[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 176 (Tuesday, December 9, 2003)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E2497-E2498]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    IN MEMORY OF NARAYAN D. KESHAVAN

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. GARY L. ACKERMAN

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 8, 2003

  Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the memory 
of Narayan Keshavan who passed away suddenly and unexpectedly last 
week.
  Keshavan worked for me from January of 1998 until June of 2001. 
During much of that time I was the Co-chair of the Congressional Caucus 
on India and Indian-Americans and Keshavan helped me stay abreast of 
the issues facing India and Indian-Americans and stay in contact with 
the vibrant community here.
  Keshavan had a love for two countries. His adopted home, the United 
States and his ancestral home, India. So few people modestly and 
selflessly served to help U.S.-India relations through such dramatic 
periods of growth and change. Keshavan was an early and vocal advocate 
for a different kind of relationship between the oldest and largest 
democracies in the world. He saw the possibility, in fact the 
necessity, of India and the United States working closely together well 
before it was evident to leaders in either country. In a clear example 
of bringing the two cultures closer together, Kesh was one of the 
Indian Americans who made the October 23, 2003 First Deepavali Event at 
the White House happen.
  Born May 31, 1950 in Hyderabad, India, Keshavan was a graduate of 
Andhra University (Visakahapatnam, India) where he received a BA in 
Pharmacy and Osmania University (Hyderabad, India) with a BA and MA in 
journalism. Over his impressive career as a journalist, Kesh was 
respected for his vision and commitment to politics and Indo-U.S. 
Relations. In addition to working for the Congressional Caucus on India 
and Indian-Americans, he was the Founder and Executive Director of the 
Indian American Republican Council, and President of the Indian 
American Forum for Political Education (NYC and LI chapter). He also 
was a founder of the Indo-U.S. Parliamentary Forum. He served as a 
mentor to countless individuals of all ages and faiths, deeply touching 
the lives of many here and in

[[Page E2498]]

India, even those he knew only a short time. People loved Kesh for his 
honesty, intelligence and humor.
  Kesh passed away on Thursday, November 13 after he appeared on CNN in 
a interview with Lou Dobbs where he defended India in the growing 
political issue of outsourcing. Keshavan is survived by his father and 
sister.
  I ask all my colleagues to join me in paying tribute to a journalist, 
public servant and tireless community activist, Narayan Keshavan.

                          ____________________