HOOSIER SIKHS ATTEND GOVERNOR DANIELS’ INAUGURATION CEREMONY

Indianapolis, Indiana, Jan 15, 2009
KP Singh

Several members of the Punjabi Hoosier Sikh American community joined over 1,200 distinguished guests, National and State leaders, Indiana citizens, and children at the historic ceremonies for the Second Inauguration of Indiana Governor Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. at the State House on Monday, January 12, 2009.

The setting for The Inauguration Ceremony was The Indiana State House, the grandest Neo-Classical Revival Style Building in the State. The Ceremonies took place in the majestic South Courtyard (Atrium) with stained-glass skylights lined with three storey arcades of marble columns, ornate balconies and architectural embellishments. The soaring Rotunda, one of the City’s magnificent historic spaces, and the North and South Atriums have served as a center of civic life since 1888.

The Inauguration Ceremony was attended by Members of Indiana Legislature, Justices of the Indiana Supreme Court, and several dignitaries, including Senator Richard G. Lugar who served as Master of Ceremonies; former Governor Dr. Otis Bowen and Senator Evan Bayh, U.S. Congressmen Mike Pence, Byron Hill, and Dan Burton; Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard, and many others citizens and civic leaders. The Honorable Randall T. Shepard, Chief Justice of Indiana Supreme Court, administered the Oath of Office to: Dr. Anthony Bennett as Indiana Superintendent of Public Instructions; Mr. Gregory Zoeller as Indiana Attorney General; Ms. Rebecca Skillman as Indiana Lieutenant Governor. The Honorable Senator Richard G. Lugar administered the Oath of Office to as Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. as Indiana Governor.

Governor Mitch Daniels in his acceptance remarks was gracious, very thoughtful, and displayed wit, uncommon ability to relate to the audience at a very personal level and grasp of the problems facing the future of Hoosier citizens. The Governor exuded a spirit of optimism using metaphors from nature, a confident and reassuring note of competitiveness, inclusiveness, responsible stewardship, and mature Hoosier response to the times and challenges facing the State and the Nation.

The Sikh Americans and representatives of other ethnic and faith communities were invited to the Inauguration Ceremonies by Dr. Juana Watson, Senior Advisor for Latino and Immigrant Affairs, Office of the Governor. The invitation was an important recognition of the growing presence of new ethnic and faith communities in Indiana. Maninder Singh Walia, Andrew Van Winkle, Jasvir Singh Lalli, Nachhatar Singh, Narvinder Singh Bhola, Bina Ahluwalia, Dr, Tarlochan Singh Dhadialla, and KP Singh attended the Ceremonies at The State House.

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“KP” Singh,
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