STAMFORD, DECEMBER 22, 2004
IANS

A South African journalist, a Trinidadian rights activist and a leader of the Indian community in Dubai are among six people chosen for the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) Community Awards 2005.

The awards will be presented at the upcoming GOPIO conference that will be held in Mumbai Jan 5-6 in conjunction with the Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (Diaspora Day) being held in the same city from Jan 7-9, GOPIO said in a statement here.

About 300 delegates from 25 countries are expected to attend the conference with the theme: "India and NRIs/PIOs - Role, Relationship and Responsibility."

GOPIO International is headed by Thomas Abraham as chairman and Inder Singh as president. The conference in Mumbai is being coordinated by GOPIO-Mumbai coordinator V. Balachandran.

Among the awardees are Farook Khan, journalist, social and animal rights activist of Pietermaritzburg, South Africa; Keshavlal Amrutlal Shah, popularly known as Kishore Bhai, who has dedicated his entire life to community development and charity work in India; and Uka Solanki, a strong supporter of educational and medical charity activities in India, the US and other North American countries.

The others are John Mathai, a prominent leader of the two-million-strong Indian community in Dubai; Ramesh Lawrence Maharaj, a former attorney general and rights activist of Trinidad and Tobago; and T. Marimuthu, a distinguished Malaysian who has made a mark both in academia and public life.

GOPIO will also honour S. Ramadurai, CEO of Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Mumbai, with the 'Special Recognition Award' for "placing Indian computer professionals around the world".

The conference will start with a session on country and region reports highlighting the issues and perspectives of the NRI/PIO communities from six regions of the world.

This will be followed by a media conclave, in which eight journalists from different regions of the world will discuss "Indian Diaspora and Media".

Kumar Ketkar, editor of the Marathi-language Loksatta newspaper and Maharashtra Times, will deliver the keynote address.

Navnit Dholakia, deputy leader of Britain's House of Lords and president of the Liberal Democrat Party, Basdeo Panday, a former prime minister of Trinidad and Tobago and currently leader of opposition, will be among those who will address the inaugural ceremony Jan 5.

The GOPIO conference will have three sessions and will discuss "Indian Diaspora - Social, Political and Economic Issues", "GOPIO Connect - Helping in Developmental, Philanthropic and Education Activities" and "Business, Technology and Investments".

India's Science and Technology Minister Kapil Sibal will deliver the keynote address on "Business and Technology".

The conference will conclude with the Awards Banquet, which will be addressed by India's Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Jagdish Tytler.

The Academic Council set up by GOPIO and headed by Jagat Motwani will be formally inaugurated Jan 6 with addresses by former Trinidad and Tobago prime minister Basdeo Panday and former Fijian prime minister Mahendra Chaudhri.

The Council has been set up to develop a network among those who conduct Indian diaspora studies.

GOPIO will also induct four PIO political leaders the into GOPIO Honour Roll - Fiji's Chaudhry, Trinidad and Tobago's Panday, Dholakia and Malaysian Minister S. Samy Vellu.