New York: Unprecedented. Unparalleled. A landmark in publishing a community newspaper. Worthy of a Guinness Book record. Such are the effusive compliments Prof Indrajit Singh Saluja has been receiving since publishing a week ago the massive 270-page special edition marking 250 years of America’s independence. Compliments, congratulations and commendations came fast and furious also at the launch of Indian Panorama’s America@250 edition, conceived and edited by Prof Saluja, at a webinar organized by GOPIO (Global Organization of People of Indian Origin) on August 1 and moderated by Emmy-nominated filmmaker Tirlok Malik who started by saying “let us all appreciate what a wonderful job Prof Saluja has done with this publication.”
Several community leaders joined Dr Thomas Abraham, GOPIO Chairman, to voice their appreciation for Prof. Saluja’s ambitious project. They included most of the major community groups from the New York area.
Said Dr Abraham, “This publication is a timely tribute to the ideals upon which America was founded – freedom, democracy, opportunity, and the enduring belief in ‘We, the People’. It also recognizes the remarkable journey of the many communities that have helped build this great nation. The Indian American community is proud to be part of that story. We have made significant contributions to science, technology, medicine, education, business, public service, entrepreneurship, and the arts, enriching both the American economy and society.” Prof Saluja explained that the project was inspired by the concept of “We the people” and aimed to celebrate individuals who built, defended, and will shape America’s future. He expressed gratitude to numerous individuals and organizations for their support and encouragement in creating the 270-page publication, which exhaustively chronicles American history from 1776 to 2026, and includes the evolution of India-US relations and the achievements of Indian Americans. He thanked Harry Singh Bolla, founder of Bolla Oil and Patron of America@250 special, with whom he shares the vision of bringing India and America closer and the need for acquainting Indians here with American history and ideals on which the country was founded.
Mr. Bolla’s congratulatory message was read by Dr Abraham at the well-attended webinar: “Dear Dr. Thomas. Thank you for inviting me to speak at the curtain raiser of America@250 – a mammoth 270-page publication of The Indian Panorama in commemoration of the 250th anniversary of America’s Independence. Prof. Indrajit Singh Saluja apparently worked assiduously to bring the history of America before America, and of America through the 250 years since July 4, 1776, when the Declaration of Independence was made. Prof. Saluja who is an ardent votary of friendship and cooperation between the US and India, has done well to comment on the ever-growing ties between the two democracies. I understand it is a kind of service which every Indian origin naturalized citizen of America should always give preference to. I am glad that the publication has carried a list of 250 Top Indian Americans in the US, and I am honestly flattered to find myself among them. I wanted to join the Zoom meeting and congratulate you and your colleagues who have organized this curtain-raiser for America@250 and also say a few words in appreciation of Prof. Indrajit Singh Saluja’s strenuous intellectual efforts at making what the publication has turned out to be – a reference book on history of America for the future generations. It is a mammoth task which Prof. has excellently executed, and I am happy as the Patron of the project America@250 that he has vindicated my trust in him. I congratulate him on a landmark achievement even as I congratulate you on your initiative to highlight a real good work by one of us. —-Harry Singh Bolla.”
Prof Saluja mentioned that Consul General of India in New York, Binaya Srikanta Pradhan, had encouraged him to pursue the America@250 project. He thanked Dr V.K. Raju, dedicated to eliminating childhood blindness, for writing the Foreword for the special edition. Several community leaders and top professionals, including Dr. Avinash Gupta, Dr Hari Shukla, George Abraham, Nilima Madan, Ashok Arora, and Gobind Munjal, congratulated Prof Saluja and praised the publication as a valuable historical record. Others who spoke at the webinar launch included Piyush Singh – Consul, Political and Press at the Indian Consulate, GOPIO President Prakash Shah, India Home President Mukund Mehta, Judge Neera Bahl, HP Singh, and Kumu Gupta.
Invited speakers included FIA President Sreekanth Akkapalli, Vimal Goyal, Dr Krishna Kumar, Sikh leader Master Mohinder Singh and Parveen Chopra, founder of A Lotus In The Mud. Tirlok Malik in his closing remarks emphasized the importance of community support and collaboration. Chander Malik led the laughter yoga session at the end of the program.
GOPIO, founded in 1989, is a pan-Indian, non-profit organization with more than 100 chapters across 35 countries.
The Indian Panorama is a premier publication for the Indian community in America, founded by Prof Saluja. Now in its 20th year, the weekly is published simultaneously in New York and Dallas.
Parveen Chopra is Founder of ALotusInTheMud.com
