Our Bureau
Darien, CT
The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO)-Connecticut Chapter will honor outstanding achievers of the Indian American community in Connecticut and those provide service to the community or the society at large at its 20th Anniversary Celebration with an Annual Awards Banquet on Saturday, June 13th at the Water’s Edge Banquet Hall, Darien, CT starting at 6 p.m. Five Indian Americans will be honored for their achievements in profession and service to the nation. Several Connecticut lawmakers are expected to attend this event.
The 2026 awardees are: Connecticut State Senator Prof. Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox who is also a professor of Legal Studies at Quinnipiac University for Political Leadership; Dr. Anil Diwan, Founder, President and Executive Chairman of NanoVirisides, Inc. for Entrepreneurship and Business Achievements; Veteran Journalist Ajay Ghosh, who is a media leader and founder of Indo-American Press Club for Journalism; First County Bank of Fairfield CEO Nitin Mhatre for Corporate Leadership and Prod. Hemchandra Shertukde of University of Hartford Achievement in Engineering and Applied Sciences.
Commenting on the award selection, GOPIO-CT President Mahesh Jhangiani said, “We select the awardees, who have made an impact in our society and/or those who provide outstanding service.”
GOPIO International Founder President Dr. Thomas Abraham and Chairman of GOPIO-CT Awards Committee said, “these awardees are role models for our new generations and GOPIO-CT has a done great job in building up a good image of India and Indian Americans in Connecticut.”
GOPIO-CT 2026 Awardees
Dr. Anil R. Diwan – Entrepreneurship and Business Achievements
Dr. Anil Diwan is the Founder, President, and Executive Chairman of NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE American: NNVC), where he pioneered antiviral “nanoviricide” technology designed to target and destroy viruses. He led the development of NV-387, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug candidate, not a vaccine, that has shown activity in company studies against viruses including COVID coronaviruses, influenza, RSV, Mpox, Smallpox, Measles, and Ebola. NV-387 is currently in Phase II clinical trials for Mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is also being advanced for potential use against Ebola outbreaks in Africa.
Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox – Political Leadership
Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox has served in the Connecticut State Senate since 2024, representing the 22nd District, and is also a Professor of Legal Studies at Quinnipiac University. A Fulbright-Nehru Scholar from 2015–2017, she conducted research in India on constitutional values and democratic institutions. Her scholarship and public service focus on constitutional law, human rights, media studies, civic education, and social justice.
Ajay Ghosh – Journalism
Ajay Ghosh is a veteran journalist, media leader, educator, and healthcare professional with more than three decades of experience in journalism, academia, and clinical social work. He is the Publisher and Chief Editor of The Global Net News and Health and Wellness News, and has held senior editorial roles with The Asian Era, The Indian Express (North America), and the Universal News Network, while is the Founder President of the Indo-American Press Club. In addition to teaching at Fordham Graduate School, he currently serves as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker at Yale New Haven Hospital, reflecting his commitment to ethical journalism, public health, and community service.
Nitin Mhatre – Corporate Leadership
Nitin Mhatre became CEO of First County Bank on April 15, 2026, leading a community bank that has served Fairfield County and Connecticut for more than 174 years. Previously, he served as CEO of Berkshire Bank and held senior leadership roles at Webster Bank and Citibank. He has also served on the boards of several nonprofit and industry organizations, including the Consumer Bankers Association, where he was Chairman during 2019–2020, and holds engineering and MBA degrees from Mumbai University along with executive education from Harvard Business School.
Prof. Hemchandra Shertukde, Ph.D, P.E., DMS – Achievements in Engineering and Applied Sciences
Hemchandra M. Shertukde, Ph.D., P.E., DMS, has been a distinguished professor in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture at the University of Hartford for nearly four decades. A graduate of the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur with a Ph.D. from the University of Connecticut, he is an accomplished educator, researcher, inventor, and entrepreneur. Dr. Shertukde is the author of 13 solo books, co-author of more than 40 technical books, has published over 100 research papers, holds 10 U.S. patents, and has founded several technology and medical device companies in Connecticut and Florida.
The awardees will be honored at GOPIO-CT’s 20th Anniversary Celebrations with Awards Banquet. Recognition will be given to the chapter’s Founding Members Dr. Thomas Abraham, Viresh Sharma, Sangeeta and Paul Ahuja, Meera and Bhom Banta and Gharry Gill. Past presidents who served the chapter are Sangeeta Ahuja, Shailesh Naik, Shelly Nichani, Anita Bhat, Ashok Nichani and Jaya Daptardar will also be recognized. A special recognition will be given to the Chapter’s Youth Coordinator in the early years Ms. Sharon Priya Banta.
The Awards Banquet Committee is headed by GOPIO-CT Secretary Mirat Joshi. The program includes dignitaries, entertainment and Bollywood DJ.
Over the last 20 years, GOPIO-CT, a chapter of GOPIO International has become an active and dynamic organization hosting interactive sessions with policy makers and academicians, community events, youth mentoring and networking workshops, and working with other area organizations to help create a better future. GOPIO-CT serves as a non-partisan, secular, civic and community service organization – promoting awareness of Indian culture, customs and contributions of PIOs through community programs, forums, events and youth activities. It seeks to strengthen partnerships and create an ongoing dialogue with local communities.
