Lead India 2020 pays tribute to Kalam

Edison, New Jersey: Non Resident Indians representing more than 30 different organizations from all most every state of India paid rich tributes to the People's President Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, a Tribute (Shraddhanjali) organized by Lead India 2020 Foundation (USA) in Edison, New Jersey, United States.

Bharat Ratna Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was a socially conscious rocket scientist and served as 11th President of India (2002-2007) but more importantly he created a roadmap for the nation called Vision2020 to see India as a developed nation by the year 2020, said Hari Eppanapally, Chairman of the Lead India 2020 Foundation (USA) while paying tributes to Dr. Kalam. Hari remembered his association working with Dr. Kalam since 2008 to promote the Lead India 2020 movement. Dr. Kalam selflessly worked for the development of the country by inspiring millions of children and youth by travelling extensively even after his tenure as president of India. Dr. Kalam worked relentlessly with a focus to Provide Urban Amenities in Rural Areas (PURA) to develop the nation holistically and reduce the migration of rural population to urban areas.

He also said, the befitting tribute to Dr. Kalam is to empower youth and work towards fulfilling his dream of seeing a holistically developed India providing affordable and quality healthcare, value based education and 24x7 energy to all citizens of India.

Srinivas Ganagoni, President of Lead India 2020 Foundation (USA) remembered Dr. Kalam's trip to Washington DC in 2013 and said after this great scientist, teacher and more importantly a great human being is laid to rest, and when we have returned to our daily routines, let us search for his strength and principles left behind. Let us search for his largeness of spirit somewhere inside of ourselves and carry forward his vision and mission that aims to transform millions of school children across India and he also emphasized the importance of carrying on Dr. Kalam's values, character and most importantly foster the youth abroad and back home, as well as remaining focused on the mission at hand – the future of India.

Mahatma Gandhi's grandson Rajmohan Gandhi paid tributes to Dr. Kalam. More than his kind words of Kalam, he enriched the audience with sage advice. He said that Dr. Kalam would want us to heed. His advice for the elite Indian Americans remained simple: 'I know you love India, I know you support India, but please make sure you also get to know India.'

Everyone remembered Dr.Kalam and his services to the Nation. Commissioner of New Jersey, Upendra Chivukula, Indian American community leaders HR Shah, Dr. Yegna Sumbramanian, Sridhar Chillara, Major Krishna kumarchari, Nandu Balija, Dr. Rio Horacio, Peter Kothari, Prasad Kunisetty, Dr. Meghraj and Dr. Rami Reddy and Rajesh Gootyare just few among several prominent people paid rich tributes to the Missile Man.

Congressman Frank Pallone and Senator Sam Thompson sent their deep condolences and praised Dr. Kalam inspiring millions of youth through Lead India 2020 movement and his contributions to the world in the field of science and technology.

The representatives of the Indian American organizations Sudhakar Perkari, Rajeshwar Gangasani, Laxmi Devineni, Dr. Poorna Sirikonda, Ravi Chandra, Dhiren Amin,Krishna R Anugula, Gangadhar Desu, Dr. Dadukh, Mahesh Chtinis, Rajan Marathe, Damu Gedala, Mallik Buddhavarapu, Ranjith, Vishweshwar Kalavala, Srini Guduru, Satish Poondi, Ravi Annadanam, Madhu Anna, Mahesh Shah, Venu Yeluri,Mohan Krishna Mannava, Vijayaraghavan Poondi, Jamuna Puskur, Venky Sadagopan, Vilas Reddy Jambula, Chetana and Maitreya, participated and remembered Dr. Kalam.

Indian community leaders and representatives of organizations Art Of Living, ATA, FIA, HATCC, IBA, Jet USA, KJN, Lions International, Marati Viswa, NATA, NATS, OFBJP, OVBI, Sai Datta Peetham, Sewa, Sofkin, TAGDV, TANA, TATA, TDF, TFAS, TLCA, Vision Telangana, VTSeva participated in the program.

The Lead India 2020(USA) team: Hari Eppanapally (Chairman), Srinivas Ganagoni (President), Rajesh Gooty (Secretary), Srinivas Guduru (Vice President), Kishore Avvari (Treasurer), Nandu Balija (Advisor), Sridhar Chillara (Advisor), Upendra Chivukula (Advisor), Lax Chepuri (CFO) and Directors Santosh Pathuri, Naresh Chintalacheruvu, Anurag Jain, Surinder Verma, Prasad Tanjerla, Sudhakar Uppala, Raj Gowilkar, Arun Sriramineni, Damu Gedala, Krishna Siddhada and Vamsi Koppuravuri planned and organized the event in a memorable way in a short span of 4 days.

The young volunteers of Lead India 2020 (USA) Susmitha Ganagoni and Vamshi Eppanapally conducted the entire program start to finish by engaging the attendees by sharing their experiences of meeting Dr. Kalam in Washington DC.

Sudhakar Uppala thanked every Indian American Organization who participated and supported the program and the media partners TV9, TV5, TV Asia, Mana TV, NTV, UNITV, News India, Desitalk, Gujarat Darpan, TeluguPeople.com and the Indian Clicks.

"Special thanks to TV Asia Mr. HR Shah and Gayatri Sanjay for arranging the Venue, Dr. Rajarao Bandaru for coordinating the Inter faith prayers, Dhiren Amin (Indian Business Association) for taking care of the publicity material, Manisha and Damu Gedala for decorations and Vivek for flowers, Mirchi Restaurant, Hyderabad Palace, Deccan Spice, and Paradise Biryani Pointe for the food arrangements, Guru Indira Dixit and her students for performing Guru Ashtakam, NJ Sisters for the prayer song and Lalith Akella, Anjali Chennapragada for singing the Indian and American national anthem' the organizing team said.