DESI - ARTICLE

On February 7, distinguished members of the community Mr. Vikram Misri, Counselor (Political), Embassy of India, Mr. Sanjay Puri, Executive Director, USINPAC, and Ms. Sonal Shah, Co-founder, Indicorps, and India Abroad Person of the Year, 2003, met for 2 hours at the Tyser Auditorium, University of Maryland, and College Park to discuss "New Frontiers in Leadership, Participation, and Service". Mr. Devasish Ray, National Affairs Editor, India Post was the moderator for the panel. This workshop was dedicated to honor the young leader Ms. Sonal Shah for her accomplishments.

The purpose of the workshop was to light a torch for the young Indian American college students that through volunteer service and participation they can mould their surroundings for the better. This message was well received by over 125 college and high school students and other members of the community.

The discussion during the enthusiastic interactive session included topics such as participation by Indian Americans in the American political arena to address the concerns of the Indian American community, the current global economic scenario and its impact on the US and Indian economies.

This workshop was sponsored by Washington DC Chapter of Ekal Vidyalaya foundation of USA whose aim is to bring nonformal education to tribal village in India (www.ekalvidya.org). The co-sponsors were Develop Empower and Synergize India (DESI), a student group at University of Maryland, College Park (www.desiumd.org), and US India Political Action Committee (USINPAC, www.usinpac.com). In future Ekal vidyalaya and DESI plan to host Dr. Kiran Bedi for a talk on "Empowerment through Education" on April 17th 2004. Further updates of this event will be available at www.desiumd.org.