Diwali 2019 Bios
Peter Bheddah
Long Island, NY-based Peter Bheddah, recipient of 2012 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, America’s highest honor for immigrants and a recipient of the 2014 Humanitarian Award by the Interfaith Nutrition Network (INN), which operates 14 soup kitchens for homeless people in Long Island, has always been driven by an overriding impulse to help the needy. He has delved deep into his own pockets and has worked tirelessly to provide the much-needed succor to the needy in the US as well as India.
Bheddah, who came to the US in 1960 from Kutch, Gujarat, India has remained deeply connected to his country of origin through his active involvement in community service. His humanitarian efforts have been geared toward helping the less fortunate in the two countries he has called home throughout his lifetime.
Bheddah is a past president and a director of the Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation. Bheddah is also a Past President of the Gujarati Samaj of New York. During his two-year term from 2001 to 2002, he is credited with raising a substantial amount of money and restructuring the finances of the Samaj.
Among his other affiliations, he has served as Chairman of 2014 India Day Parade in Hicksville, Long Island; was a member of the Advisory Board of the Heart and Hand for the Handicapped; a director of the Bidada Hospital in Kutch, Gujarat and a director of KOJAIN, a community organization of Kutchis in the United States. As Chairperson of Fundraising for KOJAIN he raised more than $150,000 to support community members affected by heavy monsoon rains in Mumbai in 2005.
Bheddah lives in Port Washington, New York. He married Dorothy in 1964 and she has been his partner in his humanitarian and philanthropic activities.
Vikas Dhall
With dreams of success and big ambitions for a young man in his early 20’s, the opportunity to immigrate to New York from Indore, India couldn’t be passed upon. Immediately, Vikas Dhall set out vigorously working on his dreams of building a road to success.
In 1999, Vikas Dhall opened the first ZCom Wireless store and capitalized on the cell phone boom. Vikas is a venture capitalist investing in many start-ups and technologies worldwide. Vikas recently launched a financial-tech service LoanMantra.com. Vikas Dhall is a well-respected member of the ever-growing Indian community on Long Island, and he continues to give back to various Indian organizations. Dhall is the former President of the South Asian Chamber of Commerce, past president of Rotary Club Hicksville South. Trustee and Chairman for Gurdwara in Plainview, New York, and founding member and Chairman of Sikhs of America New York chapter.
Mr. Dhall is also known for his charitable contributions to various non-profit organizations around Long Island. Vikas Dhall has received many citations and recognitions form politicians across New York State. In 2006, the Long Island Press named him one of the most powerful people in Long island. Today Vikas Dhall resides in Muttontown, New York, with his wife Indu and his sons Harsaheb and Raunak.
Anu Gulati
Ms. Gulati is a Rotary Club of Hicksville member since 2016. Anu is an active board member as Joint secretary 2018-2019, helping raising funds for various projects. One of the projects she spearheaded was the undergarment project for the women from the shelters who want to be independent and go for interviews properly dressed. People donate outfits and outerwear in abundance but forget the most essential part-the undergarments. Anu’s efforts were recognized as “Women’s Empowerment Day!
Anu is also a member of the Indian American forum which helps either IDP, Indo American night, and Republic day celebrations etc.
Anu is also an Executive Member of Ekal Vidyalaya and a lifetime member of the Indian Association of Long Island. She is a member of the American cancer society and has been actively helping by raising money as well as working in various capacities as a volunteer. She has volunteered at the Senior Forum since 2012. She organizes luncheons with guest speakers on various topics helpful for the senior citizens.
She has received the Nassau County 2015 community service award. Anu has participated in raising funds for IALI food drive for the last 20 yrs. In addition, she also Volunteers at a Hempstead church soup kitchen sponsored by RCHS.
Harshal Kadakia
Harshal Kadakia works at The New York Racing Association. NYRA runs 3 NY state Thoroughbred race tracks, Aqueduct, Belmont Park and Saratoga racecourse. Harshal leads all aspects of NYRA’s technology strategy and digital transformation.
After 17 years at NYRA as the Senior Director – Technology Strategy & Development, he now takes on this new role of VP, Chief Information Officer. His contributions can be found on virtually every major technology project at NYRA.
In the last several years, Harshal and the IT team have integrated technology-driven systems into many parts of the organization, from parking, to food & beverage, merchandising, ticketing and guest services. He serves as a mentor to his team and as a role model for people both in Technology and throughout NYRA.
Harshal holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electronic Engineering from Bharati Vidyapeeth University in Pune, India. He earned a Master’s degree in Computer Engineering from Wayne State University.
Harshal also dedicates his time for a non-profit organization called Balasinor Association of America. He is member of executive committee which organizes various annual events for the organization. These events promote Indian culture and helps educate our youth about Indian history and values. Harshal Kadakia lives in Levittown with his wife and 2 daughters, Hiral and Bhavi.
Nilima Madan
Nilima is the National General Secretary for The Association of Indians in America. AIA has celebrated Diwali at South Street Seaport in New York where almost 250,000 people from the Tri State gather during the day and watch their signature fireworks.
As the National General Secretary for Overseas Friends of BJP, she has been an important part of organizing several events for ministers and dignitaries who travel from India. As a Trustee and Past Executive Trustee of Vedic Heritage Inc. she has headed annual competitive cultural programs for children and organized Indian Classical Vocal, Dance and instrumental programs for several years besides a lot of other community activities and festivities.
Nilima has been a part of IDP USA since inception in. This year she was the Event Coordinator Chair for IDP USA 2019. She is also a member of the Indian Association of Long Island and has organized business forums for the community. She has been part of the round table at the Indian Consulate in New York and organized programs at the premises for lectures and an art exhibition.
Nilima is also the President Elect of Rotary Club Hicksville South as she admires the charitable giving endeavors they undertake for the under privileged and is involved with few other organizations like, Indian American Forum, Ekal Vidyalaya, VHP of America, LILC and others as a committee member and a proud community leader with Rotary’s mission in her heart of ‘service above self’.
Dr. Rajeevi Madankumar
Dr. Madankumar graduated from medical school in India in 1989. During her residency training at Long Island Jewish Hospital, she actively participated in teaching the medical students from Albert Einstein College of Medicine and was awarded the best teaching resident by the students many times. She also worked as a full-time faculty in Flushing hospital and Jacobi medical center and taught the residents and the medical students.
During my training in Medical Genetics at Montefiore Medical Center (AECOM), I worked on a new serum marker, Pregnancy Associated Plasma Protein – A2 for trisomy 21 and the findings were subsequently published.
Currently Dr. Rajeevi Madankumar is the Principal investigator for an industry sponsored study looking at the value of non-invasive prenatal screening in correctly identifying pregnancies affected with 22 q11 deletion syndrome. She continues to teach medical students and plays a vital role in teaching the students from Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine. In addition to teaching the students, Ob/Gyn residents and MFM fellows, she also teaches the students undergoing training to become technicians in sonogram.
Above all, her clinical work involves helping pregnant women making reproductive decisions in difficult situations. She also provides care for women who are high- risk due to co-morbid factors such as diabetes, hypertension etc. In addition to her clinical, teaching and research work, she plays a vital role in the regular activities of the Antepartum Testing Unit at the Center for Maternal-Fetal Health, Long Island Jewish Medical Center.
