Carmel Mayor Jim Brainard Honored with the
Indiana Ratna Award at the IIBC Gala
Los Angeles, August 14, 2023
NRIpress.club/ KP Singh/ Ramesh/ A.Gary Singh Grewal
A multicultural and multi-generational gathering of over 300 strong galaxy of friends, supporters, and sponsors attended the event. Many of the guests proudly wore elegant and festive Indian attire for the happy occasion where
"India and Hoosier Indian-Americans were honoring Indiana and a respected Hoosier leader and a dear friend."
Raju Chinthala - a brilliant, thoughtful, and resourceful emerging Asian Indian-American leader and the Founder and First President of the
Indiana India Business Council, and his dedicated Team warmly welcomed a beloved friend and nationally and internationally recognized the innovative and farsighted Mayor of Carmel, Indiana - Jim Brainard to the spectacular Gala in his honor. Our hearty congratulations to Honorable Mayor and Indiana Ratna, Jim Brainard.
The evenings festivities included the National Anthems of India and USA; classical Indian dances by Anitha Un Srikant dancers and Indian music. Glowing tributes were paid by Indiana leaders and Consul General of India from Chicago in attendance to the great success and farsighted vision of a dedicated public servant who has earned for the City of Carmel reputation of being among the best places to visit and live in the USA. They spoke of the incredible opportunities for trade, exchange, friendship, and cooperation that promise even greater rewards for Indiana and India in the decades ahead. The ornate Indiana Roof Ballroom was the beautiful setting to honor the
distinguished guest, Mayor Jim Brainard with the Indiana Ratna (Jewel of Indiana) Award with all traditional formalities of a colorful garland, magnificent brocaded Indian silk scarf, and a specially designed IIBC Medallion.
At the end of the formal program and an Indian-inspired Dinner, the guests were invited to dance to the Indian and Western popular music selections by an experienced DJ. Some of the guests joyfully showed their skills and others attempted the Punjabi Bhangra dancing and footwork traditions. A Prayerful Reflection and incredible sense of Pride and Promise: My mind, memories, and spirit wandered to what I witnessed at the earliest beginnings of this cultural and international renaissance that we witness today. First Indian gatherings were in apartment living rooms; at the Purdue Extension classroom where you brought a dish to share and your own paper plates; a different welcome and the surprise of a community to see a turbaned Sikh in the City-County Building
(The Indianapolis News - October 2, 1967).
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Today there are over 20,000 Indian families including thousands of Hoosier Sikhs in Metropolitan Area alone serving Indiana in many fields. The international community has grown a thousand fold; the International Center, Asian American Alliance, Inc., Nationalities Council, Center for Interfaith Cooperation, Penrod Society, and the hundreds of other organizations have brought the arts, cultures, businesses, new world-class talents, artists and assets, a wide variety of services and dynamic pioneering spirit to their Indiana Home.
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A Prayer is being answered - "The winds of culture are freely flowing through here," and so many joyful celebrations are offering some truly favorite attractions that are making Indiana and Indianapolis as one of the exciting
world-class welcome destinations in America's Heartland. The Prayer, Promise, and Personal Commitments is at Work: We need to stay focused on our advancement toward a better future for ALL and addressing areas that assure everyone to belong, serve, and prosper. Undreamed rewards are waiting. As we applaud all those who have made it possible. As Hoosier Americans may we dedicate ourselves not just to being a part of blessings, but as full partners in our communities and Nation be prepared to serve and lead.
Our hearty congratulations: Raju Chinthala, the IIBC Team, and all who are making outstanding contributions, innovative investments, and passionately advancing the vision to serve and succeed as our shared solemn responsibility.
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