Reception for historic first Consulate General of India in Los Angeles as diaspora celebrates LA Consulate inauguration
CERRITOS, CA: Cerritos Center for Performing Arts located in Cerritos California witnessed a houseful of community leaders, prominent community members, business owners and Indian Diaspora, who were present to welcome Dr. K J Srinivasa to Los Angles, the first Consul General of newly established Consulate of India in Los Angeles. He was accompanied by Consul Mr. Kulwant Singh and Vice Consul Priyanka Tyagi.
The event was organized by the United Indian Associations of Southern California (UIASC) representing Southern California’a vibrant Indian community with a support from many other organizations from the greater Los Angeles Metro area. Even though it was just a day before Diwali many came from far away to participate in this historic event.
The event was meticulously organized by Executives of UIASC including Kewal Kanda as Chair, Ashok (Pat) Patnaik as Co-Chair, Sudip Gorakshakar, Dr. Sukrit Mukherjee, Charu Shivakumar, Amrit Bhandari, Hark Vasa, Ashok Madan, Dr. Rangaesh Gadasalli, Hasmukh Modi, Surekha Modi, Arvind Patel, Kumar Shah and Smita Shah and other community leaders including Anju Garg, Mallik Banda, and Kanak Singh Zala.
The cultural program organized by Charu Sivakumar started with Ganesh Vandana followed by beautiful singing by Priya and Rajeshwari. The dancers from Savitri Dance Academy and Kathak performances were very much appreciated by the audiences while they waited for Consul General to arrive.
Upon arrival of the Consul General the official program began with lamp lighting and national anthems of USA and India. Ashok (Pat) Patnaik welcomed all the attendees and the guests of honor and invited the speakers for the evening.
Anju Garg spoke about the Consulate’s long journey from “Vision to Manifestation of the opening in LA”. She thanked many who were present and had supported her initiative and making this “Mission Impossible” to Mission Successful. Anju Garg was instrumental in collecting letters and signatures in support for this initiative. During his speech Mr. Sudip Gorakshekar stressed on successful Indo-US relations to continue, while Mr. Mallik Banda welcomed the new Consul General and pointed to a new beginning.
Mr. Ashok Madan talked about the background for the community to desire for a consulate while Mr. Venkat Peddi and Mr. Kanak Singh Zala addressed on the possibility of a new frontiers with the opening of the historic Consulate in Los Angeles. In his welcome speech UIASC Vice President and Convener Dr. Sukrit Mukerjee laid out the background of UIASC and its future relationship with the Indian Consulate. Legendary business magnate Dr. Kali Pradip Chaudhuri pointed out the patriotic feeling about the motherland and requested all Indians to come together and show the maximum unity against outside forces. All community leaders welcomed the Consulate General and reiterated their support for the consulate in any future missions that it undertakes.
UIASC President Mr. Kewal Kanda introduced the Consul General in a beautiful introduction. He told the audience the new consul general is well known to most of us as he was deputy consul general in San Francisco before being assigned here in LA as Consul General. Dr. Srinivasa spoke very eloquently about what made this consulate possible and stated that difference was the efforts made by the diaspora. He gave best wishes to everyone for Diwali. He said he was happy to be back as he had previously worked with many of the leaders during Pravasi Bhartiya Divas. One of the initiatives he wants to undertake will be to start a non-stop flight from Los Angeles to major cities of India. He discussed the upcoming Olympics in LA and future of Cricket in the Olympics. He also stated that with the new consulate he expects increase in collaboration and bilateral business between two countries. He announced that he expects a fully functional consulate in downtown LA AON building sometime in December.
The program concluded with Consulate warmly meeting all the community present at the event and taking pictures with them.
The community meet and greet was followed by a sumptuous dinner prepared and served by Ashoka the Great.
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