The Connecticut chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-CT) will mark its 20th anniversary on June 13, 2026, by honoring five Indian American leaders at its Annual Awards Banquet in Darien, Connecticut. The 2026 honorees include a state senator, a nanotechnology executive, a veteran journalist, a prominent regional bank CEO, and a long-standing engineering professor, reflecting the diverse professional and civic contributions of the state’s growing South Asian diaspora. State and local lawmakers are expected to join civic leaders to recognize the honorees and celebrate two decades of advocacy, cultural preservation, and philanthropic service by the organization.
The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin Connecticut Chapter (GOPIO-CT) has finalized its roster of honorees for its upcoming 20th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Awards Banquet, scheduled for Saturday, June 13, 2026. The milestone event, which will take place at the Water’s Edge Banquet Hall in Darien beginning at 6:00 p.m., is designed to acknowledge the professional milestones and civic contributions of five prominent Indian Americans within the state and across the nation.
Organizers expect a bipartisan contingent of Connecticut lawmakers and municipal officials to attend, reflecting the expanding political and economic influence of the Indian American community in the state. This year’s awardees span multiple sectors, including state governance, biotechnology research, mass media, corporate finance, and academic engineering.
“We select the awardees who have made an impact in our society and those who provide outstanding service,” GOPIO-CT President Mahesh Jhangiani said in a statement reviewing the selection process. Observers noted that the selection committee prioritized individuals whose careers intersected with public service, community health, and economic development within the New England corridor.
Dr. Thomas Abraham, the founder president of GOPIO International and current chairman of the GOPIO-CT Awards Committee, emphasized the multigenerational focus of the organization’s mission. “These awardees are role models for our new generations,” Abraham stated, adding that the chapter’s two decades of operation have contributed significantly to building a collaborative relationship between Indian Americans and the broader civic framework of Connecticut.
Political Leadership and Constitutional Scholarship
In the category of Political Leadership, GOPIO-CT will honor State Senator Prof. Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox. Elected to the Connecticut State Senate in 2024 to represent the 22nd District—which encompasses parts of Trumbull, Monroe, and Bridgeport—Gadkar-Wilcox is also a Professor of Legal Studies at Quinnipiac University.
Her academic background heavily informs her legislative focus. Between 2015 and 2017, she lived and worked in India as a Fulbright-Nehru Scholar, conducting extensive research on the development of Indian constitutional values and the stability of its democratic institutions. Her published scholarship and legislative portfolio focus heavily on:
- Constitutional law frameworks and comparative governance.
- International human rights and systemic social justice.
- The expansion of localized civic education and media literacy programs.
Her presence at the state capitol underscores a broader trend of increasing South Asian representation in New England state legislatures, moving from community advocacy into formal policy-making roles.
Innovations in Nanotechnology and Biopharma
The award for Entrepreneurship and Business Achievements will be presented to Dr. Anil R. Diwan, the founder, president, and executive chairman of NanoViricides, Inc. (NYSE American: NNVC). Headquartered in Connecticut, Diwan’s firm has focused on the development of specialized antiviral therapies using proprietary “nanoviricide” technology, which aims to neutralize viruses mechanically rather than relying solely on host immune responses.
Dr. Diwan has overseen the development of NV-387, a broad-spectrum antiviral drug candidate that is distinct from traditional vaccines. According to company data and preclinical studies, the drug candidate has demonstrated efficacy against a variety of viral threats, including COVID coronaviruses, influenza, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), Mpox, smallpox, measles, and Ebola.
Currently, NV-387 is undergoing Phase II clinical trials for the treatment of Mpox in the Democratic Republic of Congo, while the company simultaneously works with international health agencies to deploy the therapeutic against active Ebola outbreaks on the African continent.
Journalism, Media Advocacy, and Mental Health Service
Veteran journalist Ajay Ghosh will receive the award in the Journalism category. Ghosh’s career spans more than 30 years across mass media, higher education, and clinical healthcare, highlighting a versatile career path dedicated to public interest communication.
Ghosh serves as the publisher and chief editor of both The Global Net News and Health and Wellness News. His previous editorial roles include leadership positions at The Asian Era, The Indian Express (North America), and the Universal News Network. To foster professional standards and mutual support among diaspora journalists, Ghosh founded the Indo-American Press Club, serving as its first president.
In addition to his media work, Ghosh has taught at the Fordham Graduate School of Social Service and currently practices as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) at Yale New Haven Hospital, linking his media focus with direct community healthcare delivery.
Corporate Governance and Community Banking
In Corporate Leadership, the chapter will recognize Nitin Mhatre, who assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer at First County Bank on April 15, 2026. Mhatre takes the helm of an independent mutual community bank that has operated continuously in Fairfield County and the surrounding Connecticut municipalities for more than 174 years.
Mhatre joined First County Bank following a tenure as CEO of Berkshire Bank. His banking career also includes senior leadership roles at Webster Bank and Citibank. His broader industry engagement includes a term as Chairman of the Consumer Bankers Association from 2019 to 2020, where he focused on retail banking regulations and consumer financial protection policies during the initial phases of the global pandemic.
Mhatre holds engineering and Master of Business Administration (MBA) degrees from Mumbai University, supplemented by executive education credentials from Harvard Business School.
Four Decades of Academic Engineering and Applied Sciences
The final honoree is Hemchandra M. Shertukde, Ph.D., P.E., DMS, who is being recognized for his Achievements in Engineering and Applied Sciences. Dr. Shertukde has served as a faculty member in the College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture at the University of Hartford for nearly 40 years.
After graduating from the prestigious Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur, Shertukde immigrated to the United States, earning his doctorate from the University of Connecticut. His career as an educator, researcher, and inventor has yielded:
- 13 solo-authored textbooks focusing on electrical engineering and power systems.
- More than 40 co-authored technical books and over 100 peer-reviewed research papers.
- 10 registered U.S. patents for industrial and diagnostic equipment.
Shertukde has also bridged the gap between academia and commercial industry by founding several technology start-ups and medical device manufacturing firms based in Connecticut and Florida.
Two Decades of Diaspora Civic Engagement
The 20th Anniversary Gala is organized under the direction of the Awards Banquet Committee, led by GOPIO-CT Secretary Mirat Joshi. Beyond the presentation of awards to the five primary recipients, the evening will include formal acknowledgments of the chapter’s organizational history.
Special recognition will be extended to GOPIO-CT’s founding members, who established the local branch to address the unique needs of the local diaspora. These individuals include Dr. Thomas Abraham, Viresh Sharma, Sangeeta and Paul Ahuja, Meera and Bhom Banta, and Gharry Gill.
The event will also honor the chapter’s past presidents for their organizational stewardship over the last two decades: Sangeeta Ahuja, Shailesh Naik, Shelly Nichani, Anita Bhat, Ashok Nichani, and Jaya Daptardar. Furthermore, Sharon Priya Banta will receive an award for her early contributions as the chapter’s inaugural Youth Coordinator, a role established to engage second-generation Indian Americans in local civic projects.
Since its inception, GOPIO-CT has operated as a non-partisan, secular, civic organization. Over its 20-year history, the chapter has regularized town halls and interactive forums featuring policymakers, economic analysts, and academics. Its broader programming includes youth mentoring workshops, professional networking seminars, and collaborative charitable ventures alongside other Connecticut-based non-profit organizations.
According to regional demographic data, the South Asian population in Fairfield and New Haven counties has grown steadily over the past two decades, shifting the focus of organizations like GOPIO-CT from basic cultural preservation to active participation in state economic policy, public health initiatives, and local governance.
Information regarding attendance, corporate sponsorships, and ticketing protocols has been consolidated through the non-profit platform Zeffy, managed by the chapter’s administrative committee.
