[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 10]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 14231]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      RECOGNITION OF SUDHIR PARIKH

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FRANK PALLONE, JR.

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, July 27, 2010

  Mr. PALLONE. Madam Speaker, I rise today in recognition of Dr. Sudhir 
M. Parikh, a resident of New Jersey and honored member of the Indian 
American community. Dr. Parikh recently received the 2010 Padma Shri 
award from President Pratibha Patil of India, honoring distinguished 
Indians and people of Indian origin for their contributions to a wide 
variety of fields in public life. I applaud Dr. Parikh's achievements 
and dedication and recognize his work as it serves as an inspiration to 
us all.
  Dr. Parikh is a nationally acclaimed and respected allergist and 
immunologist and has used his time, money, and influence to advance the 
goals of the Indian American and Indian communities. With the Padma 
Shri award, Dr. Parikh becomes the only Indian American to receive the 
Ellis Island Medal of Honor, the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman, and the 
Padma Shri. The Ellis Island Medal is the highest civilian honor 
presented to a U.S. immigrant for community and social service. The 
Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award is the highest honor the Government of 
India presents to non-residents.
  Publisher of Parikh Worldwide Media, Inc., the largest Indian 
American publishing group in the United States, Dr. Parikh's priority 
is to use the media to empower second-generation Indians assimilating 
to American society. His work with the media has a dual purpose: to 
expose mainstream America to the accomplishments and quality of the 
Indian American community and to encourage young people to pursue the 
American Dream.
  Dr. Parikh has also helped construct an influential Indian American 
lobbying force in Washington D.C., arranged several high-level meetings 
between U.S. and Indian lawmakers, and secured critical votes on 
multiple Indian issues. Dr. Parikh has worked closely with members of 
both houses of Congress and the Administration to develop a close, 
strategic relationship between the United States and India. Under his 
guidance, the Friends of India Caucus was created in the Senate. Dr. 
Parikh was also actively involved in the U.S.-India Civilian Nuclear 
Agreement. He currently serves as founding board member and Vice 
Chairman of the Indian American Republican Council, President of the 
Indian American Forum for Political Education and the board of the 
Federation of Indian Associations.
  As a community activist, Dr. Parikh has donated to charitable 
organizations in both the United States and India. Most notably, he 
accompanied former President Bill Clinton to Gujarat in 2001 following 
the devastating earthquake and in 2004 launched a humanitarian program 
to help tsunami victims. Dr. Parikh has worked to establish trauma 
centers in India and supports the One Teacher School in tribal regions. 
Moreover, Dr. Parikh has donated considerably to the Indian 
Independence Day Parade, the American India Foundation, Share and Care, 
and the Nargis Dutt Foundation. Dr. Parikh is one of the largest 
benefactors of both the Vraj Temple and the Vaishnavaite Temple.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in leading this body in acknowledgement 
of the extraordinary contributions of Dr. Sudhir Parikh. He is a 
greatly valued citizen of the state of New Jersey, and I am honored to 
recognize him today.

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