India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Indo-American Democratic Organization (IADO), one the ethnic Indian bodies established in Chicago, held its 28th Annual Dinner last week in Schaumburg with over 450 people of both Indian American Diaspora and numerous Democratic politicians attending it.Enthusiastic elected members of the local, state and federal legislative bodies as well as the aspiring candidates to the political offices like Paul Chadha, candidate for the State Assembly, 26th Dist, took to the podium and expressed their views and shared their opinions with the audience on a variety of issues. Most of them, including Lou Lang, State Rep., 16th Dist, Sen. Ira Silverstein (D), 8th Dist, Alderman Bernard L. Stone, Alderman Joe Moore urged people to register to vote.

"We are democrats because we care for what Democratic Party stands for, and voting is all about electing the people who care," said Lou Lang in his brief address.Alderman Stone said that he had always respected their opinions and stood by them throughout his political career as they did by him. The function also provided an opportunity to Chicago Indian Americans to listen to the energetic and youthful Congressman from Ohio Legislature, Jay Goyal. In a spirited speech Goyal expressed his deep appreciation for the democratic institutions in the US as he pointed out the maturity of the fellow citizens of his constituency who overwhelmingly elected him.

He said Indian community had been accepted by the citizens of US and his election was an excellent example of that spirit of unity in diversity."I am proud to be a member of Indian Caucus, the largest caucus within the US Congress. This caucus deals with Indian Americans' concerns here and also relations between the US and India," Congresswomen Jan Schakowsky, said in her Keynote speech. She observed that US India Nuclear Cooperation Pact was facing opposition from some Indian political interest groups.

She hoped that the impasse would end and long sought after nuclear cooperation would materialize shortly.In his Presidential Message, Dr Ram Gajjela paid compliments to the vision and leadership of his predecessors who tried hard year after year to bring laurels and political triumphs to the small Indian American Community, who by dint of their hard work, commitment and dedication became a highly accomplished and respected group, in spite of their none-too-significant number.Making a humble beginning in 1980, he recalled that IADO had reached a milestone in its development by inspiring new generation of IndianAmericans galvanize to empower the community on a path to an all round growth. As a result IADO, he said, had burgeoned into a highly effective and acknowledged grass-root political organization in the state of Illinois.

He said the organization had successfully tackled the issues of immigration, discrimination, healthcare, etc. and achieved a measure of success. "Our focus now is to move beyond these conventional grass-root level political activities and espouse a larger vision more meaningful to the Indian American Community," he stated.Highlighting the many programs helpful to the community he noted significant growth of "Student Internship Opportunity" to encourage young Indian Americans to participate in government and in the political process. He assured that IADO will keep up its goal of working for Democratic candidates in local, state and federal elections.

A front ranking Indian American businessman, Naren Patel of Medstar Laboratory, Inc. was presented with the "Outstanding Leadership Award." The award was in recognition of his support and dedication in promoting Indian Americans as future political leaders. IADO President Dr Ram Gajjela presented him the award in the presence of Dorothy Brown, Clerk of the Circuit Court of Cook County, and US Rep.

Jan Schakowsky. Madhuri Kommareddy and Ram Villivalam performed excellently as Mistress and Master of Ceremonies. The function drew to a conclusion after an excellent fashion show by young and vivacious models belonging to the Indian American Diaspora.