IndiaPost.com - Consul Jagdish Rai honored for devotion to community

India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Indian Community of Chicago land showered their love and honor on Consul Jagdish Rai and Mrs Gopi Rai as they received the news of the retirement of the popular consul. Rai, known for devotion to duty as well as a willingness to help the Indian American community on all occasions, had endeared himself to members of the community at large.

He identified the Indian Diaspora as the link between the people and governments of India and America, now and in future. Starting with a send off dinner given by the Indian Community of Niles Township, many other organizations held a stream of functions for him as his retirement date end April 2008 approached. Rai was in the service of India and Indian Diaspora for 34 years.

The dinner event by Niles Indians was held on Saturday April 12 at Bombay Kabab House in Evanston where a plaque was presented to him. The NRI Press Club felicitated Rai at the Sukhadia's, popular vegetarian restaurant in Chicago land.

The function was hosted by Jayanbhai Sukhadia. In a brief remark he emphasized that in spite of all growth, prosperity and education, if a county lacks proper administration of the rule of law, all those superlatives would tend to be meaningless, for without strict adherence to law, he pointed out, no country can get rid of corruption, nepotism and miscarriages of justice.

At yet another function organized by the Federation of India Associations (FIA) at India House Restaurant, Schaumburg, Dr Barai said, "Rai will be remembered by the community for his simplicity and all accommodating nature, which the people expect from bureaucrats, but seldom find." Babu Patel, yet another community activist complimented the Consul for his good and fair relations with the community.

"He understood the community needs and never countenanced any breach of rule in his area of operations. He is leaving a good impression about himself with the community," he said. Babu Varma, Vice President of the FIA, Hasmukh Patel, and a coordinator of Gujarat Samuday, former FIA President Sohan Joshi, Vip Shah, President of Skokie Indian Association and Narendra Patel, President of AIA had individually and on behalf of their organizations acknowledged the winsome nature and fair treatment of the community members by him during the course of discharging his duties.

The FIA event was attended by as over a hundred friends, and community leaders. Usha Kumaria welcomed the guests while Hetal Patel, the new President of FIA spoke with deep appreciation of his service to the community.

Among those who addressed the function were Sunny Dhabawala, Sunil Shah, Ranjit Ganguly, Dr Bharat Barai, Babu Marsha, Amarjit Atwal, Rohit Maniar, Anil Pillai and Subash to mention but some.

The consensus was that the community wanted the Government of India send more persons like Jagdish Rai, so that the image of India with governments and people of those countries will improve.

Several others expressed their profound regards for his honesty, and all were united in expressing that Rai had established a high standard of public service for others to follow and that should do credit to the country.

Rai thanked the organizations and individuals for honoring him for just doing his job, which in fact made him feel an integral part of the Indian community in the Mid-West.