PHOTO INSET, Prakash Parekh, public relations and legal advisor of IACPA, introducing speakers at the Benefit Gala at Mandarin Oriental New York on Nov. 13, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA). PHOTO BELOW guests at the event. (Photos: Mohammed Jaffer/Snaps India)

The 10th anniversary of Indian American Center for Political Awareness (IACPA) was celebrated at ‘An Evening With Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.’

Four outstanding Asian Indians were also honored for their achievements. Senator Clinton, the Guest of honor, feted the honorees.

A surprise ‘Outstanding Lifetime Achievement Award’ was presented to publicity-shy Gopal Raju, entrepreneur, publisher and founding chairman IACPA.

Senator Clinton, the Guest of Honor, in her message in the event souvenir said, “Since its inception in 1993, IACPA has been one of the preeminent Indian American organizations in our nation. I commend Gopal Raju for his leadership in creating IACPA, which promotes awareness of politics and government in the Indian American community.”

Sen. Clinton said, “Through the Washington Leadership Program (WLP), more than 130 young Indian American students have been placed in Congressional offices as interns. The three IACPA interns who served in my office

---- Samir Arora, Hari Kondabolu, and Sandeep Rao ---- were impressive in their commitment, ability and enthusiasm.”

The first benefit gala, a black-tie affair on Nov. 13, was complete with details of an elegantly fine evening. Three hundred and fifty guests, crème de la crème of Asian Americans, many of whom flew down from various parts of the globe, started the evening with cocktails in the Ballroom Foyer of New York’s newest, the fashionable Mandarin Oriental hotel, which officiallyd two days after the event. During the cocktail hour, award winning musician Rudresh Mahanthappa played the saxophone to a bass accompaniment. In keeping with Mandarin’s reputation, immaculately dressed waiters passed hors d’oeuvres ---- butler’s favorite from the chilled selection was ‘Dates and Boursin Cheese with Toasted Almonds’ and, from the hot selection, ‘Artichoke, Sun Dried Tomatoes and Boursin Strudel.’

Guests then proceeded to dinner in the Ballroom on the 36th floor with a spectacular panoramic view of the Central Park from three glass walls. Award-winning pianist Vijay Iyer and saxophonist Mahanthappa, both young and talented, played to the audience which had come to celebrate the leadership qualities of young accomplished Indian Americans.

Salad of ‘Three Lettuce Roll with Tropical Fruit and Avocado’ was waiting for them at the dinner table. Also at the table for each guest was the program with IACPA History and a DVD outlining WLP’s program with interns talking about their own experiences.

Gala chairman, noted orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Chittaranjan Ranawat, greeted the Guest of Honor, Senator Clinton, and the guests.

IACPA President, Dr. Bhupendra Patel, spoke of founding chairman Gopal Raju’s vision and 10 years of carrying the responsibility of funding the Center. He called for support from the community leaders and corporate endowments for expansion.

Neil Kataria, an intern from the WLP class of 1998 who is on the board of the center, spoke of the 132-member alumni and their experiences on the Hill.

The honorees were presented with crystal trophies by Senator Clinton and gala co-chairman Sant Singh Chatwal. The honorees were: Naresh Goyal, founder and chairman of Jet Airways; Mukesh ‘Mike’ Patel, founding member and former chairman of Asian American Hotel Owners Association (AAHOA); Analjeet Singh, chairman of Max Group of Companies; and Rajendra Vattikuti, founder and president of Complete Business Solutions Inc., and his wife, Padma.

IACPA, a national, non-profit organization, was founded in 1993 as India Abroad Center for Political Awareness by entrepreneur and publisher Raju.

He saw that the Indian-American community’s economic and professional success did not translate into political influence. The center was started mainly to empower the Indian American community to participate in the political process and public policy.

The organization was later renamed the Indian American Center for Political Awareness. In 1995 IACPA started the Washington Leadership Program (WLP) to introduce Indian American college students to the political process through Congressional internships. The idea was to enable them to get a first hand look at how the political process works while they also receive leadership training.