and re-evaluate GOPIO's role during the last
20 years with respect to goals and aspirations of 25 million people of Indian origin (PIO) living outside of India. Conference Topics include: Human Rights, Political Participation, Economic
Trends, Socio-Cultural and Diasporic related issues and concerns, Inter-generational Conflict,
Challenges and Opportunities for the Future.
The Conference theme of "People of Indian Origin: Enhancing Global Networking" has two components:
Aug 21: Business conference theme and topics to be relevant to current financial crisis "The
Indian Diaspora in the Context of Global Economic Challenges"
Aug 22: Diaspora conference to address current relevant issues in the Diaspora "The Indian
Diaspora: Challenges and Strategies in the Context of Current Critical Issues of Interest and
Concern"
YOUTH AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS GATHERGING TO BE HELD
As part of the convention, GOPIO YOUTH AND YOUNG PROFESSIONALS MEET will be held at the convention. Contact Vishnu Mahadeo or Sharon Banta or Anita Bhat ablondon71@yahoo.com.
BECOME CONVENTION SPONSOR OR AN EVENT SPONSOR
It is a great opportunity to place your ads in the convention souvenir brochure. To become a sponsor or place an ad., contact Convention Convener and GOPIO Secretary General: Ashook
Ramsaran 718-969-8206, e-mail: ramsaran@aol.com
.

Participants at the GOPIO Convention Planning Meeting - Top photo: Ravi Dhigra, Prakash
Singh, Pravini Baboeram, RafeekBaksh, Ritesh Agrawal, Anita Bhat, Vishnu Mahadeo, Prasad
Kambhampaty, Sat Sukdeo, Jaswant Mody, Ashook Ramsaran, Lal Motwani, Ram Gadhavi,
Anand Ahuja. Bottom Photo: Dr. Rohini Ramanathan, Rajeshwar Prasad, Prem Prasad, Raju
Thomas, Dr. Rupam Saran, Netram Rambudhan, Dr. Parmatma Saran, Thambi Thalapppillil, Dr.
Jagat Motwani, Varghese Kalathil and Dr. Thomas Abraham
GOPIO SEEKS MORE VOLUNTEERS
The convention planning is progressing well and substantial progress has been made to date.
Various committees have been identified and a host of reliable and experienced volunteers have been assigned critical roles in the planning, coordination and implementation process. The first meeting of the Convention Committee took place on March 29th. The second meeting is schedule for May 3rd. GOPIO is seeking a volunteers. Please contact Mr. Ramsaran at 718-969-8206, email: ramsaran@aol.com.
GOPIO has been providing a common platform for people of Indian origin since its inception in
1989. GOPIO membership is open to all people of Indian origin. For more information or to volunteer for the convention activities, please contact: GOPIO Secretary General & Convention
Convener Ashook Ramsaran at or GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham at gopio@optionline.net or GOPIO President Inder Singh at GOPIO-Intl@sbcglobal.net.
GOPIO-New York joined hands with Indian American Arts Council (IAAC) and the Indian
Consulate to host a reception in honor of former Indian President Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam.
Consul General Prabhu Dayal, welcomed Dr Kalam, and recalled that Dr. Kalam was

affectionately known as the "people's President". Highlighting Dr. Kalam's unique profile as one among India's foremost scientists and architect of India's Missile and nuclear programs.
The Consul General also touched upon Dr. Kalam's role in India's social transformation, his emphasis on educational upliftment and technology innovation, and the manner in which he had endeared himself to millions of Indians the world over.
Photos below: Dr. Abdul Kalam with Consul General Prabhu Dayal, GOPIO Chairman Dr.
Thomas Abraham asnd GOPIO-New York President Lal Motwani
Earlier, Dr. Kalam, formally inaugurated "Through the Eyes of Others: Photographs of
India" an exhibition sponsored by the IAAC, and curated by Ms. Priyanka Mathew. The exhibition featured photographs on contemporary India by eleven photographers, hailing from the United States, Canada and Switzerland.
Mr. Lal Motwani, President GOPIO-New York Chapter, presented a memento to Dr.
Kalam on behalf of GOPIO. After the event, Dr. Kalam interacted informally with the audience.
The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), St. John's University's
Center for Latin American and Caribbean Studies (SJU/CLACS) and the Guyanese East
Indian Civic Association (GEICA) again collaborated on the 2009 New York City event:
"The Continuing Legacy of Latin American Immigrants to New York City".
Various organizations and groups held events to commemorate New York City Immigrant
Heritage Week April 17-23, 2009 and coordinated with the Mayor's Office on Immigrant
Affairs (MOIA). Declared an official, annual celebration by Mayor Bloomberg, Immigrant
Heritage Week is a unique celebration of the vibrant immigrant cultures, history, and communities found in every corner of the City.
The event was held on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at University Center Commons, St. John's
University in Queens, New York. The objective was to establish cross cultural bridges of communication and understanding among New York City's immigrant groups from the
Caribbean and Latin America. These immigrants comprise a significant percentage of the
New York City population.
While these diverse groups of immigrants originate from countries with distinct historical, language (English, Spanish, French and Dutch) and ethnic backgrounds, they share many common aspirations, challenges and opportunities as immigrants in New York City. The event consisted of distinguished speakers, music, dance, and food from Latin America and the Caribbean, highlighting the many contributions of Caribbean and Latin American immigrants to add to the fabric of New York City.

After a luncheon of representative Caribbean foods, Dr Alina Camacho-Gingerich of St
John's University's Center for Caribbean and Latin American Studies (CLACS) spoke on the demographics of New York City and invaluable contributions of Spanish speaking immigrants from the Caribbean. That was followed by an insightful perspective by Guyanese born historian Robert Mahesh who also listed specific contributions of Caribbean English speaking immigrants to New York City in the areas of economics, business, academics, politics, real estate, home health and media. Then Prakash Singh of GEICA compared the remarkable successes as well as the unique challenges faced by English speaking immigrants to New York City.
Photo above: Members of the Sadhana Paranji Group with Gold Medalist Sadhana Paranji,
GOPIO International Secretary General Ashook Ramsaran, GEICA's director Prakash
Singh GOPIO of Upper New York president Satruhan Sukdeo, presenter historian Robert
Mahesh
Laura and Pedro Los Pampas performed dances of Tango and Milonga. That was followed by the artistic renditions of classical Indian dance by member of the Sadhana Paranji Group whose members include Anu Hamnauth, Sonya Devi, Preeya Singh, Priya Madhavan,
Reshma Singh, Shandana Dwarika, Vani Upadhyay and Ramona Kalicharan. Professor Paul
Erriah read the poem "I Am From" by Anand Tulsi Koobir.
GOPIO of Upper New York president Satruhan Sukdeo chaired the segment on the contributions of English speaking immigrants to New York City.
For more info on the conference outcome and papers, Sat Sukhdeo (Pres, GOPIO Upper
New York) at (329-1924 or satsukdeo@aol.com, Dr. Alina Camacho-Gingerich (St John's
Univ) at (718-990-1932) or camachoa@stjohns.edu or Prakash Singh (Director, GEICA) at
718-939-8194 or prakash.singh@verizon.net
.
GOPIO-FICCI TO HOLD CONFERENCE IN LONDON ON JUNE 9TH
GOPIO in collaboration with FICCI is planning a mini conference in London on
June 9, 2009. The conference will be addressed by His Excellency Abdul Kalam,
Former President of India. Details are being worked out. For more info, please contact GOPIO Executive Vice President Lord Diljit S. Rana at dsrana@andrashouse.co.uk or GOPIO Int'l President Inder Singh at gopiointl@sbcglobal.net.
EUROPEAN PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS TO BE HELD IN THE
NETHERLANDS
Every year the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) stimulates the organization of regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas conferences such as in New
York in 2007 and Singapore in 2008. The reason for this happening is to

leverage on the network and achievements of the Global Indian Diaspora and utilize their success for and with India.
This year MOIA has decided to opt for The Netherlands and has requested the
Indian Diaspora in Holland to organize this event. The European PBD will probably take place in the second half of September and the venue is still being selected. The organizing committee has been established and involves the following associations: Foundation for Critical Choices for India (FCCI), Global
Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), and the Indian Business
Chamber (IBC). Mr. Rajendre Ramnath and Mr. Oedith Joharia will be additional committee members representing the Surinamese community.
On behalf of GOPIO-The Netherlands, Rajindre Tewari, the Country's GOPIO
Coordinator will be represented in the organizing committee. For more information please contact gopioamsterdam@gmail.com
GOPIO INTERNATIONAL GREETS GUYANESE PIOs ON ARRIVAL DAY
GOPIO pays honored tribute and expresses its gratitude to those who made the first journey as indentured laborers from India to British Guiana (now Guyana) in
1838 aboard the Hesperus and Whitby.
We are always reminded of their pioneering spirit, determination, persistence and endurance under extremely harsh conditions. While survival must have been the primary concern, they persevered to maintain their sense of origin, traditions, culture and religion. Their children, grandchildren and following generations will always take pride in this unique accomplishment, recognizing and appreciating the sacrifices and achievements made on their behalf. We also recognize the invaluable contributions they have made to the diverse culture and economic development of Guyana.
We extend GOPIO's congratulations to the Government and people of Guyana on the commemoration of the 171st anniversary of that historic day. We also extend our continued best wishes to all the descendents of those early pioneers for peaceful and prosperous co-existence both in Guyana and other lands where they have subsequently settled.
We continue to encourage and support active promotion of the rich and enduring
Indian traditions that served their forefathers so well. We also wish to remind all the descendents of those early pioneers to recognize and reach out to others of
Indian origin whose forebears also embarked on similar journeys.
Situated on the northern coast of South America, Guyana is the former British
Guiana colony of Britain where indentured Indians were brought to work on the plantations starting in 1838. Most have remained and settled in now independent
Guyana, forming a significant percentage of the population and contributing to its

economic development and growth.
NETHERLANDS PIO GROUP MAKES PRESENTATION TO GOPIO IN NEW
YORK
On March 29, 2009 representatives of Amrit Consultancy (Amcon.nl) of The
Netherlands, currently in the United States on a performance tour, attended the
GOPIO 20th Anniversary Convention planning meeting and made a presentation on current and planned activities of AMCON. The representatives were Sitla
Bonoo and Pravini Baboeram whose attendance and participation were coordinated by Dr Jagat Motwani, Chairman of GOPIO's Academic Council, who had made two earlier visits to meet the PIO community in The Hague.
The Presentation by Sitla Bonoo and Pravini Baboeram addressed issues of interest to the Surinamese PIO community in The Netherlands as well as
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and current cultural projects and those in the planning stages. These included digitization of indentured arrival records in
Suriname, re-issuing various articles from as far back as 125 years ago, a special documentary of journey back to India, Ednie Jarab (a unique life story), working with the National Archives in Suriname and GUIDE (Global Atlas of
Indian Diaspora with discussions on history, sociology, heritage and demographics).
They presented to GOPIO a copy of the book "Hindostannese Immigranten in
Suriname (1873 -- 1916)", a Surinamese Indian Indentured Names Database listing that can be used by descendants of Surinamese PIOs to trace the villages of their ancestors in India.
Surinamese Indians in The Netherlands (also known as Hindustanis) are twice migrated group, first from India to Suriname and then from Suriname to The
Netherlands.
Photo above: Pravini Baboeram (Netherlands), Dr Jagat Motwani, Dr Thomas Abraham, Sitla
Bonoo (Netherlands) and Ashook Ramsaran

GOPIO OF GUYANA HOLDS LECTURE SERIES IN COMMEMORATION OF
INDIAN ARRIVAL DAY
GOPIO Guyana is continuing its tradition of holding a series of relevant lectures in commemoration of the 171st anniversary of Indian indentured laborers in the then British Colony of British Guiana. The first arrivals were on May 5, 1838 aboard the Hesperus and Whitby The lectures are planned and conducted in collaboration with the Indian Commemoration Trust and Dr Prem Misir, Pro-
Chancellor of the University of Guyana. The lectures are:
· 7th May, 09 - 'India and the World,' By Yesu Persaud
· 14th May, 09 'The traditional Indian Festivals of Guyana and the
Caribbean,' By Al Creighton
· 21st May, 09 'The Christian Missionary Enterprise during Indentureship.'
By Swami Aksharnanda
For further details and registration information, contact Yesu Persaud, Chairman of GOPIO Guyana at ypersaud@demrum.com
GOPIO CONVENTION 2009 IN CHENNAI - UNEXPECTED HELP TO
ACADEMY FOR WORKING CHILDREN IN GHAZIABAD
Mr Krishan Kumar Yadav, headmaster of the of Academy for working Children
Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh wrote to GOPIO Ireland President Dr Prabhu Kulkarni.
"I started this Academy in September 2007, with support from Saganeria
Foundation, for children at East Delhi border in Sahiababad Industrial, area,
Ghaziabad. In that large industrial area of mainly migrant worker families are living in poverty. They have no money to support their children. We therefore started this education program. The Budget for two years is Rs. 4,253,850 (US $
85,500; € 65,450) to cover establishment and running costs. We are thankful to you to supporting Rupees five hundred for purchasing a black board for the children".
This started at the PBD 2009 & GOPIO convention in January 2009 in Chennai.
Dr. Kulkarni met dedicated social workers Anne Marie and Kusum volunteering on behalf of Delhi based Charity 'Humana People to People India'. Two months later Anne Marie Wrote me "You may remember that you donated Rs. 500 to our organization when you met me and my team in the exhibition stand at the
Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Chennai two months back. The blackboard in the
AWC was terribly worn-out, reason why I handed over the 500 Rs to Krishan, so that he could get a new one, as there was no provision in his budget for that. The money was handed over to our Academy for Working Children in Ghaziabad, and they purchased a nice new blackboard, which they are hereby thanking you for"
The Academy for Working Children (AWC) supports out-of-school children to get

a basic education and assist them to enroll in the India's highly commendable mainstream education system.
The AWC has identified further over 500 children that do not go to school and acknowledges that there are many more. These children are from families that are extremely poor to care for them. Some of these children are working as cheap labor to contribute to family income. They have to work to survive: many are rag pickers, or work at the construction sites, and some earn money from other odd jobs in the informal sector. Without change in their situation these children will have an intolerable childhood, and will also end up as uneducated poor adults.
According to International Education Statistics (Friedrich Huebler 2007), 21 million children in India in the primary school age group do not attend schools
(based on 2006 data). The AWC hope to provide first to third grade primary education to about 500 disadvantaged children and youth over a period of next two years in couple of locations near Delhi. About 300 day students and 200 evening students will be trained to acquire computer literacy. Apart from basic academic topics and life skills the program will include sports, culture and educational visits. Computers and digital learning modules will be available for both day and evening students.
AWC requests that if your association or any of the other companies that you are in touch with, would like to support education in India, then AWC is there to make it happen. The suggested project is for two years. It can also be started with an agreement for one year.
Contact: Krishan Kumar Yadav, E-mail: krishanhumana@gmail.com or Anne
Marie Moeller, E-mail: annemariemoeller@gmail.com.
TWO NEW GOPIO CHAPTERS TO BE INAUGURATED IN THE
NETHERLANDS
The Netherlands has a large Surinamese Indian population. GOPIO already has chapters in Amsterdam and Leiden. Two new chapters, GOPIO-Rotterdam and
GOPIO-Enschede covering the Southern and Eastern regions of The
Netherlands will be formally inaugurated on Friday, May 8th. The inauguration will also include a task force on scientific cooperation within the GOPIO chapters in The Netherlands and on a global scale. The chief guest is India's new ambassador to The Netherlands, Mr. Manbir Singh. Sharing some insights of the
Diaspora with other peers in Europe is Arun Amirtham, Chairman of the Indian
Associations in the Republic of Switzerland who will share with his experience in structuring Indian Diaspora relations in Switzerland and his view on the value of the Indian Diaspora in Europe. An interactive session will follow the presentations.

The program which includes a reception starts at 7.m. at the Best Western
Airport Hotel located at the exit 3/Hoofddorp on the A4, Vuursteen 1 , 2132 LZ in
Hoofddorp. A free shuttle bus is available from Schiphol airport. Registration fee is €10 per person. .Students rate is €5. Attendance is also free for members of
GOPIO Amsterdam or Life Members of GOPIO.
For registration, contact Drs. R. Tiwari, National Coordinator, GOPIO The
Netherlands, louisahoeve@gmail.com or gopioamsterdam@gmail.com, www.gopioholland.nl or contact Ms. Janice Aliar, Tel. +31 648326802, e-mail: janice.aliar@gmail.com
GOPIO TnT WELCOMES SRI MALAY MISHRA, INDIA's NEW HC TO
TRINIDAD & TOBAGO
GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago held a gala welcome reception for the new High
Commissioner of India to Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. Malay Mishra. Prominent members of the PIO community in Trinidad were present at Gaston Court,
Chaguanas, on Tuesday March 24th, 2009 to greet and welcome Hich
Commissioner Mishra and members of the Indian High Commission.
A traditional welcome with garland and Tassa music, which was then followed by an address by GOPIO T&T President Deosaran Bisnath and poetry recitation by
Dr. Rajandaye Ramkissoon-Chen, author of four volumes of poetry. Mr. Bisnath described the special relationship between India and Trinidad and Tobago and reminded all of the contributions of People of Indian Origin, and the important role of the High Commissioner and the Indian High Commission, as well as the
Mahatma Gandhi Institute for Culture and Cooperation (MGICC), in developing and nurturing that relationship. Mr. Bisnath also welcomed the new Director of the MGICC, Shri Madan Mohan Sharma.
Also greeting and welcoming Shri Mishra were Swami Prakashanandaji, Spiritual
Leader of Chinmaya Mission, Trinidad & Tobago; Haji Kamal Hosein, Vice-
President of ASJA Trinidad & Tobago; and Mr. Basdeo Panday, Leader of the
Opposition in the Trinidad and Tobago Parliament.
In his response, Shri Mishra extended greetings to the PIO community in
Trinidad and Tobago, and the Caribbean, and described his recent visit to
Tobago and plans by the Indian High Commission to assist the Tobago PIOs in development of culture in the sister isle. Shri Mishra spoke glowingly of the PIOs in Trinidad and Tobago with special reference on his observations during a recent tour of several villages and towns in Trinidad and Tobago. He was extremely impressed with the progress, achievements, and lifestyle of PIOs in
Trinidad and Tobago, and their ways of worship in temples and he praised them for treasuring and practicing their cultural and religious heritage.
The new High Commissioner gave a detailed description of the cultural diversity

of his homeland and emphasized that India had high regards for the people of
Indian origin and Indians living throughout the International Indian Diaspora. Shri
Mishra pointed out that overseas Indians contribute $27 billion to the Indian economy by way of remittances and noted that some states in India are heavily dependent on these funds. He added: "You can take an Indian out of India but you cannot take India out of an Indian," and then elaborated on the love and appreciation of Indian culture and heritage that has followed 25 million Indians who now form part of the global Indian diaspora.
Shri Mishra's speech was followed by Indian dance; Chutney music from Mr.
Ramdeen Falco Maharaj; and Poetry from Ms. Madeline Coopsammy, author of
Prairie Journey.
The reception concluded with gift presentations to Shri Malay Mishra from Mr.
Ramdeen Falco Maharaj from the National Chutney Foundation; Mr. Lenny
Kumar from the Tassa Association of Trinidad and Tobago; and Mr. Deosaran
Bisnath from GOPIO Trinidad and Tobago. Guests were served Indo-Trinidadian cuisine while also enjoying pulsating Tassa and Chutney music in the background.
NRIs/PIOs ACHIEVE
INDIAN AMERICAN SANJAY JHA HIGHEST PAID CEO IN THE US
Mobile phone maker Motorola's India-born chief Sanjay Jha has emerged America's top paid
CEO. According to a survey Citigroup's Vikram Pandit tops the league among bailed out banks.
Another Indian on the list is PepsiCo's Indra Nooyi at the 36th slot with a pay package of $13.98 million.
With a total payout of over $104 million in 2008, Sanjay Jha is the only CEO to get a compensation package exceeding $100 million. Occidental's Ray Irani is at a distant second with
$49.9 million. Irani is followed by Walt Disney's Robert Iger $49.7 million at the third slot. In the overall ranking, compiled by the Wall Street Journal, Citigroup CEO Vikram Pandit comes at the fourth position with a payout of $38.2 million.
NINE PIOs ELECTED TO US ACADEMY OF ENGINEERING
The National Academy of Engineering (NAE) has elected 65 new members and nine foreign associates, announced NAE President Charles M. Vest today. This brings the total U.S. membership to 2,246 and the number of foreign associates to 197.
Election to the National Academy of Engineering is among the highest professional distinctions accorded to an engineer. Academy membership honors those who have made outstanding contributions to "engineering research, practice, or education, including, where appropriate, significant contributions to the engineering literature," and to the "pioneering of new and developing fields of technology, making major advancements in traditional fields of engineering, or developing/implementing innovative approaches to engineering education.
The following are the newly elected members of the academy.

S.M. FAROUQ ALI, president, Petroleum Engineering Research Laboratories Canada Ltd.,
Edmonton, Alberta. For pioneering techniques for enhanced oil and gas recovery.
SANJAY GHEMAWAT, Google Fellow, Google Inc., Mountain View, Calif. For contributions to the science and engineering of large-scale distributed computer systems
KANTI JAIN, professor, department of electrical and computer engineering, University of Illinois,
Urbana. For contributions to the development of high-resolution, deep-ultraviolet excimer lithography for microelectronic fabrication.
]AHSAN KAREEM, Robert M. Moran Professor, department of civil engineering and geological sciences, University of Notre Dame, South Bend, Ind. For contributions to analyses and designs to account for wind effects on tall buildings, long-span bridges, and other structures.
CHAITAN KHOSLA, chair and professor, department of chemical engineering, Stanford
University, Stanford, Calif. For engineering molecular assembly lines, developing metabolic engineering technologies, and advancing biopharmaceutical discovery.
UMESH K. MISHRA, professor, department of electrical and computer engineering, University of
California, Santa Barbara. For contributions to development of gallium-nitride electronics and other high-speed, high-power semiconductor electronic devices.
C. MOHAN, IBM Fellow, IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, Calif. For contributions to locking and recovery algorithms for database systems.
DORAISWAMI RAMKRISHNA, Harry Creighton Peffer Distinguished Professor of Chemical
Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Ind. For creation of new model concepts and solutions that improved the engineering of biological and particulate processes.
GURINDAR S. SOHI, John P. Morgridge Professor and E. David Cronon Professor of Computer
Sciences, departments of computer sciences and electrical and computer engineering, University of Wisconsin, Madison. For contributions to the design of high-performance, superscalar computer architectures
SIX INDIAN AMERICANS WIN SOROS GRADUATE FELLOWSHIP
Six Indian Americans are among the 31 2009 Paul and Daisy Soros New American Fellows.
Fellows receive up to a $20,000 stipend plus half tuition for as many as two years of graduate study at any institution of higher learning in the US.
The purpose of The Paul & Daisy Soros Fellowships for New Americans is to provide opportunities for continuing generations of able and accomplished New Americans to achieve leadership in their chosen fields. The Program is established in recognition of the contributions
New Americans have made to American life and in gratitude for the opportunities the United
States has afforded the donors and their family.
Ashish Agrawal (22), a student the University of California, has led two volunteer programs.
Chitra Akileswaran (26), a student at Harvard Medical School, plans to work for health finance programs in poor countries.
Tarun Chhabra (28) has a PhD in international relations at Oxford. While, Shantanu Gaur (22) is a first-year medical student at Harvard Medical School, she recently solved a major problem in the field of cell biology. Sushma Sheth (29), a graduate of Brown University with focus in development studies and the sixth person of Indian origin to get the fellowship Previn Warren (26)

is a first-year student at Harvard Law School.
The 2009 Soros Fellows, ranging from 21 to 30 years of age, were selected from nearly 750 applicants from 266 undergraduate and 137 graduate institutions.
FOUR INDIAN AMERICANS AWARDED GUGGENHEIM FELLOWSHIPS
Four Indian American academics have been selected among 180 individual in the USA and
Canada for the prestigious Guggenheim fellowship for 2009, an award program that assists research and artistic creation. They are Dr. Veena Das, Krieger-Eisenhower Professor of
Anthropology and chair of the anthropology department at Johns Hopkins University; Dr. Udayan
Mohanty of Chestnut Hill, Mass., professor of chemistry at Boston College; Dr. Priya Natarajan, associate professor in the astronomy and physics departments at Yale University and Dr.
Kanchan Chandra, associate professor of the department of politics at New York University. Their fields range from anthropology to chemistry; and from astrophysics to political science.
Dr. Das is one of three fellows honored in the area of anthropology and cultural studies. Das studied at the Delhi School of Economics at the University of Delhi, where she received her Ph.D. and taught from 1967 to 2000. Her books include "Structure and Cognition: Aspects of Hindu
Caste and Ritual" and "The Word and the World: Fantasy Symbol and Record."
Dr. Mohanty is the lone recipient in chemistry. Mohanty's research program utilizes and develops a range of techniques that spans fields from modern physical chemistry, biophysics, biophysical chemistry and soft condensed matter physics.Mohanty has a Ph.D. from Brown University and was a postdoctoral fellow both at the University of California at San Diego and the James Franck
Institute at the University of Chicago.
In the joint field of astronomy/astrophysics, one of two honorees Dr. Priya Natarajan is currently an Emeline Bigelow Conland Fellow and Bunting Fellow at the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced
Study at Harvard University. She is currently on leave from Yale. Natarajan is a theoretical astrophysicist who works in cosmology, with an emphasis on studies of dark matter - from gravitational lensing studies of clusters and galaxies, to formation of the first black holes and their subsequent growth in the universe. A key focus has been detailed mapping of spatial distribution of dark matter in cosmic structures.
Natarajan has an undergraduate degree and did graduate work at MIT in the history and philosophy of science. She has a Ph.D. from the University of Cambridge, U.K., in theoretical astrophysics, was elected to a junior research fellowship at Cambridge's Trinity College and was a fellow at the Whitney Humanities Center at Yale.
Dr. Kanchan Chandra is one of three Guggenheim Fellows named in the field of political science.
Dr. Chandra is one of three Guggenheim Fellows named in the field of political science. Chandra was previously associate professor of political science, at MIT. She has a Ph.D. in government from Harvard University and a B.A. in government from Dartmouth College, where she was awarded the Colby Prize in Government. A principal investigator for a National Science
Foundation grant for a cross-national dataset on ethnicity and institutions, she published the paper, "What Is Ethnic Identity and Does It Matter?" in the Annual Review of Political Science.
Pulitzer Prize winning writer Jhumpa Lahiri and mathematician-author Manil Suri are among the previous Indian American recipients of the Guggenheim award.
SOUTH ASIAN AMERICAN STUDENTS RECEIVE 2009 GOLDWATER SCHOLARSHIPS

Eighteen South Asian Americans were among 278 have been named 2009 Barry M. Goldwater
Scholars. The scholarships which would be one- and two-year long are worth $7,500 per year.
The following are the new scholars with their affiliation, area of study and career goal:
Vidya Ganapati
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Major(s): Electrical Engineering
Career Goal: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. Conduct research in photovoltaics and teach at the university level.
Shatakshi Goyal
Boise State University
Major(s): Electrical and Computer Engineering
Career Goal: Ph.D. in Bio-Medical Engineering. Conduct research in biomedical engineering and teach at the university level.
Abhijeet Gummadavelli
Johns Hopkins University
Major(s): Neuroscience
Career Goal: M.D./Ph.D. in Neuroscience. Lead a research group in neuroplasticity with focus on clinical application and teach at the university level.
Sameer Gupta
Yale University
Major(s): Molecular/Cellular/Develop Biology/Anthropology
Career Goal: M.D./Ph.D. in Human Genetics. Conduct research in human genetic variation and its implication to health and disease. Teach at the university level.
Pranoti Hiremath
University of Washington
Major(s): Bioengineering
Career Goal: M.D./Ph.D. in Bioengineering. Conduct research in biomedical engineering and apply clinical experience to research.
Syed Mohammed Karim
Virginia Commonwealth University
Major(s): Biochemistry/Sociology
Career Goal: M.D./Ph.D. in Physiology. Conduct research in cardiac MRI as a professor of medicine at a university health center.
Sivakanthan Kasinathan
Drake University
Major(s): Biochemistry and Molecular Biology/Pharmaceutical Sciences
Career Goal: Ph.D. in Molecular Biology. Conduct research in signal transduction and teach at the graduate level.
Karthish Manthiram
Stanford University
Major(s): Chemical Engineering
Career Goal: Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering. Conduct research in biochemical engineering and teach at the university level.
Salman Haider Naqvi
New Jersey Institute of Technology
Major(s): Electrical Engineering

Career Goal: Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering. Conduct research in active optical lidar remote sensing. Enhance climate models to improve weather predictions.
Muktha Sundar Natrajan
University of Georgia
Major(s): Genetics/Ecology
Career Goal: Ph.D. in Environmental Health Science. Research the effects of environmental pollutants and neurotoxins on the nervous system.
Pallavi Penumetcha
Davidson College
Major(s): Biology
Career Goal: Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology. Conduct research in cellular and molecular biology or work at an organization involved in public health.
Aman Prasad
Cornell University
Major(s): Chemistry/Chemical Biology
Career Goal: Ph.D. in Chemistry. Conduct research in synthetic organic chemistry and teach at the university level.
Geeta Gayatri Persad
Stanford University
Major(s): Geophysics
Career Goal: Ph.D. in Earth, Energy, and Environmental Sciences. Conduct research in climate modeling and physical oceanography.
Varun Puvanesarajah
University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Major(s): Biochemistry/Mathematics
Career Goal: M.D./Ph.D. in Biochemistry. Characterize cellular and molecular pathways and develop drugs to treat various diseases.
Jomy Jo Varghese
Loyola College in Maryland
Major(s): Pure Mathematics/Biochemistry
Career Goal: M.D./Ph.D. in Bioinformatics. Pursue research in molecular and systems biology alongside clinical work.
Swati Varshney
Carnegie Mellon University
Major(s): Chemistry
Career Goal: Ph.D. in Chemistry. Conduct research in polymers and biomaterials and teach at the university level.
Madhvi Jayalakshmi Venkatesh
University of California-Berkeley
Major(s): Bioengineering
Career Goal: Ph.D. in Bioengineering. Conduct research in synthetic biology and teach at the university level.
Maryjane Jeena Vennat
University of California-Irvine
Major(s): Biology/English
Career Goal: Achieve M.D./Ph.D. as a professor of Neurobiology. Conduct biomedical research,

specifically in the neurosciences, and teach at a research university.
NEWS OF INTEREST TO NRIs AND PIOs AROUND THE WORLD
HOMECOMING 2009 - AN INNOVATIVE ACADEMIC COURSE FOR EXPERIMENTING
INDIA FOR NRI/PIO KIDS
RMP - International, the international division of Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini (RMP) South
Asia's only leadership training academy working for multiple sectors with customized courses, has now announced a very innovative Leadership Training Program mainly for young members of Non-resident Indian families. Named as Homecoming - 2009, this 15-day residential course aims at developing a fundamental understanding about India's past, present and future through a structured academic program. Blended with the fun of staying in Indian families, visiting villages in India and mingling with both, Slumdogs and Millionaires; a Certificate Course in
Leadership through Civilisational Understanding (CCLCU) is an integral part of this
Homecoming - 2009 program. RMP-International will be conducting this program at its
Knowledge-Excellence Centre, a world class convention centre, in the outskirts of Mumbai.
To be held in the summer vacation, between August 7 and 21st, 2009 Homecoming - 2009 will have classroom lectures, field visits, experiential learning opportunities and visits to the interior
Maharashtra among other things. Appropriately named as Homecoming- 2009, this course
"offers everything that an NRI kid would be longing to experience and understand in order to gain an insight into the upcoming world power and also the land of his/her forefathers", says
RMP-International.
The fees for this course are US$ 999, inclusive of food, accommodation, academic instructions, and practically everything from getting down at Mumbai airport to boarding the flight back to the country of residence, at the end of this two week course. Those aspiring for this innovative program can register online by visiting www.rmponweb.org. The last date for registration is June
15, 2009.
RMP-International has appointed Mr. John Perry of New Jersey as its official representative for handling registration and related matters for the aspiring participants. His could be contacted on info.homecoming@gmail.com or perry.john@hotmail.com or call at 1-848-448-5896.
NET OVERSEAS INVESTMENTS IN INDIA TOPS $62 BILLION
Net claim of non-residents on India as reflected by the net international investment position
(assets - liabilities) as of end-September 2008, increased by $10.2 billion to $62.2 billion from
$52.0 billion at end- June 2008. The total external financial assets of the country declined by
$19.7 billion to $358.2 billion as of end-September 2008 over the previous quarter mainly due to fall in reserve assets to the tune of $25.8 billion. Among the other components of external financial assets, direct investment abroad increased by $3.2 billion over the previous quarter to
$55.9 billion as of end-September 2008. Other investment increased by $2.9 billion over end-
June 2008 and stood at $15.4 billion at end-September 2008. The international investment position (IIP), compiled at the end of a specific period is the statement of the stock of external financial assets and liabilities of a country. The financial assets consist of the India's financial claims on non-residents and financial liabilities consist of the country's financial liabilities to nonresidents.
These transactions are classified according to institutional resident sectors, namely, monetary authority, government, banks, and other sectors, including corporate sector. The net international investment position (the stock of external financial assets less the stock of external financial liabilities) shows the difference between what an economy owns in relation to what it owes. As

per the Special Data Dissemination Standard of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), data on
IIP are to be disseminated on annual basis (quarterly encouraged) with a time lag of two quarters. In India, since the quarter end-June 2006 onwards, the IIP is being disseminated on quarterly basis with a lag of less than two quarters. The quarterly IIP as at end-June 2008 was released on RBI website on 10 December 2008.
OVERSEAS STUDENTS TO FACE STRICT BRITISH VISA RESTRICTIONS
The British government has introduced a new strict visa regime for students from outside
Europe amid a 30 percent rise in the number of Indians studying in Britain. International students in Britain last year paid tuition fees worth a total of 2.5 billion pounds. The British home ministry said the new system will make the visa process simpler, more objective and more transparent while preventing abuse of the immigration system.
With the introduction of new laws, British schools and colleges taking in international students from India and other countries outside the European region will need to be registered with the
UK Border Agency. More than 2,100 universities, independent schools and colleges have applied to be licensed sponsors, undertaking responsibility for ensuring that international students comply with the conditions of their visas while they are in Britain.
According to Guardian newspaper, the UK Border Agency has turned down around 460 of these applicants in a crackdown on bogus institutions and students. Under the new visa rules, students will need to ensure that they have an unconditional offer of a study place, and show that they has sufficient funds to cover course fees and living costs.
A record number of Indian students are now going to Britain. In 2008, almost 29,000 Indian students received visas - a 30 per cent increase on 2007 figures.
FORMER GUYANA PRESDIENT JANET JAGAN IS NO MORE
Janet Jagan, former President of Guyana and widow of the country's Indian-origin President
Cheddi Jagan passed away in Georgetown on March 28 at the age of 88. American-born Janet
Jagan served as prime minister of Guyana from May to December 1997 following her husband's death, and was then elected president at the end of the same year.
Janet, who inherited the mantle of the Indian-dominated People's Progressive Party (PPP), remained an important figure in the party, reflected in her choice of successor Bharat Jagdeo upon her resignation in 1999 on account of ill-health.
Indians, mostly descendants of indentured laborers shipped in from Uttar Pradesh and Bihar by the British, are the largest ethnic group in Guyana, making up 43.45 percent of the population in
2002.
The socialist PPP started out as an anti-colonialist and pro-labour party representing all sections of Guyana, but became dominated by Indio-Guyanese after a split in 1957 saw the formation of the Afro-Guyanese dominated People's National Congress.
Janet Jagan is survived her son Cheddi 'Joey' Jagan Jr., the leader of the United Party of
Guyana, and daughter Nadira.
AIR INDIA HAVE LAUNCHED DELHI-CHICAGO DAILY FLIGHT
India's national carrier Air India has introduced a daily Delhi-Chicago flight via Frankfurt from
March 29. The launch of the flight follows the airline's decision to make Frankfurt the hub for operations to Europe and the US, its initiative towards strengthening its global network and

restructuring its operations to these continents.
The Delhi-Chicago flight will actually originate from Hyderabad, while passengers from Kolkata and Amritsar will be able to check-in at airports in their cities to avoid the hassle of doing so at
Delhi's international airport. Passengers from Kolkata and Amritsar can check-in with their luggage and get their immigration check done there. They can then board in Air India domestic flight to Delhi airport and board the Delhi-Chicago flight directly without going through any hassles. These passengers will not pay any extra fare for reaching Delhi and will pay fares as applicable from Delhi.
According to Air India, the Delhi-Chicago sector would be operated with state-of-the-art 342 seater B777-300ER aircraft, configured in three classes. Air India already operates daily flights from Hyderabad to New York (Newark Liberty International Airport) via Mumbai and Frankfurt, to the John F. Kennedy International Airport, also at New York, and to London via Mumbai. It also operates daily flights to Frankfurt via Delhi and Mumbai.
The carrier is now planning to launch a non-stop Delhi-San Francisco flight later this year after inducting three new Boeing 777LR aircraft between June and August.
VOTING BY NRIs IN INDIAN ELECTION
India is undergoing the national election, the largest democratic exercise in the worl with close to 600 registered voters, more than twice the population of the United States. While most countries provide opportunities for their citizens living outside to participate in the elections,
Indian citizens living outside have been denied their right to vote in elections. Section 20 of The
Representation of the People Act (RPA)-1950 disqualifies a non-resident Indian (NRI) from getting his/her name registered in the electoral rolls. India does not have an absentee ballot system. Section 19 of the above Act allows a person to register to vote if he or she is above 18 years of age and is an 'ordinary resident' of the residing constituency i.e. living at the current address for 6 months or longer.
An amendment to the aforementioned Act was introduced in the Parliament in 2006 with an objective to enable NRIs to vote. The Bill was reintroduced in the 2008 budget session of the
Parliament but no action taken so far.
Several civic organizations have urged the government to amend the RPA act to allow NRI's and people on the move to cast their vote through absentee ballot system.
A BILL IN THE US CONGRESS AIMS TO MAKE HIRING FOREIGNERS DIFFICULT
Two US senators Chuck Grassley and Dick Durbin Given have introduced a bill to make it tougher for American firms to employ skilled foreign professionals under its H-1B and L1 visa programs. Indian and Chinese professionals account for the maximum number of H-1Bs visas.
L1 B visas are for skilled workers. The recession in the US has greatly reduced the number of people for these visas.
Currently, there is a cap of 65,000 for H-1B visa applications. But despite an extension of date twice, only 44,000 have applied for the visa so far. The new bill, if enacted into law, will stop outsourcing of American jobs. It would also empower the Department of Labor to investigate, audit and penalize abuse of H-1B and L1 visa employers. Both these senators were instrumental in the passage of a law to stop hiring of foreign workers by US companies receiving the federal bailout funds.
GOPIO LIFE MEMBERSHIP AND CHAPTER FORMATION

GOPIO is a non-partisan, non-sectarian global organization with chapters in several countries, actively promoting the interests of people of Indian origin worldwide by monitoring and addressing current critical issues of concern, and by enhancing cooperation and communication between groups of Indians living in various countries.
GOPIO Individual Life membership is open to all who believe in the mission of GOPIO. The onetime fee is $5,000 for Platinum Life Membership, $2,500 for Gold Life Membership and $1,500
Silver Life Membership and half the amount for each category for those from developing countries and India.
GOPIO is looking forward to opening chapters in all major cities of the world so as to network people of Indian origin all over the world. If you do not have chapter in your city, please visit GOPIO website http://www.gopio.net/chapter_initiative.htm
) and get details of chapter initiation . Process involves sending a letter of intent to start a chapter by a committee of five people or more. For more information, contact:
GOPIO President - Inder Singh, California, USA, Tel: 818-708-3885, E-mail: gopio-intl@sbcglobal.net
GOPIO Executive Vice President - Lord Daljit Rana, UK, Tel: +44 28-9807-
8787, Email: dsrana@andrashouse.co.uk
GOPIO Secretary General - Ashook Ramsaran, New York City, Tel: 718/939-
8194, E-mail: ramsaran@aol.com
NEW LIFE MEMBER
To become a Life member of GOPIO, send it with a check to: GOPIO, P.O. Box 1413, Stamford, CT 06904, USA.
visit http://www.gopio.net/membership_form.htm
, print and fill up the form and