WTC ARA Quadrant A apartment data log, May 2003

NYC 9/11 Public Portal Document

PRESS RELEASE

F.I.A. CELEBRATES INDIA'S 54 TH REPUBLIC DAY

There were a Panorama of Indian dances by the best choreographers from tri-state area of NY, NJ, & CT at the Passaic County Technical High School in Wayne, NJ on Jan. 25, 2003 and a flag hoisting ceremony at Sardar Patel's statue at Royal Albert's palace in Fords, NJ on Jan. 26, 2003. This two day mega event was organized by FIA to celebrate the 53rd anniversary of India's independence. In attendance were 200 participants including 18 choreographers representative of the dances from the various states in India. Jimmy Shergill, a Bollywood movie star added glory to both events. The newly elected FIA executive committee members, Jagdish Patel (President), R. Radhakrishnan(Exec. Vice President), Jayesh Patel(Vice President), Bhavini Tara Shah( Secretary), Swapan Bandyopadyay(Treasurer), and Subhash Keluskar(Jt. Secretary) were sworn in by New Jersey Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula. Honorable Pramathesh Rath, the Consul General and the Regional Director of Air India, Mrs. Seema Andhare were both amazed by the performances from young and talented artists from the tri-state areas of NY, NJ & CT. A large FIA crowd cheered as Mrs. Andhare also announced that Air India has added a fourth flight to its regularly scheduled flight plans from Newark, NJ to India starting April, 2003. FIA's President Mr. Jagdish Patel, in his inaugural speech announced that the upcoming events planned include a Visa camp at the TV Asia Studio in Edison, NJ on Feb. 8, 2003. Additional events include business, immigration, legal, medical, political education, senior citizen and youth seminars. Mr. Patel announced the message of providing a unified FIA in the upcoming year and appealed to all of the Member Organizations to work together towards common goals. Mr. Patel also announced the two-mega events that FIA conducts every year is a tradition to be continued with an India Day Parade to celebrate India's Independence Day and a dance competition to celebrate India's Republic Day. The event was concluded with dinner refreshments. A flag hoisting ceremony was held at Royal Albert's Palace in Fords NJ on Jan. 26,2003 at noon. The guest of honor, Mr. Jimmy Shergill graced the event with a speech appropriate for the occasion. A flower bouquet was offered to Sardar Patel's Statue by invitees and sponsors

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