GOPIO HONOR ROLL RECIPIENTS

 

Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi - New Zealand

 

Indian origin Member of New Zealand Parliament, Kanwaljit is serving his fourth term as a List Parliamentarian for the New Zealand National Party. Currently serving as a spokesperson for Internal Affairs and Justice portfolios for the New Zealand National Party. Also served as Chairperson of Parliamentary Law and Order Select Committee. Prior assignments, as a Member of Parliament, included serving on numerous Parliamentary committees. In 2015, he was conferred Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. Bakshi has been supporting GOPIO chapters in New Zealand

 

Aumsensingh (Omie) Singh - South Africa

 

Omie Singh is a Member of Parliament serving National government since 2014. Prior to that he served as a KwaZulu-Natal Member of the Provincial Legislature from 1999 to 2014 and as a Councilor from 1996 to 1999. He is a well-known and respected community leader amongst the Indian community in Phoenix where he serves in various capacities. Omie is a member of GOPIO-Durban Chapter.

 

Raj K. Purohit - Mumbai, India

 

Adv. Raj K. Purohit, Cabinet Minister in Maharashtra Government, is a name of Public Service itself.   He got elected as an M.L.A. Four times consecutively and served chief whip of BJP party for two decades. He is a dedicated social-political worker, non-violent, fierce and workaholic leader of BJP. He started his political journey when he came from Sirohi (Rajshthan) to Mumbai. He had an ascending graph in political and social field and represents all segments of the society. Apart from politics, Adv. Raj K. Purohit is active in dozens of social, cultural, religious and educational institutes. He served as an advisor to GOPIO from March 2016 to January 2018. He helped to officially launch GOPIO International Chamber of Commerce (GICC) in Mumbai in January 2017.

 

GOPIO COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARDEES

Every year, GOPIO honors those who have done outstanding .  This year's GOPIO community Service Awards will be presented at the Final Banquet after the Valedictory Session. This year's awardees are: Veena Khosla from France, Parsram Punj from Australia, Dr. Indrani Rampersad from Trinidad,  K.V. Shamsudheen - Sharjah, UAE and  Dr. Deepak Kant Vyas - Saint Louis, USA.

Veena Khosla - France

 

Veena Khosla graduated and Gold Medalist for being First Class First from the Panjab University in India. She settled in France for fifty years with her husband Vimal. Both of them are very active and play significant roles in serving many Indian community associations in France. One of the major achievements of Veena is the launching of the Indian Women's Friendship Association (IWFA). She was its President for a long time and Founder member together with Mrs Sathe, wife of the then Ambassador of India to France. Veena made whole-hearted contribution to many social causes. Veena KHOSLA did her research work at Centre European and Centre Dramatiques of Nancy. She is presently working as Pedagogical Advisor with "Relais Universitaires" in France. She continues to work tirelessly with full convictions and displays exemplary devotions in many fields of activities with GOPIO France.

 

 

 

 

Dr. Indrani Rampersad  - Trinidad

 

Dr. Indrani Rampersad   is an educator, researcher, journalist, cultural and women's activist and Independent Researcher in Indian Culture and Hindu Dharma. In 1993, she became Trinidad and Tobago's first state certified female pandit/priest. Among her several awards is the Government of Trinidad and Tobago's National Award (GOLD) in 2013 for Development of Women. She  has published in international journals and Encyclopaedias and is a scholar in the Ram Lila performance in the indentured diaspora of Trinidad, Guyana, Suriname, and Fiji, and also in North India.  She earned the BA Hon. Degree from Benares Hindu University, India (1976); and Masters Degree (1998) and PhD (2003) in Communication and Journalism from the University of Pune, India.

 

 

K.V. Shamsudheen - Sharjah, UAE

 

KV Shamsudheen established the Pravasi Bandhu Welfare Trust, an organization dedicated to assisting troubled lower-and middle-income non-resident Indians (NRIs) in the South Indian state of Kerala in 2001. The group offers a wide range of services including financial education for low and middle-income NRIs living in GCC countries. Since setting up the organization, Shamsudheen has conducted more than 400 financial awareness programmes across the GCC and in India, 800 interactive radio programmes and over 500 TV programs.  Outside of his philanthropic work, Shamsudheen is also the founder and director of Barjeel Geojit Securities .

 

Dr. Deepak Kant Vyas - Saint Louis, USA

 

Dr. Deepak Kant Vyas, from Saint Louis, Missouri, is Chairman and Owner of Redberri Corporation who owns Timber Creek Inn and Suits and Convention Center in Sandwich, Illinois near Chicago IL. Dr. Vyas is Visionary Businessman, Investor, Philanthropist, Civic leader and an Indian Community Stalwart. The World Affairs Council of Saint Louis Missouri has presented him with Life Time achievement award-2018. He has served as Chairman of D.K Vyas Group of Companies, Redberri Foundation, Member of board of directors for St. Louis Regional Chamber, President- World Affairs Council, Member- Chancellors Council, University of Missouri at St. Louis. Deepak has been quite involved in Indian community activities. He has donated a bronze statue of Mahatma Gandhi which was unveiled in Oakbrook IL headquarter of Lions International. It will be permanently installed in Chicago IL. He was guest of Honor at FIA Chicago India Day Gala-2018.

SPECIAL AWARDS