It was a triple celebration: 30 years of Shanti Fund, 25 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, and five years of the Gandhi Peace Garden.
By Parveen Chopra
Hauppauge, NY: On October 5, Shanti Fund celebrated its 30th anniversary, 25th anniversary of installing Mahatma Gandhi’s statue, and fifth anniversary of the Gandhi Peace Garden at SUNY-Old Westbury.
The event, held in the H Lee Dennison Building foyer, the seat of Suffolk County, honored Gandhi’s enduring legacy of non-violence, peace, and justice to mark his 155th birth anniversary. County officials addressed the gathering, as did the Indian Consul General in New York, Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, while Shanti Fund honored three remarkable individuals.
Consul General Pradhan said, "Gandhi’s principles of unity, tolerance, and mutual respect are more relevant than ever today. Let’s embody his principles and work towards a peaceful, just, and harmonious world.” He also pointed out that Gandhi laid emphasis on conservation and the environment even a century ago.
Consul General Binaya Srikanta Pradhan paid homage to the Mahatma in his address.
Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine welcomed on the red carpet.
Congressman Nicholas J. LaLota was given a red-carpet welcome.
Suffolk County Executive Edward Romaine said, “Gandhi reminds those in public life the value of humility and I will live up to it in my term.” Peace, non-violence and education were paramount for Gandhi, he added.
Arvind Vora of Shanti Fund pointed out that they have been promoting Gandhi’s ideals in many school districts on Long Island. Randy Rusielowicz, Principal of Patchogue-Medford High School, elaborated.
Congressman Nicholas J LaLota, representing NY District 1, lauded the rise of the Indian community on Long Island as the 3rd ‘I’, after the Irish and Italians.
Dr Timothy E Sams, President of SUNY-Old Westbury, was the first of the three honorees. He quoted late Congressman John Lewis’s advice of ‘create good trouble’ to emphasize that Gandhi’s nonviolence, too, should be for the good of people. He had collaborated with Shanti Fund and the Indian Consulate to establish the multi-acre Gandhi Peace Garden on the SUNY campus, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Dr. Timothy E. Sams, President of SUNY-Old Westbury, was one of the three honorees.
Honoree Dr. Avni Thakore (3rd from left) with Arvind Vora, Dr. Jitendra Shah, Dr. Marion Bergman, and Suffolk County Executive Ed Romaine.
Dan Maloney Jr, President of the Maloney Family Funeral Homes, was honored for his continued support of the Shanti Fund and communal harmony initiatives on Long Island.
The 3rd honoree, Dr Avni Thakore, President of Catholic Health Physician Partners, related how her grandfather was active in Gandhi’s movement to liberate India. Today, we should emulate the Mahatma’s leadership principles, she said.
The honorees and dignitaries were presented with a pictorial biography of Mahatma Gandhi.
Dr Panna Shah, a founding member of the Shanti Fund, related its history. When she told the gathering a poignant fact that only two months earlier, Arvind Vora had life-threatening brain surgery, all present gave him a standing ovation. The morning program concluded with a sumptuous vegetarian lunch.
(Left) Huntington Town Clerk Andrew Raia on the red carpet. (Right) Anthony Santino, former Town of Hempstead Supervisor, is a past honoree of Shanti Fund.
Volunteers of Shanti Fund posing with the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the foyer of the Suffolk County legislative building.
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(All photos courtesy: Shanti Fund)
(Parveen Chopra is the founder-editor of ALotusInTheMud.com)
