Our Bureau
Hicksville, NY
In a remarkable evening that blended grace, celebration, and community pride, Association of Indians in America (AIA), NY Chapter, held its Annual Benefit Gala on June 1st, 2025, at the elegant Pearl Banquet Hall. The event drew over 350 guests, including dignitaries, The Consul General of India in New York and elected officials included Nassau County executive, community leaders, medical and healthcare industry, and other professionals, all gathered to honor five exceptional individuals for their outstanding contributions to community.
AIA-NY honored five exceptional individuals, each hailing from different industries, regions of India, and fields of expertise. Their outstanding achievements and excellence in their respective domains made them truly deserving of recognition. We proudly referred to them as the ‘Five Ratnas’ (jewels) of our gala, symbolizing their invaluable contributions to their fields and the community.
Dr. Karthik Gujja, M.D., M.P.H.
A Visionary in Cardiovascular and Endovascular Care
We proudly recognize Dr. Karthik Gujja, M.D., M.P.H., for his exceptional leadership and pioneering contributions in the fields of cardiovascular and endovascular medicine. A board-certified expert in Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, and Endovascular Intervention, Dr. Gujja embodies the highest standards of clinical excellence and innovation.
In his academic roles, Dr. Gujja serves as: Director of the Endovascular Program at Mount Sinai South Nassau, Associate Director of Endovascular Interventions at the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Mount Sinai Hospital
In private practice, he leads as:
Director of Cardiac and Endovascular Services across multiple outpatient interventional suites
Founder of Long Island Heart and Vascular Specialists, with locations in Westbury, Queens, and Brooklyn and Co-founder of Empire City Heart and Vascular Specialists, serving Brooklyn and the Bronx.
His remarkable journey is a testament to excellence, innovation, and leadership in modern medicine.
Navneet Sikka, Youth Ambassador
A Visionary Leader, with exceptional achievements in business, entrepreneurship, and social activism, Distinguished Businesswoman, Dedicated Social Activist.
Navneet Sikka, a distinguished Senior Technology Controls Manager and Senior Vice President at Citigroup, brings over 21 years of expertise in the financial services sector. Her leadership and exceptional contributions have set her apart in the industry. Aside from her role at Citigroup, Navneet is a passionate advocate for community service and empowerment, exemplified through her active involvement in various initiatives. Navneet lives by the motto: “Leading with purpose, empowering through action.” Her journey continues to inspire those around her to strive for excellence, serve the community, and lead with compassion.
Navneet’s impact extends beyond her professional sphere; she holds a significant board position as Chair of the American Punjabi Society Women’s Council, where she plays a pivotal role in promoting cultural awareness and empowerment within the community. Her dedication to organizing numerous community service events — such as cancer awareness walks, blood donation drives, and cancer seminars — reflects her commitment to making a positive difference in society.
Dr. Hetal Gor, MD, FACOG
For excellence in OB/GYN with outstanding contributions in the field of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical Director, Women’s OB/GYN, CEO, Health Media.
Dr Hetal Gor, is board certified OB/GYN, practicing in Englewood, NJ. Dr Gor was born & brought up in Bombay, India. Dr Gor did her medical training in India and her OB/GYN training from India, UK and USA. Dr Gor has multiple degrees like MD OB/GYN from India, MD OB/GYN & FACOG from USA, FCPS, DGO, DNB from India.
Dr Gor has won multiple awards as a top doc, top 10 GYN surgeon award, compassionate doctor award, patients choice award, international women award for balancing career and family, International Academy Award 2017, & nbsp; Rising star award 2016, Nari Udyami Award 2018, Top five Hundred Gujarati worldwide, CAIT Award for Women Entrepreneurship 2021. she has authored multiple articles on webMD and peer journals. Dr Gor was instrumental in starting free health fairs in Bergen County and sits on multiple nonprofit and charitable organizations.
Inspite of being a very respected and talented surgeon, OB/GYN, successful entrepreneur, women’s rights champion and political activists, avid art lover, her pride and joy are her 3 grown up children who are champions in their own way.
Devendra Shrivastava, MD
A distinguished Medical Leader, and a respected figure in the medical community for outstanding contributions and dedication to excellence in Medical Director of Dialysis Services,
Dr. Devendra Shrivastava is truly an accomplished and respected figure in the medical community. As the Medical director of Dialysis and Nephrologist at The Brooklyn Hospital center and Interfaith Medical center one Brooklyn system. He has dedicated his career to advancing nephrology care. His leadership extends to Brooklyn Methodist hospital also, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping medical services.
Beyond his clinical expertise, Dr. Shrivastava has been a Visionary leader, founding Empire ACO LLC and NYCC IPA, where he serves as CEO. His commitment to education is evident in his mentorship of numerous medical residents, fellows and medical students over the years. His influence also reaches the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin Queens and Long Island (AAPIQLI), where he currently holds the position of President, and MPMAANA, where he has served as President and remains an active Board Member.
On a personal level, Dr. Shrivastava is deeply connected to his family. His wife, Dr. Branda Shrivastava, is a Neonatologist at Good Samaritan Hospital in Bayshore. His children, Maneesha and Gautam, have pursued impressive careers in finance and hematology-oncology, respectively. His daughter-in-law, Suparna, is a lawyer, adding to the family’s legacy of excellence. His contributions to medicine, leadership, and community service make him a truly remarkable honoree.
Ramesh C. Gupta, Ph.D.
A synthetic organic chemistry expert; President, Chem-Master International, Inc. Driving Value through Research and Innovation in New York; Founder, R&S Chemicals Pioneering Advances in Organic and Medicinal Chemistry, North Carolina.
Dr. Ramesh C. Gupta is the President of two pharmaceutical companies—Chem-Master International Inc., based in Hauppauge, New York, and R\&S Chemicals in Kannapolis, North Carolina. He is an expert in designing and synthesizing complex molecules used in the treatment of various diseases, especially cancer.
Dr. Gupta earned his undergraduate degree from D.A.V. College, Chandigarh, followed by a master’s in chemistry (1974) and a Ph.D. (1978) from Himachal Pradesh University, India. His doctoral research focused on synthesizing naturally occurring flavonoid compounds to better understand their structures. From 2003 to 2013, Chem-Master had a research partnership with OSI Pharmaceuticals, where Dr. Gupta led a team of 12 Ph.D. scientists. He served as the principal investigator for numerous cancer and antiviral drug projects and received NIH SBIR/STTR Phase I and II grants to develop a novel DHA-Taxoid conjugate (DHA-SBT-1214) aimed at treating colon, breast, lung, and pancreatic cancers. In addition to leading his own research, Dr. Gupta collaborated with Lixte Biotech Inc. on the development of enzyme inhibitors targeting cancer pathways. they have two children: Joyce, a director at Barclays, and Vikas, a neurologist specializing in epilepsy in Virginia.
The Gala proudly recognized three distinguished individuals for their outstanding contributions:
Distinguished honor of the evening was bestowed upon our Chief Guest, The Honorable Binaya S. Pradhan, the Consul General of India.
Leadership Award in the education field to Dr. Christine Mangino, President of Queensborough Community College.
The Excellence Tribute in Public Service award was conferred upon Mr. Ashok Lavasa, a retired IAS officer from India, in recognition of his remarkable achievements.
The honor of the evening was bestowed upon our Chief Guest, Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman and The Honorable Binaya S. Pradhan Consulate General of India.
President Beena Kothari extended her sincerest appreciation to all attendees, including distinguished dignitaries, elected officials, special guests, and esteemed honorees. President Beena Kothari congratulated the honorees and expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the AIA team for making the event a resounding success. The President extended her heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Gobind Munjal, National President of AIA, as well as all past National Presidents and NY Chapter Presidents, for graciously attending the Benefit Gala and for their unwavering support.
Hon. Thomas P. DiNapoli – New York State Comptroller, Senator Charles Schumer’s Office, represented by Tandeep Singh, Congressman Tom Suozzi’s Office, Hon. Edward P. Romaine – Suffolk County Executive, and Hon. Rich Schaffer – Supervisor, Town of Babylon congratulated and conveyed best wishes to AIA-NY.
Hon. John C. Liu – New York State Senator, Binaya S. Pradhan Consul General of India, in New York, Hon. Bruce Blakeman – Nassau County Executive, Hon. Rosemary Walker – Nassau County Legislator, Hon. Seth Koslow – Nassau County Legislator, Hon. Jennifer DeSena – Supervisor, Town of North Hempstead, Office of Hon. Joe Saladino – Supervisor, Town of Oyster Bay represented by Harry Malhotra, Hon. Ragini Srivastava – Town Clerk, Town of North Hempstead graced the Gala with their presence.
The beautiful gala commenced with a captivating opening ceremony, featuring:
– 8-year-old Kiana Vyas, performed the Ganesh Vandana daughter of Viral and Harsh Vyas
– Sujata Seth, who melodiously sang the Indian National Anthem
– Maya Kaul, who proudly rendered the American National Anthem
Their outstanding performances set the tone for a memorable evening.
We’re thrilled to announce that this event was a resounding success! The purpose of the gala was to raise funds for our upcoming Deepavali festival, benefiting Gala
The President and her BEST team extend their gratitude to everyone who contributed to the event’s success. We’re excited to celebrate Deepavali with a grand event showcasing Indian culture, traditions, and Indian-American cultural programs. The event’s success was made possible by the tireless efforts of the NY core team and dedicated volunteers, whose meticulous planning and selfless service brought this milestone celebration to life.
Gala Chair : Kanak Golia
Gala Finance Chair – Haridas Kotahwala
Save the Date: Our iconic Deepavali event, held annually for 37 years in Manhattan at South street Seaport , will now take place on Long Island at Tanner Park, Copiague.
Join us on October 11th (rain date: October 12th) to continue the Indian traditional festivities with your family!
Association of Indians in America (AIA) is the oldest national association of Asian Indians in America, founded in 1967.AIA’s mission is rooted in promoting the interests of Asian Indians, fostering community engagement, and celebrating our cultural diversity.
A very nice article, but the name If the Association is
Association of Indians in America! Abbreviated as AIA