Seen in the photo, Dr. Chopra, center, with the award. Others in the photo are Dr. Sean Fanelli, president, Nassau Community College, at left and Thomas Suozzi, Nassau County Executive, at right. (Photo: Courtesy, Dr. Parveen Chopra)

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Birthday Celebration Committee of Nassau County, NY, selected Dr. Parveen Chopra as the recipient of the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Recognition Award for 2005. According to the press release, Dr. Chopra’s leadership in the Asian American community demonstrated the very spirit, Dr. King dreamed of.

His award, a bust of Dr. King sculpted with a plaque of his name on it, was presented at the annual luncheon at the Long Island Marriott Hotel, NY, on Jan. 17. According to Dr. Chopra, when he was president of the Federation Indian Association in 1987, racial discrimination became frequent in areas like Jersey City and Jackson Heights. “I got involved with the local leadership and held dialogues, marches and discussions with the city officials,” he said. Dr. Chopra then founded the Jackson Heights Merchants Association to serve as a forum to protect and preserve the rights of Indian Americans.

Dignitaries, ranging from Supreme Court Judges to City Officials, were present at the luncheon to support Dr. Chopra’s achievements. “Its really wonderful, it was an opportunity for me to pay tribute to the African American community as well as the leadership of the Jewish community members who, under the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, have done so much that they have made this country moreto the recent immigrants and lessto discrimination,” said Dr. Chopra in response to the recognition award.

Dr. Chopra has achieved five graduate degrees with honors and an MBA and a Ph.D. in business administration from City University of New York. He served on the Human Rights Commission in the State of New York and subsequently served as vice chair and then co chair of the committee for the past eight years. A member of many boards and committees, Dr. Chopra has represented the Indian American community at large. His immediate family consists of his wife Usha and two sons, Samin and Sachin.