Our Bureau
Chicago, IL
The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) delivered a masterclass in community organization and cultural celebration this past Sunday, hosting a landmark India’s 77th Republic Day Gala at the Matrix Club. The event, held on January 25, 2026, was a powerful demonstration of unity, patriotism, and high-level collaboration, drawing distinguished guests from across the political and corporate spectrum.
The evening’s success was driven by the strategic vision of the organization’s top executive leadership. Founder President & Chairman Sunil Shah, working in tandem with President Altaf Bukhari and President Richa Chand, orchestrated an event that not only celebrated heritage but also reinforced the FIA’s standing as a pillar of the Illinois community.
A Convergence of Dignitaries and Stars
The gala was graced by the legendary Bollywood actress and singer, Ms. Padmini Kolhapure, whose presence added sophisticated elegance to the evening.
The event further solidified FIA’s diplomatic and civic relationships, with key dignitaries in attendance including:
- Shri Somnath Ghosh, Consulate General of India, Chicago
- US Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi
- State Representative Stephanie Kifowit
- Kevin Morrison, Cook County Commissioner
- Mayor Tom Dailly (Schaumburg), and Mayor Rodney Craig (Hanover Park)
- FIA Vice Chairman Neil Khot who is running for Congress in 8th District.
- FIA Director Raj Pillai running for Will County Treasurer
- Ajay Gupta, FIA Director running for State Representative in Illinois House District 41
Strategic Leadership and Key Addresses
A highlight of the evening was the address by Founder & Chairman Sunil Shah. Acknowledging the energy of the room, Chairman Sunil Shah remarked: “Despite the bitter cold outside, the warmth of patriotism, unity, and joy has truly filled this venue.” He further outlined the organization’s evolving strategic structure, noting, “This year, due to the sheer size and capability of our team, FIA has appointed two Presidents. This dual-leadership structure is a deliberate move to ensure we keep the bar raised high and deliver excellence in every initiative we undertake.”
Following this vision, both Presidents delivered impactful remarks. President Altaf Bukhari took the podium to thank the dignitaries and guests for their presence. In a moment of reflection, he expressed his profound pride in the FIA team’s hard work and stated that serving as President of such a dynamic organization is a distinct personal honor.
President Richa Chand followed with an eloquent and inspiring speech that captivated the audience. She paid tribute to the freedom fighters who fought for Independence, drawing a powerful parallel to the present day. She remarked that anyone today who dedicates themselves to the service of their country or community is performing work no less significant than that of a freedom fighter. Calling for active participation, she stated: “If you belong to that category of individuals driven to serve, FIA is the one-stop shop to channel that passion into action.” She concluded by offering a touching tribute to her family, publicly thanking them for the unwavering support that empowers her to serve the community with such dedication.
Operational Excellence & Team Synergy
The leadership of President Altaf Bukhari and President Richa Chand was instrumental in mobilizing a robust support system. Their efforts were bolstered by Immediate Past President Ms. Anu Malhotra, Vice Chairman Mr. Neil Khot, and distinguished past presidents Vinita Gulabani, Pratibha Jairath, Hitesh Gandhi, Mukesh Shah, and Rita Singh. The entire Advisory Board and volunteer corps worked in unison to turn the vision into reality.
Program Highlights: A Cultural Showcase
The evening featured seamless stage management and meaningful moments of pride. Highlights included soul stirring renditions of the Indian National Anthem, “Jana Gana Man”, by Ms. Pratibha Jairath and the American National Anthem by Riddhika Gupta.
Vocal Performances: Outstanding performances were delivered by Mr. Jitendra, Mr. Dharmender Gill, Mr. Shivam Viswanathan, Ms. Manmeet Kaur, Ms. Sargam Kapoor, and a soulful Vande Matram song by Dr. Radhika Chimata.
Dance Performances: The cultural vibrancy was elevated by energetic showcases led by Asha Mehta, Mona Kapoor, and Minoo Vasudevan.
Special recognition was given to:
- Shirlzar Dance Academy: Eli Rodriguez & Shirley Rodriguez and their team presented an inspiring patriotic dance performance.
- Classical Odyssey: An exceptional dance performance by Dhruvika & Bheeni.
Community Impact & Scholarship Awards, Launching FIA Scholarship Awards for Students in India also.
Beyond entertainment, the evening upheld FIA’s commitment to Corporate Social Responsibility. We are immensely proud of the scholarship initiative, supporting deserving students here and extending support to a student in India—a true reflection of FIA’s commitment to education and community upliftment. The FIA distributed scholarships to five deserving students in the US and one from India. The recipients included Ashritha Kukunooru, Pari Jain, Sandeep Pant, Aarush Parikh, and Anika Menta from Chicago, USA and one student, Khushi Makwana from India.
Also, Dr. Vijay Prabhakar, Chairman of Global Eye Magazine, honored Chairman Sunil Shah with a shawl for being a visionary leader and honored Anu Malhotra with the prestigious GLOBAL EYE RATNA SAMMAN AWARD 2026 with a Grand Peacock Medallion and a beautiful shawl, in recognition of her outstanding service to FIA as 2025 President and her selfless efforts toward uplifting humanity
Professional Execution & Teams
The event’s flawless execution was driven by dedicated sub-committees:
- Emcees: Shivam Viswanathan, Sakshi Sharma, Vinita Gulabani, and Dr. Radhika Chimata.
- Registration: led by Dinesh Kapoor with Sujatha Bhardwaj, Atul Wahi, Sujay Shah, Rajeev Ranjan, Sonal Shah, and team.
- Creative & Media: Shivam Viswanathan;
- Decor by Vinita Gulabani;
- Media coverage led by Ajanta Talukdar, Swati Kukian, Manoj Rathod;
- Technology/Marketing by Shivam Viswanathan;
- Stage/ Award Management led by Sonia Luther, supported by Suparna Dutta and Ajanta Talukdar, Raj Narayan.
- Production: Sound by DJ Armaan (Saif Ali) and Melody Mahesh Kumar; Visuals by Suresh Bodiwala and Ramesh Punatar.
- Secretariat: Ms. Kamlesh Kapoor and Mr. Anshul Bindal.
- Logistics: Special appreciation to USA Cab & Limo and Dharmender Gill (Transportation/Hospitality), Jitendra Balsara, Hemendra Shah, Prashant Mehta, Swapnil Sahu, Purnima Ben, Shimla Peppers (Catering), and Beautiful Ideas by Neelam Jai (Wardrobe). Padmini Ji Hair & Makeup by Vinni’s Salon.
Sponsors & Media Partners
The event was made possible through the generous support of: Sponsors: Pinky and Dinesh Thakkar, Shrujal Patel, Anil Loomba HMSI, Dr. Parag Doshi, Ketu Amin Vinakom, Brij Sharma Powervolt, Dr. Bhupinder Beri CROSSROADS Animal Hospital, Dr. Asha & Dr. Anil Oroskar, Dr Gautam Oroskar, & Ami Shah, OROCHEM, Ajeet Singh, MAFS, UMAS, Vaseekaran Janarthanam, Dr Vijay Prabhakar, AMEC Global Eye, Standard Home Care, and Syed Hussaini, Ghoman Group, Manish & Shailaja Gandhi, Medstar, INDIACO, Rely Svcs, Vinni’s Salon, SSS Entertainment, UPA, CORE Exteriors, Standard Homecare, Chicago Import Ashok Punjabi, World’s Money Exchange, Dimple’s Beauty Salon, Vidya Jyoti; Amar Upadhyay & Sanjay Vora representatives from other FIA
Media Partners: Asian Media, USA Films, Hi India, Hindi Khabar (Vandana Jhingan), TV Asia, Dhamaal Entertainment, Stellar Media & Promotions, Maven Media, The Indian Eye, Radio Zindagi, Desi Junction, Desi Talk, iUSA, A3N, PTC, Gujarat Samachar, Punjab Kesari.
Closing and Vote of Thanks
The formal proceedings concluded with a heartfelt Vote of Thanks delivered by the Secretarial Team, Ms. Kamlesh Kapoor and Mr. Anshul Bindal, who expressed gratitude to the sponsors, media, and volunteers for their tireless dedication. The night ended on a festive note with music, a cake-cutting ceremony, and camaraderie as Chairman Sunil Shah, President Altaf Bukhari, and President Richa Chand thanked the community for their unwavering support and reaffirmed the FIA’s promise to continue fostering culture, education, community and unity in the years to come.
