Our Bureau
Clifton, NJ
Global Organization of People of Indian Origin-North Jersey Chapter (GOPIO-North Jersey) in cooperation with the Indian Consulate in New York, along with co-sponsors Parsippany Rotary International, Heart and Hand for Handicapped and Gandhian Society and with support from a dozen area community groups organized the launch of the India Collection of Books at the Parsippany Library in New Jersey on Sunday, September 29th at the library. With a house full crowd and many standing on the side and back, the launch was inaugurated by Indian Consul for Visa and Community Affairs Pragya Singh in the presence of Library President Melisa Kuzma, Parsippany Mayor James Barberio, Former AP and Telangana Minister from India Ponnala Lakshmaiah, New Jersey Commissioner Upendra Chivukula, the White House Policy Advisor on Energy Jay Vaingankar and community leaders.
The program started with a welcome from the Program chair Rajendar Dichpally who serves as the Director of Gandhian Society and Founder of Zakir Hussain Foundation in the USA. “Efforts like this will help the Indian American Community and also strengthen the bond between the two largest democracies,” said Dichpally.
In his welcome remarks, Program Co-chair Santosh Peddi, who serves at the President of the Parsippany Rotary International said that Rotary was happy to co-sponsor the event as part of its social/community outreach. Singing of American and Indian National Anthems by children followed.
The Library Director Melissa Kuzma said she was happy to host India Initiative event at the library as this reflects the diverse attributes of the library. She was happy to receive so many books of different genre and said it reflects the rich and diverse culture of India. She also said that the library would be hosting an event to celebrate Diwali in the later part of October.
Welcoming everyone to Parsippany, Mayor Jamie Barberio said that Parsippany was a home to many Indian Americans, and he was proud that many of them have contributed to making Parsippany a better town. Mayor Barberio, who is of Italian origin, also said that he always felt Indian Americans and Italian Americans have similar attributes and was happy to see that the India Initiative in Parsippany Library was seeing so much good response.
GOPIO International Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham who initiated and coordinated this effort from GOPIO told the audience that Indian Americans have done extremely well professionally, politically and financially, and that community should do more for the larger society. In this regards, GOPIO chapters in the New York area have successfully launched India Collection of books at the public libraries in Norwalk and Stamford in Connecticut, Edison, New Jersey, and Queens and Long Island in New York State.
“We found that these books are very valuable resources for the larger society to know about India and Indian culture, its democracy, political leaders and social reformers, economy and India’s relations with countries around the world,” said Dr. Abraham.
Dr. Abraham thanked the Parsippany Library for launching the India Collection of Books. The inauguration was done with the traditional lighting of the lamp by the dignitaries, GOPIO officials and co-sponsoring organizations.
The books were provided by the Indian Consulate and GOPIO further supplemented books collected from our community who are downsizing. These included new books and old classics which are not available anywhere else now. Several language-based classics were presented by those who were in traditional dress.
Consul Pragya Singh, who is Head of Visa and Passport renewals in the Indian Consulate, and also Consul for Community Affairs said that India was a very diverse and plural country and the consulate was happy to assist and work with local Indian Organizations in strengthening the bond between India and USA with the help of initiatives like this where the consulate donated diverse and useful books for the benefit of the Indian community and the American society.
Upendra Chivukula (Former Assembly Speaker of New Jersey) was happy to see so many Indian American turn out for this India Initiative event and also hoped to see the community take active part in local politics so that this will help the community to have its voice heard in decision making.
Former Andhra Pradesh and Telangana minister from India Ponnala Lakshmaiah who was also a former Resident of Parsippany said that he was happy to take part in the event in his former hometown and said life has come a full circle for him as he had started working at the age of 6 in a library to fund his own education and today his autobiography along with other valuable books he donated were being put in the Parsippany library. He thanked the organizers and wished success to the India initiative.
After the ceremony, some classic books in Hindi and half a dozen regional languages were presented by community representatives in their traditional dress. After describing about the book and reading a passage from the book, these books were presented to Library’s Head of Information Services Nicholas Jackson. These books will be catalogued and will be available soon from the library.
A cultural program followed with music and dances from India put together by Mrs. Manju Bhargava, President of New Jersey Telegu Association. The dancers were Indian American high school and college students.
The program continued with a networking reception. Since the ceremony and cultural program were brief, people had ample time to meet and greet each other.
“This was one of the best libraries launch of India Collection of Books with wider Indian community participation,’ remarked Dr. Abraham.
GOPIO is collecting old Indian classic books and contemporary books in all Indian languages from the community to donate to other libraries. Those who want to donate, please visit its website.
GOPIO is a non-partisan, not-for-profit, secular organization with Individual Life Members and over 100 chapters in 35 countries.
