The Association of Indians in America (AIA), considered the oldest Indian American organization in the US, with chapters around the country, recently announced it has selected Padma Shri recipient Dr. Sudhir Parikh of New Jersey, to be on its Board of Trustees.
The announcement was made by Ravishankar Bhooplapur, chairman of the national AIA.
Dr. Parikh currently serves as President of the Global Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (GAPIO), an organization that seeks to represent more than 1.4 million physicians in 60 countries around the world.
He is also Chairman of his Center for Asthma & Allergy.
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Known also in the media world, Dr. Parikh is the Chairman of Parikh Worldwide Media, and ITV Gold.
A philanthropist throughout his life, Dr. Parikh is also chairman of Life Global, and serves as Senior Advisor & Patron Trustee of American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI) Charitable Foundation, as well as senior advisor to the Federation of Indian Associations.
Among his other awards are the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman recognition in 2006; the Ellis Island Medal of Honor in 2005; and the Knights of Malta in 2012.
Dr. Parikh is also among the founding members of the Indian American Center For Political Awareness, a national non-profit organization dedicated to increasing the participation of the Indian American community in public policy and the political process. Over the decades, he has been driven by his commitment to strengthening the US-India relationship, including lobbying for the formation of the India Caucus in the US Congress and for the US-India civil nuclear cooperation deal.
“I am pleased to inform you that Dr. Sudhir Parikh, a highly respected physician and philanthropist, has joined our Board as a Trustee, effective immediately,” said Bhooplapur. “On behalf of AIA and all fellow Trustees, I extend a warm welcome to Dr. Parikh. With his extensive experience and distinguished contributions, I am confident that AIA will greatly benefit from his guidance and leadership in the years ahead.”
Bhooplapur went on to add, “I look forward to working closely with him and all of you as we continue to advance our mission.”
“It is my pleasure and privilege to be appointed as a Trustee of AIA as it is the oldest community organization. The AIA has been showcasing our culture and heritage and was the first attempt to bring the diaspora together to lobby both socially and politically,” Dr. Parikh said. “I would be happy to use my expertise and connections to further AIA’s goals.”
The Association of Indians in America (AIA) is the oldest national association of Asian Indians in America. It was founded on August 20, 1967 after the United States Congress passed the 1965-66 Immigration Act, repealing the Asian Exclusion Act of 1917.
The constitution of the AIA was adopted in 1970 and it was incorporated in 1971. The AIA obtained the IRS tax exempt status in 1973.
A grassroots national organization of Asian immigrants in United States, the AIA has chapters & membership spread across the US and seeks to represent the hopes & aspirations of those immigrants “who are united by their common bond of Indian Heritage & American Commitment,” the organization says on its website.