eye catching dance Puspanjali
CHICAGO: The Asian American Coalition of Chicago honored Indian Americans Dr Amarjit Singh and Anukool Vasudevan at their 32nd Conference on Business and Networking and Annual Lunar New Year Celebration on Saturday, February 28 at the Hyatt Regency O’Hare Hotel in Rosemont, a northwest suburb of Chicago.
This year’s gala event themed “Unity in Diversity” was hosted by the Indonesian American community of Chicago, with Martino Tangkar serving as the event chairperson. U.S. Congresswoman IL-8 Tammy Duckworth was the keynote speaker.
More than 1300 people attended this extravaganza evening dinner banquet. More than 500 attended the day time events like health fair, business seminars and networking opportunities.
Amarjit Singh M.D, past president of Indian American Medical Association of Illinois and also Past Chairman of Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago, with a stellar record of community service, won the Indian American Exemplary Community Service Award.
Anukool Vasudevan, a senior at Loyola University won the Indian American Youth Who Excel Award. Anukool is a senior at Loyola University Chicago and has also worked with researchers at Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine to determine the effects of cardiac myosin binding protein-c and its role in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in South Asians.
He has presented his work at the American Heart Association Network Symposium as well as the Central Society for Clinical and Translational Research Symposium. Anukool is also the Co-President of New Life Volunteering Society, an organization aimed at allowing students to give back to their community and increase their awareness of social justice through community service.
The awards were distributed by the Ambassador of Republic of Indonesia to U.S.A. Budi Bowoleksono, assisted by Martino Tangkar and George Mui.
Mrs Aurora Abella Austriaco, a distinguished attorney, the first ever Asian American president of Chicago Bar Association, was honored with the Pan Asian American Award. Lisa Madigan, Attorney General State of Illinois received the Coalition’s Grand Asian Award. This award is periodically presented to someone of non-Asian descent, who has made significant contributions to the Asian Pacific American community.
The dignitaries who spoke included Jesse White, Secretary of State of Illinois, Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan, State Treasurer Michael Frerichs, State Comptroller Leslie Munger, US Congressman Robert Dold, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle and Cook County State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez. Many other government officers, media outlets, local dignitaries, business and community leaders, and the consul generals of many Asian countries were in the audience. O.P. Meena consul H.O.C. represented India’s Consulate General in Chicago.
The evening program was presented by Asian American celebrities, TV and radio news anchors and reporters from Chicagoland ABC, CBS, NBC & Fox TV stations, including Joanie Lum, Billy Dec, Eric S. Horng, Judy Hsu, Nesita Kwan, Nancy Loo, Mai Martinez, Susanna Song, and Katie Kim. Linda Yu and Rick O’Dell participated by pre-taped voice overs.
During the pre-event cocktail hour reception a Fashion Show was presented by Akira and Lady Quaint.
The entertainment program featured colorful costumes, Javanese and Balinese gamelan music performances, Holy Balinese “Barong” Lion Dance, Indonesian Cultural dance “Reog Ponorogo Singo Lodoyo” by a group of 40 Indonesian dancers from Washington DC, performances from the 25 member Indonesian Consulate General in Chicago Dance Troupe; “Puspanjali” by the Indonesian Performing Arts of Chicago; and members of the Indonesian Dance of Illinois. “Journey to Harmony,” a Unity Dance choreographed by Liah Tehan, brought another interpretation of this year’s theme, and musical performance “Together, The World Can Count On Us,” by Keith, Betty & Kelly Uchima.
The evening show was produced and directed by Irene Cualoping.
An event held on this grand scale only once a year, Lunar New Year is traditionally the single largest organized annual event in Chicago’s Asian American community which takes turns to host the event. There were exhibition booths for businesses and community organizations in the foyer area during the whole day.
British-India Sikh Soldier’s contribution to World Wars I & II was exhibited in photo posters.
The next year’s hosts are Chinese American community chaired by Dr Karen Eng.
India Post News Service
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