New York City: The Association of Indians in America (AIA) Medical Council Awards Gala, revived after a gap of 15 years, was held on May 3 at the iconic Cipriani 42nd Street, an Italian Renaissance-inspired masterpiece with marble columns, soaring ceilings, inlaid floors, and spectacular chandeliers, which make it a unique and special event space.
An ultimate experience in beauty and elegance, AIA could not have found a better place in New York for its historic event. According to AIA President Gobind Munjal, who has led AIA for more than three years, the purpose of organizing this Medical Council Awards Gala was to recognize and honor the next generation of Physicians and Surgeons of Indian descent who have excelled in their careers, academics, and profession.
Speakers at the Gala included Chair, AIA Board of Trustees, Dr Samin Sharma (top left), AIA National President Gobind Munjal (top right), Medical Council Chair Dr Dolly Manvar (bottom right) and Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient and past National President Dr Nirmal Mattoo (bottom left).
Pointing to the unique feature of this gala, Munjal said: “This AIA Medical Council Awards Gala is of major historical importance, as younger members of AIA are taking leadership roles and organizing this event, while we, the senior members, are supporting them. You will be glad to know that 50 per cent of the people attending this Gala were from the next generation. This will make young professionals interested in taking leadership roles, thereby expanding its membership and longevity of the organization”.
He added that the Medical Council Gala's tremendous success has excited a lot of next-generation people, who have expressed interest in getting involved and becoming members. Stating that similar Galas will be held every two years or so, Munjal emphasized that the future plan is to involve and take in the next generation of people as members and prepare them to take over and lead the organization.
"For that purpose, we are starting to revamp our website to suit their requirements. The AIA is growing with new members and more active participation by the next generation. Since the times have changed, so have the needs of the Indian Community. The present leadership of AIA is actively pursuing the next generation’s participation to address those changing needs. We are extremely excited that the younger members of AIA are now taking on leadership roles and have worked tirelessly to make this Medical Council Awards Celebrations a sold-out event," Munjal said.
He thanked the medical council chair, Dr Dolly Manvar, and all four vice chairs of the next generation - Dr Atul Kukar, Dr Pallavi Manvar Singh, Dr Aprajita Mattoo, and Dr Pratichi Goenka, for their commitment and hard work in making this Medical Council Awards Gala a huge success.
With the banquet room packed to capacity, the guests, young and old, dressed in their best, conversed and interacted, with DJ Kucha's music adding to the excitement. He regaled the audience with the choicest musical compositions while the guests set ablaze the dance floor with their ecstatic movements.
Munjal welcomed and thanked everyone for their presence to celebrate the occasion, honoring some of the finest representatives from the Indian American community.
Chair Board of Trustees, Dr Samin Sharma, remarked that in his past 15 years of association with the AIA, this Gala is the best he has ever seen. He also said that for the first time we have seen in any organization, so many people from the younger generation attending the Gala, which is remarkable. He mentioned that AIA needs to pick a charity through which the donations can be channeled in order to reach the needy people in India. He said he has set aside an amount of $100,000 towards this cause.
Munjal welcomed and thanked everyone for their presence, honoring some of the finest representatives of the Indian-American community. “They are role models for everyone and an exceptional source of pride and joy for the Indian American Diaspora worldwide”, he said.
(Left to right) President Gobind Munjal, Honoree Dr Deepak Bhatt, and past National President Dr Buddhadev Manvar.
The AIA Medical Council honorees came from diverse backgrounds with unique qualities. They were Dr Deepak L Bhatt, a researcher, Dr Latha Chandran, an educator, Dr Chethan Sathya, involved with public health and education, and Dr Shuvendu Sen, an author who has many books to his credit.
(Left to right) Vice Chair Dr Pallavi Manvar-Singh and Gala Chair Dr Dolly Manvar with Honoree Dr Latha Chandran.
Dr Nirmal Mattoo, Past National President of the AIA, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award. He has also been a past Chairman Board of Trustees of AIA and co-editor of the book: 'Ananya, A Portrait of India', published by AIA. He is also the Chairman of the Indo-American Arts Council and the President of the Mattoo Center of India Studies at the State University of New York.
(Left to right) President Gobind Munjal, Honoree Dr Chethan Sathya, and Introducer Dr Jose Prince.
About AIA and its efforts
Founded in 1967, the AIA is the oldest non-profit national organization. At that time, the vision and the purpose of AIA were to help unite, support, and preserve the rights of the small number of Indian immigrants who came to America (currently over 4.8 million), and assist them in their transition into American culture while preserving their Indian heritage. The motto of AIA is: INDIAN HERITAGE, AMERICAN COMMITMENT.
It was through the efforts of AIA that Indians were enumerated as a separate and distinct category in the US Census in 1980. The first-ever public event of the “Diwali” celebration, organized by AIA, took place at the Iconic South Street Seaport in New York City in 1987 and has continued since then.
In October 2003, Diwali, at the behest of AIA, was started and celebrated in the White House. Now, the festival is recognized as a holiday in New York and many other states. AIA initiated the Honor Banquet in 1973, followed by Medical Council Awards in 1974. Many of their honorees included Nobel laureates, leading artists, physicians, and academicians.
Dr Shuvendu Sen (right) receiving the award from President Gobind Munjal.
A unique program called Project India was initiated in 1973. The Association raised more than 15 million dollars in funds for disbursements for medical equipment during the Midwest floods in 1993, the Florida floods in the USA, the Latur earthquake in Maharashtra in 1993, and the 2004 Tsunami in India. The Project India also includes AIDS prevention and treatment, and has been going on for more than 50 years.
In 1997, on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of India's Independence, the AIA published an academic and culturally rich book, in association with India Study Center of Stony Brook University, titled "Ananya: A Portrait of India", which received critical and popular acclaim. In 2018, the organization celebrated its 50th anniversary in New York at a Gala Dinner in the Garden City Hotel.
(Left to right) Chair Board of Trustees, Dr Samin Sharma, Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Dr Nirmal Mattoo, Tina Mattoo, and President Gobind Munjal.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Association contributed hundreds of Oxygenators to different hospitals in India across the country and renovated and built two schools in Kerala and Rajasthan, India. On May 6, 2023, AIA celebrated the 75th anniversary of India’s Independence in Flushing Meadows, New York, attended by dignitaries like Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and NYC Mayor Eric Adams.
Going further, the Association plans many more projects, and with the arrival on the scene of the young next generation, it hopes to not only maximize the number of projects but also increase funding, quality, and diversity.
The banquet room was packed to capacity with guests, young and old, dressed in their best.
(All photos courtesy: Association of Indians in America)
