Vir Nanda Honored at Awards Banquet in London
The N.R.I. Institute, a registered body of Indians and non-resident Indians founded in 1989, held its overseas Awards Banquet 2004 at the Radisson SAS Portman Hotel, London, on June 9. Twenty-four N.R.I.s/P.I.O.s, distinguished men and women of rare achievement, were honored in their respective fields. In the past, the N.R.I. Institute has honored Lord Swaraj Paul, Lord Adam Patel, Sir S. S. Ramphal, Vijay Mallya and Ramola Bachhan amongst many other noteworthy individuals.
Vir A. Nanda of Atlanta was presented the Pride of India Gold Award for his multifarious achievements and outstanding services rendered to the community over the last three decades having served as president, chairman and member executive committee for many a civic, cultural and professional organizations. Mr. Nanda, a M.Sc. in physics, came to the US in 1966 and acquired a M.Sc. degree in Computer Science from Georgia Institute of Technology. Some of his notable appointments are: In 1996 the Atlanta Committee Olympic Games named Nanda as their envoy and in 2002, Governor Roy Barnes appointed him to the first Georgia Commission on Asian American Affairs. Mr. Nanda has also been appointed to the board of the High Museum of Art, TechBridge and Emory University's Board of Visitors. Presently, he is the Co-founder and a Director of IIIrd Millennium, Inc., Virat Investments, VV Hospitality and others companies.
More than 400 N.R.I.s/P.I.O.s from around the world were present at the event. Prominent dignitaries like Lord Dholakia, Lord Bhatia, Lord Adam Patel, Lord Naren Patel, Keith Vaz, MP, Baroness Fleather, Tony McNulty MP, Tony Baldry, MP, Ambassador K.V. Rajan and Air Chief Marshal N. C. Suri graced the occasion.
While exhorting N.R.I.s to share their entrepreneurial skills with the Motherland, Dr. Sharma, Chairman U.K. Chapter, was all praise for the newly elected government, eager to carry on with reforms for business-related investing. Secretary General Jagmohan Singh said the newly elected Government of India has shown a positive and reassuring trend by appointing Jagdish Tytler as the Minister for N.R.I. Affairs. He hoped that the ministry under his direction will have more teeth. Mr. Rasik H. Patel in his address said that confusion of identity has had a noticeable effect on the second and third generation Indians outside India. It is desirable that they grow up good citizens of their adopted countries and at the same time they should also be afforded the opportunity to understand their cultural ties with India. He appreciated the efforts of N.R.I. Institute and its endeavors for having provided an active platform to the N.R.I.s and P.I.O.s.
Photo 1: From left ? Vir A. Nanda receiving Pride of India Gold Award from Hon. Keith Vaz Member of Parliament, UK.
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