August 2004 | Home |
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By NITISH S. RELE - [email protected]
About 2,000 people are expected to attend India�s 57th Independence Day celebrations on Saturday, August 14 at the India Cultural Center in Tampa.
Federation of India Associations of Tampa Bay (FIA) is organizing the event, which will begin with flag hoisting at 5:30 p.m. The chief guest will be Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist. The keynote speaker is Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen who serves on the International Relations and Government Reform committees as well as on the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. She serves residents of Florida�s 18thCongressional District. The first Hispanic woman elected to the U.S.Congress will speak on international terrorism.
A Bharat Seva award will be presented to Dr.Atul Chokshi, who is an interventional cardiologist in New York. He also is founder, chairman and managing director of Krishna Heart Institute in Ahmedabad. The institute provides life-saving technology to people at no cost.
Bombay-based Bollywood Tune Orchestra, a 10-person group, will perform. Also, folk dances of Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Bengal, Maharashtra and Punjab will be presented by local artists. Admission is free for the celebrations, during which dinner also will be served.
Dr.Akshay Desai of St.Petersburg, who was recently appoint-ed by President George W.Bush for his Advisory Commission of 15 Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, will be honored by FIA.
The commission will advise the president on developing,monitoring and coordinating federal efforts to improve Asian American and Pacific Islander participation in government programs; foster research and data collection for Asian American and Pacific Islander businesses and communities; and increase their level of participation in the national economy and economic and community development.
�We believe that there is unity in diversity,� said Satya Shaw, Independence Day event chairman. �We are bringing about 30 associations in Tampa Bay area into one umbrella. Unlike other cities such as New York and Los Angeles,we celebrate Independence Day together.� About 30 associations in the Tampa Bay area will be participating in the celebrations.
For more information,visit www.FIAofTampaBay.org or e-mail [email protected]
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