[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 149 (Wednesday, December 6, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2138]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]


                         IN HONOR OF RAJ MATHUR

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. DENNIS J. KUCINICH

                                of ohio

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, December 6, 2000

  Mr. KUCINICH. Mr. Speaker, we rise today to honor the memory of an 
actively involved Cleveland citizen and leader of the Indian-American 
community, Raj Mathur. His recent death at the age of 59, is a 
sorrowful event for the whole community of Cleveland.
  After moving to the United States in the late 1960s to further his 
education at North Carolina State University, Mr. Mathur went on to 
teach economics at the University of Akron. After several year of 
sharing his knowledge with students, in 1974 he shared a piece of his 
culture with the Greater Cleveland community, opening the Taj Mahal 
restaurant, which is believed to be the first Asian Indian restaurant 
in the area.
  Dedicated to getting Indian-Americans and Asian Indians involved in 
the U.S. political process, Mr. Mathur was a founding member of Asian 
Indians for Better Government. Furthermore, he was a key member of the 
community helping to start the Federation of Indian Community 
Associations's Project Seva, which provides Thanksgiving meals for 
those in need.
  In recognition of these efforts, Mr. Mathur received the federation's 
1999 Community Service Award. We all owe him a great debt of gratitude 
for his tireless work in organizing and uniting our community, and for 
his exemplary record of public service.
  We ask the House to join with us today in honoring the memory of this 
great community leader and role model.