India Post News Service
FREMONT, CA: Bollywood events in association with Anjaneyap, Ray Sharma and Gagan Singh hosted Miss World 2017 Manushi Chillar for Women Empowerment Gala on March 10 at Aria Banquet Hall, Milpitas. Before the actual gala night event, AAPIUSA had sponsored a segment of press interaction with Miss World. The event was attended by AAPIUSA Members and media.
Hailing from a family of doctors, an aspiring cardiac surgeon Manushi Chillar was crowned Miss World in 2017. “I was always focused on my studies and wanted to be a doctor, but like every girl, I would also dream of participating in a beauty pageant at least once in life,” she said.
“American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI), the most dynamic and ethnic organization representing more than 100,000 physicians of Indian origin, while officially launching a campaign against Leukemia and Lymphomas, donated $100,000 to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of America on March 10th during the annual AAPI Spring Governing Body meeting at the Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley, Fremont, CA,” declared Dr. Gautam Samadder, President of AAPI.
AAPI is a forum to facilitate and enable Indian American Physicians to excel in patient care, teaching and research and to pursue their aspirations in professional and community affairs. He added AAPI physicians represent only 10% of all physicians in the United States but service approximately 30% of the US patient population. It has over 150 Regional, Alumni and Specialty Chapters.
“Continuing with supporting noble causes, AAPI, the largest ethnic association representing the physicians of Indian origin in the USA, has taken on yet another cause to promote through its active support in educating people about the deadly disease around the world,” Dr. Vinod Shah, a past president of AAPI, and a well known philanthropist, said. Dr. Shah has agreed to match the money being provided by AAPI, thus doubling the donation through AAPI at this special event.
The fundraiser was headed by two tenth grade students from Maryland, Saar Shah and Sameer Shah. LLS’s mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families. Since its founding, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society has provided more than 600 million dollars for research on blood cancers and has coordinated a nationwide informational clearinghouse for medical professionals, caregivers, and patients. As there are no means of preventing blood cancers, the LLS research agenda is focused on finding treatments and cures. In fact, LLS has invested more than $1.2 billion in research since its inception.
Manushi plans
Manushi Chillar won the coveted title seventeen years after Priyanka Chopra, a fellow Indian who won the same title. Earlier Aishwarya Rai had won the title and become the first Indian to ever win the Miss World title. Miss World interacted with the guests from media and AAPIUSA, spoke at length on her future plans, role model, community work done by her well before she became the reigning queen. Manushi said, “Women should be limitless and not set any boundaries for their journey.”
Manushi spoke on her ‘Beauty With A Purpose’ tour with the ‘Feminine Hygiene Awareness’ campaign started in India, to educate women about the importance of menstrual hygiene management. She has been emphasizing on the need for educating the rural masses on the issue and has been a passionate advocate on why it is important for a woman to use a sanitary napkin.
Interestingly, the eight Miss World winners — Stephanie Del Valle (Miss World 2016), Magline Jeruto (Miss World Africa), Ha Eun Kim (Miss World Asia), Annie Dian Evans (Miss World Oceania), Stephaine Jayne Hill (Miss World Europe), Solange Johnson Sinclair (Miss World Caribbean), Alma Andrea Meza Carmona (Miss World Americas) have also joined Manushi in her endeavor.
“My parents have a great role in inculcating values in me. Bhagavd Gita is a major source of inspiration for me and the spiritual text has a special role in my life,” she added.
Chhillar has been appointed as brand ambassador to promote anemia-free Haryana, a campaign to help spread health awareness amongst young women. Manushi Chillar will also kick-start the annual AAPI USA convention in Columbus Ohio.
