Veterans Day, Famous Book Launch-Snakes in the Ganga & Diwali
FIA New England on November 8, 2022 supported the book launch of – Snakes in the Ganga – written by the renowned Indologist, Rajiv Malhotra.
Present at the Book launch were the eminent author Rajiv Malhotra, Shrewsbury Fire Chief Mr. Jim Vuona, Dr. Mrinalini Darswal (who is from the IAS cadre and currently pursuing a Doctorate degree from Harvard), Deputy CEO of National Health Authority IPS Vipul Aggarwal, Amresh Mishra (IPS) and Professor Dr. Bal Ram Singh, Sandeep Asija along with the host of other guests and dignitaries.
Abhishek Singh, President of FIA-NE has appealed to the community to read this book thoroughly and said it is not just a book, it is kind of a doctrine to understand the problem of the modern world and the best possible solutions. He praised Rajiv Malhotra’s effort and for his visionary and thought-provoking book and re-appealed to the community at large to read it.
The event, held in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts, and Harvard faculty club, was attended by over 600 people — students from Ivy League colleges of Harvard and MIT, UMASS. More than 200 copies were sold out within half an hour into the event.
Speaking at the event, Rajiv Malhotra, a renowned scholar, successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and founder of the Infinity Foundation, said that the book unveils uncomfortable truths concerning India’s vulnerabilities. He thanked the FIA for its unconditional support.
Professor Francis Xavier Clooney, an American Jesuit priest and scholar in the teachings of Hinduism said he is focused on the work being conducted in the Divinity School and mentioned the plans to expand Hindu Studies there.
Prof. Dr. Bal Ram Singh described the event as an important one for the academic and intellectual community. Persons like Rajiv Malhotra and Francis Clooney, although coming from different backgrounds of business and spirituality, have dedicated themselves to the good of society through intellectual and academic enterprise. Rajiv has been a listening post who blows the horn in the public interest. He thanked the prominent members of the audience, which also included faculty and researchers from Harvard, some members of the Indian civil service, and several business and community leaders.
Dr. Mrinalini Darswal urged lumping together various forms of discrimination is not productive. To counter the Anti- India narrative in the West, she opined that the currentIndian government under our nationalistic and visionary Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lent us an excellent platform to create our own well-informed narrative using the New Education Policy.
The extravaganza event started with the national anthems of the USA and India and was followed by the lighting of the lamp ceremony by Rajiv Malhotra, Dr. Abhaya Asthana, Pankaj Adaval, and Deepak Rathore after the cultural performances by the Amudhashri Dance Academy, Saisha Dance School, and Vandana Rao foundation. FIA-New England has remembered and recognized the supreme sacrifices of veterans and honored them during the event. Shrewsbury Fire Chief Jim Vuona was present during the ceremony and special Governor’s proclamations were provided by Sanjay Gokhale and Chandan Sukija to Kaushik Patel and Pramod Pandey and Dr. Abhaya Asthana.
Jyoti Singh and Mukta Munjal were the Masters of the Ceremony (Emcee) of the whole event. Anand Sharma, Rakesh Kavsari, Ajay Pulapurthi, Amol Penshanwar, Jay Smrity Thakur, Ankit Loonia, and Himanshu Chauhan, along with dozens of FIA-NE executives, distributed the T-shirts to the students and gifted the Diwali souvenir to all the invited guests to show their gratitude to the Kumar food vendor, Mohikas’ for souvenirs and gifts, Joyfull Inc., kV &Rashik photography, and praised their efforts to join the ceremony during the weekdays in such a large number. In the last, FIA honored all the senior citizens and students with certificates.