NEW YORK: For the first time in its history, leaders of the American Association of Physicians of Indian origin (AAPI) led the India Day Parades in Dallas, TX on Sunday, August 12 and in New York City on August 19. Applause from the crowds reached a crescendo as the first ever colorfully decorated float bearing AAPI’s name, symbol, and message of health and wellbeing to all rolled on in New York City.
Led by its energetic leaders, the AAPI float marched along with a record 70 floats, saluting India and the over a billion people of Indian origin around the globe.
A record number of people, both Indian Americans and mainstream Americans thronged the sidewalks, filling Madison Avenue from 39th to 17th Streets, cheering jubilantly as the floats portraying the rich heritage of India and the rise of India as a world power, meandered through the Big Apple. The gods seemed to smile as the as the clouds lifted and the summer sun shone forth.
The crowds acknowledged the contributions and achievements of the Indian Diaspora and paid homage to the victims of the recent senseless tragedy in Wisconsin, where innocent Sikhs were killed.
A host of AAPI leaders, including Dr. Narendra Kumar, President of AAPI, Dr. Jayesh Shah, President-Elect of AAPI. Mark Stone, Dr. Ravi Jahagirdar, Dr. Ajay Lodha, Dr. Durgesh Mankikar, Dr. Dharmi Kanuga, Dr. Kusum Punjabi, Dr. Jayesh Kanuga, Dr. Tarun Shah, Dr. Krishan Kumar, and Dr. Vaijinath Chokote had flown into New York from different parts of the country to be part of the largest India Day Parade around the world, organized by the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA).
“We are excited to be part of this great event,” said Dr. Narendra Kumar, after leading the parade in New York City on Sunday. “On behalf of the over 65,000 physicians and 25,000 Residents of Indian Origin in the United States, I want to convey our greetings to all people of Indian origin, especially to over two million Indian Americans across the United States, who continue to make India proud and make India stand tall among peoples of the whole world. On this very special day of celebrating our freedom, we take special pride in saluting our beloved tricolor. Let us recall with pride the great sacrifice of our freedom fighters, whose undying love for India secured us our freedom,” he added.
Dr. Jayesh Shah, President-Elect of AAPI, who was on the AAPI float in New York, said, “On this happy occasion join me and all members of AAPI in saluting the hard work of all our citizens who have, over these 65 years, helped build a new India. Let us bow our head in memory of all those brave Jawans and all our brave citizens who have sacrificed their lives for the cause of our unity, integrity and progress.”
Dr. Jahagirdar said, “As we celebrate India and its several achievements on this very special day, AAPI is very proud to join in and salute this great nation and its 1.2 billion people.” Dr. Lodha, who had been instrumental in organizing the AAPI float at the parade in New York said, “AAPI is very proud to salute India that is united despite its many diversities. An India that is not divided by caste, creed or gender. An India, in which the creativity and enterprise of every citizen can find its full and free expression.”
Members of AAPI are not only known for their exceptional quality of care they provide to their patients, but also have established an unprecedented professional exchange program between the physicians and researchers in the US and India, augmented medical education curricula and established medical specialties, and emergency services in India, sponsored free medical care in the US and India through free clinics, participated in legislative days in DC, led with exemplary leadership and devotion the AMA – IMG Section and many committees with AAPI.
AAPI is a forum to facilitate and enable over 65,000 Indian American Physicians and 25,000 Fellows to excel in patient care, teaching and research and to pursue their aspirations in professional and community affairs. Founded with the objective to promote professional solidarity in the pursuit of excellence in patient care, teaching and research, AAPI brings American medicine the distinctive contributions from India, and advance the American creed of one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.
India Post News Service
