[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 97 (Friday, June 20, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1037-E1038]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




RECOGNIZING THE 5TH ANNIVERSARY AND HONOREES OF THE VIRGINIA CHAPTER OF 
           THE GLOBAL ORGANIZATION OF PEOPLE OF INDIAN ORIGIN

                                  _____
                                 

                        HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 19, 2014

  Mr. CONNOLLY. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Virginia 
Chapter of the Global Organization of the People of Indian Origin 
(GOPIO) on the occasion of its 5th Anniversary and to recognize this 
year's honorees.
  GOPIO was founded at the First Global Convention of People of Indian 
Origin in New York in 1989. The initial purpose of GOPIO was fighting 
human rights violations of people of Indian origin. While we have seen 
improvements over the years, human rights violations continue to be a 
major issue for people of Indian origin living outside India. In 2001, 
GOPIO was accredited by the U.N. as an NGO to participate in the World 
Conference

[[Page E1038]]

Against Racism. GOPIO has now expanded its mission to pool financial 
and professional resources for the benefit of people of Indian origin 
and the communities in which they live. Today GOPIO has 28 chapters in 
18 countries.
  The Virginia Chapter of GOPIO is led by its founding President, Jay 
Singh Bandari. The chapter has a mission of serving the entire 
community and has collected food for the less fortunate, held free 
medical clinics, and provided financial assistance and scholarships.
  The Chapter also honors people of Indian origin who have excelled in 
the fields of education, business, industry, community service and 
other endeavors. I am pleased to enter the names of this year's 
honorees into the Congressional Record:

     Dr. Partha Pillai--Community Service
     Korok Ray--Education and Economic Research
     Aziz Haniffa--Journalism
     Dr. CM Prasad & Dr. Surya Dhalcar--Medicine
     Lt. Colonel Ravi Chaudhary--Politics
     Natwar Gandhi--Finance

  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the 
Virginia Chapter of GOPIO on its 5th Anniversary and in thanking this 
year's honorees for their service to our community.

                          ____________________