Indian American Forum Hosts Another Successful Event
The Indian American Forum once again organized a highly successful event, drawing enthusiastic participation from the community.
Regardless of whether the weather was extremely hot or severely cold, dedicated supporters of the event showed up in full force. This was clear on Saturday, June 13 at Eisenhower Park, Field #6A. Although the day began with high temperatures, the weather became more moderate by evening, allowing many attendees to gather comfortably by Lakeside Theatre.
Indian American Forum Chairperson Indu Jaiswal, President Vimal Goyal, and founder Dr. Bobby Kumar Kalotee was joined on stage by Town Supervisor Hon. Jen DeSena, Park Director, and members of the Asian American Advisory Board, Executive Members of IAF. The program began with Ms. Hanika Reddy Parvathala performing the American National Anthem, followed by the Indian National Anthem sung by Bina Sabapathy, Indu Jaiswal, Dr. Bhavani Srinivasan, and Vimal Goyal.
Chairwoman Indu Jaiswal warmly welcomed the audience and briefly described the ongoing Indian American Night. Dr. Bobby Kumar Kalotee introduced the distinguished guests and expressed gratitude to the County and others for their continued support in making the event possible. President Vimal Goyal echoed these sentiments. The honoree segment, managed by Brahashitha Gupta, recognized eleven recipients recommended by various organizations for their selfless service and community contributions. A highlight of the event was NYTCBL President Ajith Bhaskar presenting his winning cricket team HCC LIONS WINNER OF 2026 SPRING CUP with their trophy, and the two teams HCC LIONS and LIDB STRIKERS. were honored with citations and plaques by Dr. Bobby Kalotee, Hon. Jen DeSena, IAF Board Members, and the Executive Team.
The cultural program was vibrant and engaging, with Bina Sabapathy working tirelessly to showcase dances representing the East, West, North, and South of India. The performances ranged from Bollywood to Tollywood, Bharata Natyam to Bale Bale Bhangra. Guru Sadhna Paranji’s dance from Sadhnalaya was particularly outstanding. Special thanks were extended to Shilpa Jurani, Sadhna Paranji, Brahashitha Gupta, Sweta Goswamy, and singer Gautam Chopra and Jyoti Gupta for keeping the stage lively with their own performances and their students’ contributions.
All attendees enjoyed snack packets and Pani Puri, which proved to be a big hit. The ambiance was beautifully decorated by IAF members and volunteers.
The program concluded with a Bhajan Jamming, featuring performances by Jyoti Gupta, Dr. Jag Kalra, Dr. Bhavani Srinivasan, Bina Sabapathy, Indu Jaiswal, Vandana Kumar, Dr. Neeru Bhambri, Harvinder Bhatia, Asha Dua and Gautam Chopra. Chairperson Indu Jaiswal expressed gratitude to everyone for their participation, especially the media and photographer Ruchita Kaul and expressed hope for an even larger turnout next year.
Esteemed Honorees
- Karthikeyan Balakrishnan Graduated: 1999 bachelor’s degree in production engineering. College: PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore. Role: Senior Program Manager at Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. at Edison NJ. Hobbies: Cricket, Tennis, Cooking and Gardening. NYTA – Associated for the last 10 years. Started as a dedicated and sincere volunteer, served in many roles – picnic organizer, food committee chair, NYTA Annual day event coordinator, PTA Lead, School Director. And also, an active volunteer and supporter of FETNA, NYTS and TNF.
- Nishant “Nick” Garg Nishant “Nick” Garg is a respected entrepreneur, business leader, and community advocate with over 25 years of experience in the wireless, telecom, electronics, repair, recycling, distribution, and consulting industries. An immigrant from Darjeeling, India, Nick came to the United States with determination, hard work, and a vision to build meaningful opportunities for himself and others. Over the years, Nick has built and operated successful businesses across the wireless and technology sectors, including retail wireless stores, device trading, electronics repair, reverse logistics, e-commerce, training, and telecom consulting. His business journey reflects resilience, innovation, and a deep understanding of the evolving technology industry. Nick is also deeply committed to community service and social impact. Through his work with organizations and initiatives focused on training, workforce development, electronics recycling, and support for differently abled and justice-impacted individuals, he continues to create opportunities for people who are often underserved. His mission is to combine business success with purpose, helping individuals gain skills, confidence, and a path toward independence. In addition to his entrepreneurial work, Nick is involved in industry networking, mentorship, and philanthropic efforts. He is passionate about empowering the next generation, promoting sustainability through responsible electronics reuse and recycling, and giving back to the community. Nick’s life and career represent the values of perseverance, leadership, service, and impact. His journey from humble beginnings to becoming a successful business leader and community contributor continues to inspire many. –
- Archna Gautam, She has been working with Citi and other bank with many years in senior positions, Rotary club president in past and with them about 15 yrs, community leader and raising funds for charities. Currently as active member of IDPUSA
- Dincil George Team leader at New York State Office for people with Developmental Disabilities. President – Floral Park Bellerose Indian Merchant Association (FBIMA) President – North Hempstead Indian Malayalee Association. General secretary – Ys Men’s club of Long Island. General Secretary – FIBA (Fellowship of Indian Brethren of North America) –
- Dr. Anuj Goenka the next honoree represents the absolute best of both the medical field and our local Long Island community. He currently serves as the Vice-Chair of the Department of Radiation Medicine and the Director of Radiation Oncology for Neuro-oncology at Northwell Health, where he has been a vital part of the team since 2014. As an Associate Professor, his clinical focus is dedicated to the highly specialized treatment of benign and malignant processes of the central nervous system. He is a physician who doesn’t just practice medicine; he advances it. Whether he is developing pioneering Low-Dose Radiation Therapy protocols, implementing cutting-edge clinical systems, or chairing the annual ‘Best of Radiation Oncology’ conference in New York City, his work directly elevates the standard of patient care. With his medical degree from the prestigious Johns Hopkins University and his post-graduate training at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, Dr. Goenka proves that he can be a leader in a demanding medical specialty while remaining deeply rooted in family and community life. In his community, health programs included 5K walk at Eisenhower Park last year. A proud resident of Jericho, he lives with his wife, Pratichi, and their two sons. For his tireless work in neuro-oncology, his leadership in healthcare, and his unwavering commitment to our community,
- Sri Srinivas “Shankar” Jayashankar It is my great privilege and honor to introduce a remarkable community leader, devoted family man, passionate cultural ambassador, and respected immigration attorney. He is originally from Bengaluru, Sri Srinivas Jayashankar, fondly known as Shankar, grew up in a large and loving family with his childhood rooted in the values of togetherness, unity, and shared celebrations. He often recalls how his grandparents brought the entire family together for every occasion, teaching generations the importance of inclusion, relationships, and community. As an immigration attorney, he has dedicated his career to helping hundreds of immigrants pursue their dreams and build new lives in the United States. Through his professional work, he has provided guidance, hope, and opportunity to countless families navigating their immigration journeys. Beyond his profession, one of his greatest passions is preserving and passing on our rich heritage and culture to the next generation. For more than a decade, Shankar and his family have lovingly hosted the annual Gombe Habba during the Dasara festival. What began as a family tradition has become a cherished cultural experience for the community. His home transforms into a beautiful showcase of Indian heritage, traditions, stories, and values, inspiring children and families alike to stay connected to their roots. Shankar has become a pillar of the Long Island community. “Be simple, be modest, be honest — and that will take you all the way.” – That’s his message Today, we are proud to recognize and celebrate Sri Srinivas “Shankar” Jayashankar for his outstanding contributions to our community, his commitment to preserving our cultural heritage, and his unwavering dedication to bringing people together as one family.
- Manmeet Kaur A woman of excellence, A woman of great leadership and entrepreneurial skills combined with community services and remarkable customer services, this next honoree has the great support of the community. She represents the Villager’s Farmer market, its 5th location in Hicksville, has a background of 14 years of automobile sales and grocery store managerial skills. Working with Twinkle Rana & Mr. Preet, her backbones, she deserves all the recognition from society.
- Kishore Malik He has travelled the world and seen all the cultures and world’s famous monuments. He appreciates the heritage of all great countries. Professionally he has been a travel agent for the last 4O years. An active member of IDP USA, IALI, and many organizations, providing community services.
- Ms Yogini Oza With a pleasant & Smiling personality, she moved to the USA almost 35 years ago dreaming big to achieve big! After completion of college, curved into a family with three wonderful children in life. She has been involved in community services for more than 10 years. Indo-American Lions club in Long Island NY is her brainchild and baby. She helps and cares for the needy on a monthly commitment and serves as an executive member to South Asian women’s organizations. She served as the Joint Secretary of IDP Long Island for the past 3 years. As a special dedicated worker in PUCA beginning this year, she dedicated and strengthened the community through our Asian culture development and many personal social connections. May I welcome the next honoree, Ms. Yogini Oza.
- Raj Tyagi He graduated from NIT Warangal with early experience at Vizag Steel Plant in India, and an M.S. in Computer Science from NYIT. Based in the USA since 1999, he has a long career in enterprise systems, operations, and technology leadership, currently working in ERP. Actively involved in community initiatives, including IDP, and served as Membership Chair for IALI during 2024–2025, married with two children, both currently attending medical school.
11. ANAND Prakash Velayudhan He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from University of Madras and master’s degree in management from New York University. He is working as an Engineering Manager in Zebra Technologies. He has been associated with New York Tamil Academy for the last 12 years. He has volunteered at NYTA in various capacities including Teacher, chair of different committees, Event coordinator and School Director. He lives with his wife and two children
