Uniondale, NY: The India Association of Long Island (IALI) proudly celebrated its 47th Annual Gala on July 18 at the prestigious Long Island Marriott in Uniondale. It was an elegant black-tie affair, with Long Island’s most prominent leaders and community members in attendance, as well as impeccably dressed guests who added glamour to the evening.
IALI President Jasbir Jay Singh (left) with Harry Singh, Founder of Bolla Oil Corp.
The night honored three extraordinary business leaders who have significantly impacted their industries and the Indian-American community: Chintu Patel, Co-Founder of Amneal Pharmaceuticals; Harry Singh, Founder of Bolla Oil Corp; and Naveen Shah, Founder of Navika Capital.
Rajshree and Naveen Shah of Navika Capital honored by the IALI Executive Council.
The evening commenced with a warm welcome from Amita Karwal, IALI’s Cultural Chair, who invited Shashi Malik, Gala Chair, on the stage. Shashi introduced Jasbir Jay Singh, President of IALI, who received a standing ovation from the audience. In his inspiring address, President Singh thanked the three Officers, the Executive Committee, the AdHoc Committees, the foundation and pillars of the organization, who are the Past Presidents, sponsors, elected officials, and the honorees. Mentioning the humility of all three honorees, Jay also shared updates on IALI’s ongoing initiatives, including an exciting presentation on the proposed IALI Community Center building project.
The gala featured a panel discussion with the honorees, providing valuable insights into their journeys of success, resilience, and philanthropy. The discussion was both engaging and inspiring, drawing enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Community leader Kanak Golia (3rd right) and wife Prabha (center) with the IALI team members.
The evening also recognized the invaluable contributions of numerous sponsors and community leaders, including Kanak Golia, Ravi Chopra, Anil Jain, and Sunil Jain, among many others. The guests enjoyed a sumptuous dinner and cocktail reception catered by Mint Restaurant, known for its exquisite Indian cuisine, which was a highlight of the evening.
North Hempstead Town Supervisor, Jen DeSena, and Town Clerk Ragini Srivastava also attended the event.
With over 3,000 members and a rich legacy of 46 years, IALI continues to be a cornerstone of the Indian-American community on Long Island, promoting cultural heritage, service, and unity. Its officers for this year are Ravindra Kumar as VP, Hargovind Gupta as Secretary, and Sujata Seth as Treasurer.
Entrepreneur Kaanan Patel, daughter of Chintu Patel, with President Jay Singh.
The Executive Committee includes Dr Abha Bhatnagar, Amita Karwal, Ashwani K Sharma, Deepak Bansal, Mohan Sharma, Munish Byala, Dr Neeru Bhambri, Renu Kapoor, Sanju Sharma, Shashi Goyal, and Vinod Goyal. The Gala Committee consisted of Shashi Malik and Bhavna Sharma.
(All photos courtesy: IALI)
