Birmingham Joins Indian-American Political Activism
The resounding recent successes of the Atlanta community in political activism, may well have propelled the Birmingham Indians to join the Indian-American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE). Under the stewardship of current President Dr. Amrik Walia and the Founding President Dr Navin Nanda, the Alabama Chapter of IAFPE invited the Honorable B. K. Agnihotri, Ambassador-at-large for the Indian Diaspora, who is also Special Advisor (Ambassador) to the United Nations and former Chancellor of Southern Law University. The sold-out dinner reception was held on May 9th.
The event was hosted at The Club, a prestigious country club in Birmingham atop Red Mountain. The view from the dining gallery was exquisite as the clear skies amplified the beauty of the lighted city, it overlooked. The modus operandi for this chapter is no different than any other chapter in the US; that of making the Indian-Americans aware of the political process and their role in it; and making the candidates aware of the community and its needs and strengths.
The dinner reception was co-sponsored by (ICAB) Indian Cultural Association of Birmingham and The Greater Birmingham Chapter of United Nations Association ? USA. The full-house attendees were treated with tasty finger-food for appetizers and a full line of beverages at the cash bar, eventually catered to a sit down dinner with mouth watering entrees and desert.
Ambassador Agnihotri eloquently emphasized the need for unity amongst all our representative organizations to make a difference with the policy makers of America. He also briefly touched upon major structural, foundational and technological initiatives being endorsed in India and the definite role of the Indian Diaspora carved by the present Government. The proof of such activities is the recent consideration of dual citizenship of non-resident Indians from specific nations ? US being one of them.
The evening ended with a Q&A session with the Ambassador. It was exciting to notice and affirm the contagiousness of such successful and much needed activism and the results it will yield for our kindred in the near future.
- Viren Mayani
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