FIA Chicago hosts grand gala for India’s 74the Republic Day. Awards scholarships

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More than 400 guests attended the Jan. 29, 2023, FIA-Chicago gala held to celebrate India’s 74^th Republic Day, under the leadership of President Vinita Gulabani and Chairman and Founder-President Sunil Shah at Chicago Marriott Northwest, Hoffman Estates, IL.

The event was sponsored by a long list of sponsors led by among others, the Ghoman Brothers, Amarbir Singh Ghoman and Harsharan Singh Ghoman, the owners of Chicago
Marriott Northwest, IL. Other sponsors  Chintan Patel, owner INDIACO.

Organizers thanked them in a press release. They also thanked other sponsors including Orochem (Anil and Asha Oraskar, Vinakom (Ketu Amin), IT Experts US (Harry Mohan), SNT Biotech (Ninad and Shital Daftari), Rely Services (Neil Khot) , Crossroads Animal Hospital (Dr. Bhupinder Beri), SSS Entertainment, Hollybolly Unlimited (Sunil Shah and Family), Indian American Business Council (Ajeet Singh), Manish And Shailja Gandhi, Strike Ten (Dhitu Bhagwakar), World’s Money Exchange Inc (Anil Shah), Chicago Cardiology (Dr. Doshi), Inter-Continental Trading USA Inc, Bhatt Foundation (Hitesh And Kim Bhatt), Rgl (Aishwarya and Rajiv Sharma), Dimples Beauty Salon (Hitesh and Dimple Gandhi), Pranacare Pharmacy (Hansal Patel), India Foodie Lounge (Yagnesh Patel), XDC Global (N Nagasubramium Iyer(Subbu)), SR International (Rita and Sanjeev Singh), Nalanda Educational Foundation (Pradeep Shukla and Team), Innovative Consulting Solutions, LLC, Gardi, Haught, Fischer & Bhosale Ltd (Hiten Gardi), Ashima Washington, HMSI (Anil Loomba), Standard Homecare (Syed Husseini), Blue Sky Innovation – Sanjiv Gulati, Krishna IAA Insurance Group, Cosmic Consulting Group (Chandini Duvuuri).

“FIA-Chicago is very thankful & grateful to all our supporters & sponsors for making this event a GRAND success, which was truly unparalleled, unsurpassed & transcendent event because of their generous support,” the organizers said in the press release.
The Chief Guest was India’s Consul General Chicago Somnath Ghosh; Guest of Honor, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, D-Illinois.

Other special guests included Michelle Mussman, State Representatives of the 56th district; Tom Dailly, President Schaumburg Village; William Duncan McLeod, Mayor of Hoffman Estates, IL; Rodney S. Craig, Mayor & President- Hanover Park, IL; Gopal Lalmalani, Mayor & President- Oakbrook, IL; Dr. Suresh Reddy,Trustee Oakbrook Village; Vandana Jhingan, Bureau Chief TV Asia; Kevin Morrison, Cook County Commissioner; Khaja Moinuddin, Hanover Park assessor; Swapnil Shah, Hollywood Actor; Susan Mendoza, Illinois State Treasurer.

Many prominent community leaders were present on the stage including Dr. Bharat Barai, Vandana Jhingan, Meghna and Krishna Bansal, and Karl Kalra.

A social hour with Raju Bankapur playing melodious patriotic tunes was organized by Anu Malhotra.

The main event began with Sonia Luthar thanking the attendees and inviting Chandini Duvuuri and R.V. Reddy to host the initial segment. Duvuuri and Reddy dwelt on FIA’s vision and achievements.

Sunil Shah in his speech, welcomed and thanked everyone for their presence. He outlined the important achievements and community service that the FIA provides. Shah in his closing remarks, said, “Freedom in our Heart, Pride in our Soul, Purity in our Blood, Let us Salute our Motherland India!!”
Past President Rita Singh hosted the next segment who invited current President Vinita
Gulabani. Gulabani spoke of the pride that Indians exude all over the world, and the institutions that keep India safe and the population living without fear in the country. Gulabani also spoke of the progress India had made over the years

Past President Hitesh Gandhi and Founder and Past President Onkar Sangha also came on stage.

The American National Anthem was sung by Jenish Bulsara and the Indian National Anthem by the group of singers Manmeet Kaur, Geetanjali Maru, Jeetendra Bulsara, Ravi Thokala, Swapnil Sahu and Mani Tellapragada.

A Prayer dance followed, choreographed and performed by Pika Munshi (RK Dance Academy), and a patriotic dance choreographed by Pika Munshi and the participants included Diya Talati Kavya Shah, Veda Mehta, Harini Patel, Shayna Shah, Kavya Parikh.

Consul General Ghosh in his speech, outlined the importance of the Republic Day and the leap India has taken under the current leadership in all sectors and the improvement in India’s image worldwide. He thanked the Indians living in the United States of America for the positive image they held in the country.

Rep. Krishnamoorthi also addressed the gathering.

The next segment was co-hosted by Executive Vice President Shital Daftari and the tradition lamp-lighting ceremony took place joined by Consul General Ghosh; Rep. Krishnamoorthi, and other special guests

Other organizations whose representatives attended the event included Hema Kanuru of Telugu Association of North America; Hanumanth Reddy of American Telugu Association; Narender Reddy Chemarla of American Telangana Sanghan;  Madan Pamulapati of North American Telugu Society; Rambhupal Khandula of North American Telugu Association;
Hari Raini of NRI Vasavi Association; Preeti Reddy of Telangana Development Forum; Hema Chandra Naidu of Tri- State Telugu Association; Parameswara Reddy Yarasani of Tri- State Telugu Association; Gowri Shankar Addanki of  Chicago Andhra Association; Nambi Nambiv of Tamil Sangam;  Malla Reddy Bokka of Indian Association of Greater Chicago; Kishore Channabasavaiah of Kannada Kuta Association; Anto Anthony of Kerala Association of
Chicago; Rajinder Mago of Punjabi Association; Girish Kapoor of United Punjabi Association;. Debasis Chatterjee of Bengali Association of Chicago; Deepali Saraogi of North American Chattisgarh Association; Chandan Singh of Uttarakhand Samaj of Greater Chicago.

Other attendees included Anil Pattnaik of Orissa Association of Chicago; Nageswari Thota, American Progressive Telugu Association and Maharashtra Mandal.

Thota also introduced and Invited the FIA Advisory Board, the Executive Board and the FIA Board of Directors to the stage.

The main highlight of the event was the FIA’s Annual
Scholarship Program which recognized 5 meritorious needy students awarding them scholarships of $1000 each.

The recipients of the scholarships were Diya and Dev Talati, Dhruv Syngol, K. Darshan Thomas, and Gautami Palthepu, the 5^th recipient Anya Venkat was unable to attend the event.

The emcees for the gala entertainment section were Richa Chand and Suchitra Kukreja.

Dances from Rajasthan were performed during the gala by the Saaz Dance Group; the patriotic parade also took place where individuals dressed as Indian leaders of the freedom movement.