US Congressman Danny K Davis Honors Ethnic Leaders

Lifetime achievement for Dr Pratap Kumar, Leadership award for Dr Siva, Dr Sonia Mehta named woman of the year and Golden Eagle award for Air India’s Rishikant Singh .

Chicago IL: US Congressman Danny K Davis 7th congressional district, Illinois’s Multi Ethnic Advisory Task Force – MEATF, presented the Annual Awards for Ethnic leaders who made significant contributions in various fields in 2013. Multi Ethnic Advisory Task Force Organized the Annual Awards Gala 2014 from 7:30 PM, on Friday – February 07, 2014, at Saffron Restaurant, 6200 S Cass Ave, Westmont, IL 60559. Under the aegis of Congressman Danny Davis’s Multi Ethnic Advisory Task Force, a host of eminent Indian American and. South Asian leaders from business, Grass-Roots Community and Medical Professionals united to hail ‘Multi Ethnic Advisory Task Force Annual Awards Gala2014’.

The event started with enjoyment of Appetizers and Drinks. Santosh Verghese and Kathakali Dasgupta enthralled the audience with their array of Bollywood Songs, Tapas Dasgupta also sung a duet with Kathakali. Opening Prayer was done by Bishop Rev. Samuel Vallabdas. Invocation Recital was done by Master Amir Jawad. In his Welcome Address Dr. Tapas Dasgupta, MEATF Chairman welcomed all starting with Annual Salute to Hon. Congressman Dany Davis and confirmed that ‘ We are Celebrating Congressman’s Leadership by Honoring Leaders from different Ethnic Communities in Chicago Land. Our Honorees are Leaders from the Indian, Pakistani, Sri Lankan, Japanese, Chinese, Iranian, Palestine and Middle Eastern Ethnic Communities.

Congressman Davis has developed a unique and energetic style of Communication and Interaction with his Constituents by setting up dozens of Advisory Task Forces to consider significant questions of Public Policy. Mr. Raja Krishnamurti, Mr. Bhanwar Loshi, Dr. Bansi Sharma, FIA President Keerthi Ravoori, Dr. Jacob (Jawed), Ehsan, Mrs. Sunita Christian from Indian Consulate, Dr. Arthur Nazarian, Mr. Gopal Shah, Dr. Mahesh Parikh, Mr. Vijender Doma and Mr. Moon khan, Satheesan Nair, Imtiaz Ahmed, Jermo Athistam, Mr Samuel JamesJudge Marianne Jackson were among
Dignitaries who graced the Gala Event.

In his Opening Remarks Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, Member Secretary MEATF said, ‘I firmly believe that for our Congressman Danny Davis, the Inclusion and Promotion of Minorities is not a Political Compulsion but a matter of deep faith. Dr Prabhakar listed all the activities of the Task Force since 2010. He also announced the forthcoming events including the Celebration of International Woman day on March 8, World Health Day on April 7 and Asian American Heritage Celebration in May 2014.

Students of Vidya Pandikaran, School Natya Rasika performed an invocation dance by small kids in name ‘Mooshiga Vahana Shlokam Dance which was acclaimed by all.

Congressman Danny Davis delivered a thought provoking address, where he hailed efforts of young and said youth is the future of world and it is safe in hands of talented youth and their progressive and affirmative guides. He emphasized the need of uplifting Minorities. He said that children should not walk in anybody’s shadows. There is nothing to imbalance Leadership. They must be shaped and molded properly. He appreciated the spirit of Asian American Community and asserted that they are to be more useful and play an important role in economy of USA and their motherland too.Congressman Danny Davis praising the leadership of Ms. Tanya Prabhakar , the mistress of ceremonies said that Ms . Tanya Prabhakar is the best Mistress of Ceremonies in the Country to a thundering applause of the audience.

Mr. Kishore Mehta Executive Director of the MEATF said that there has been overwhelming response from the different Ethnic Communities for the annual salute. He welcomed Mr. Richard Boykin, the candidate for cook county board of commissioners, first district and announce “Last month we had a great success raising fund for Mr. Boykin and our next fund raising for Mr. Boykin will be on March 8th at Hema’s Kitchen on Devon Avenue. Please join us for the event.”

U.S. Congressman Danny K Davis presented tha Awards to the following at the gala ceremony:
Student of the Year Award to Mohansrinivas Kesavulu, James B Conant High School, Schaumburg For his excellence in Academics, Sports, Community Service and Exceptional Talents. Youth of the Year Award to Dr. Krishna Subramaniam, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, In recognition of his Outstanding Research and Leadership in empowering the less privileged. Couple of the yearAwardto Dr. John Yousefzai & Mrs Armenouhi Arzomanian, For being a Role Model Immigrant Couple and successfully raising a family of professionals. Father of the Year Award to Rev. Kazuo Takami, District Pastor, Holy Spirit Association for the Unification of World Christianity. For being an exemplary ambassador of ” one family under god, beyond race, nationality and even religion.”Mother of the Year Award to Ms. Hema Potla, President & C.E.O., Hema’s Kitchens, In recognition of her True Spirit of Caring, Giving and her compassion for the community. Organization of the Year Award to Chinese American Citizens Alliance, Chicago Ms. Ivy lam, for being an Effective Civil Rights Organization in successfully addressing the concerns of the Chinese American Community in Chicago.

Corporate of the Year Award to K 4 Inc. Mr. Amin Ibrahim, In recognition of his Small Business Enterprise ‘s Contribution to the Economy of the Westside of Chicago. Outstanding Community Service Award to Gopal G Lalmalani , M.D., M.B.A., President, Village of Oakbrook, In recognition of having been elected and serving as the President of the village of Oakbrook. Distinguished Leadership Award to Dr. Sivalingam Sivanathan, Professor of Physics, University of Illinois , Chicago, In recognition of his Dynamic Achievements in the field of Renewable Energy and his pioneering contribution in co-founding I.N.S.P.I.R.E. . Physician of the Year Award to Dr. Mohammed Zahid, President, the Elgin Clinic, In recognition of his pioneering work in Clinical Care, Research and for Developing New Standards and Treatment Protocols for Kidney Patients. Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Mr Maskoor Ali Khan, President, Therapy providers of America, Inc. ,In recognition of his Leadership Skills in Building a Successful Health Care Network . Woman of the Year Award to Sonia Mehta, M.D., M.B.A., President and C.E.O./ C. M. O. of Loretto Hospital. In recognition of her unique achievement of being a Successful, Effective Administrator and an Excellent Physician. Man of the Year Award to Mr. Sohan P Joshi, President, National Federation of Indian -American Associations (NFIA), For being the first person from Chicago to be elected as the National President of N.F. I.A. in its 34 year history. Golden Eagle Award to Mr. Rishikant Singh, Manager, Air India Midwest Region, U.S.A. For his Exemplary Leadership of India’s flagship Air Carrier, Air India in the Midwest Region. Life Time Achievement Award to DR. Pratap C Kumar, Chairman, Cardiology Department, Jackson Park Hospital, For his three decades of dedicated service as a Teacher, Physician, Community Activist, Innovator and a Leader for the Minority communities.

All thanked MEATF in their incomparable work and upliftment of Minorities.

Introducing the Congressman , Ms Tanya Prabhakar recalled that Mr Davis was the first to endorse President Obama when he ran for the U.S. Senate. Further describing Davis as a visionary who includes minorities with a missionary zeal in all his endeavors., and that Davis is a living legend indeed who serves as a role model for all of us.

Kishor Mehta, Director, MEATF proposed a Vote of Thanks. Bringing down the curtains on the well conducted awards ceremony. In his Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks he said, ‘I thank Hon. U.S. Congressman Danny Davis for his Leadership and guidance and constant support. Mr. Mehta added in his remarks “ I am confident that our deliberations and engagements have been very successful. A key indication of our success is our Multi Ethnic Task force membership is growing. Thank you, Dr. Dasgupta and Dr Prabhakar for your leadership. To our valued members; I would like to seize this opportunity to publicly acknowledge your interest and support as I have no doubt that you will continue to stand by us. He urged all the guests to become members of Multi Ethnic Task Force and actively participate. ”

Ms.Tanya Prabhakar,of John Marshall Law School, & Youth Chair of Congressman Task force served as the Mistress of Ceremonies for the glittering Award Ceremony. She handled the entire deliberations gracefully. Congressman Davis along with Dasgupta, Judge Marianne Jackson and dignitaries took part in cutting the 80th Birthday cake for Bishop Rev. Vallabhdas.

Sumptuous Dinner was served and enjoyed by all.