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Newsletters 2023

Public Announcements

IAGB Republic Day 2024

When: 27 January, 2024 @ 4 – 7 pm
Where: Burlington High School
What: ‘Chalachitram’ – Celebrating 110 years of Indian Cinema
Sign-up: https://form.jotform.com/IagbForms/iagb-republic-day-2024-cultural-per
Entry Submission Deadline: 15 December, 2023

IAGB Republic Day 2024 Competitions

As always, IAGB will be holding competitions in the following categories. Please find the description, the registration form, and entry submission deadline for each category in the given link.

IAGB Republic Day 2024 - Vendor Booths & Ads

Don’t miss a great opportunity to showcase your small business or nonprofit organization for a diverse and eager audience! Put an ad in our digital brochure or have a booth at the IAGB Republic Day Mela 2024!

Find all necessary information & registration link here: https://form.jotform.com/233325656200145

Advertisement: Full Page or Half Page at great price

Vendor Booth: Special early bird discounts till 10 Jan, 2024

IAGB Upcoming Events

Sur Saheli -An evening of Dance & Music

Join us for an unforgettable evening of music and dance!
IAGB is proud to collaborate with Saheli in presenting an unique concert ‘Sur Saheli’, a dance & musical evening supporting survivors through the vibrant fusion of Indian film, classical, and American pop music; featuring the mesmerizing performances by Pallavi Nagesha and ‘Taal Mel’. This event promises to be a celebration of harmony and resilience. Tickets are limited so secure your tickets now and be part of this inspiring experience.

Get your tickets at: https://secure.givelively.org/event/saheli-support-and-friendship-for-south-asian-women-and-families/sur-saheli

Don’t miss out on this unforgettable musical journey!

Sur Saheli

IAGB Community Giving - Dec 2023

This month we are collecting holiday food donations for the Billerica Community Pantry.

About Billerica Community Pantry: The Billerica Community Pantry provides food and personal items as needed to help alleviate hunger and poverty, at no cost to the growing number of Billerica residents who need assistance. They offer an open to the public feeding program policy, which includes all populations without regard to gender, race, color, ethnicity, age, nationality, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, religious affiliation, income, disability, or health status.

Items we will be collecting:

  1. Vegetarian Stuffing
  2. Cranberry Sauce
  3. Ready make instant Mashed Potatoes
  4. Christmas Cornbread Mix
  5. Biscuits Mix
  6. Gingerbread Christmas cookies
IAGB Seva Diwali_page

Community Conversations

The 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup is scheduled to be hosted by the USA and the West Indies. It will be the first ICC World Cup tournament to feature matches played in the United States. On this background, IAGB community expresses their thoughts as to whether the USA is ready for cricket:

Ashwini Chavan

Ashwini Chavan :

Cricket is definitely growing widely in the US. The T20 cricket format will be loved and welcomed here because it’s shorter in duration, easier to follow and exciting at the same time. The inaugural Major league cricket held earlier this year brought new as well as passionate fans to the stadiums. There are ICC level cricket stadiums being built around the US which is a positive sign to the rising popularity of the sport around the country. Lot of Americans have heard of cricket but because it’s not as popular as American sports they don’t get to play it. I was at a tournament where the girls’ softball team (mostly non- Indian Americans) played cricket with us. Cricket is also going to be part of the Olympic Games in Los Angeles in 2028! I’m eagerly looking forward to watching the T20 World Cup in person.

Kandasamy Thangavelu

Kandasamy Thangavelu:

Although cricket faces many challenges like competing with other sports, overcoming historical and cultural barriers, and reaching out to a diverse fan base, there are signs that the sport is on the rise in this country. Thanks to the efforts of USA Cricket and investments from various sources including IPL franchise Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR), Mumbai Indians, and Chennai Super kings; cricket in the US is on the upward trajectory and has potential to become a major sport in the country in the coming decade. USA Cricket plans to implement a nationwide school program which is needed for growing the talent pool and making cricket a mainstream sport in this country. This will be a great opportunity for kids of immigrant families from cricket playing countries.

Reva_Datar

Reva Datar:

Cricket is the second most watched sport in the world, yet it’s hardly known here in America. With the T-20 cricket World Cup, a sensational sporting event, coming to us this year, America doesn’t know what it’s in for! After Americans see phenomenal batting and bowling from players all around the world, I think cricket’s popularity will increase even more than what it is already at. The sport is just too good, and American exposure to cricket is long overdue.

Just another cricket fan

‘Just another cricket fan’ :

The excitement of cricket that we all grew up with is hard to douse. Once in blue-moon charity matches are a drop in the bucket and that too, lacks seriousness for one to make a trip to the ground. The recent advent of Major League Cricket (MCL) is a step in the right direction. After an explosion of Indian restaurants, Indian stores, Temples and Indian cinemas, this was inevitable – just a matter of time. After all, the successful sports franchise concept of US was duplicated on a grand scale at IPL yielding BCCI a windfall and it is only fair for the rest of us to get that extravaganza on shore. I’m sure the sports loving US public will gradually embrace cricket, just like the Indian food and let it reach new heights. Given that Cricket has made it to the Olympics and if the success of 1st season of MCL is any indication, then Yes, I believe we are ready for Cricket in the US. Bring it on!

Shanth Hanchur

Shanth Hanchur:

The USA has a growing number of cricket facilities, including stadiums, nets, and pitches. However, there is still a need for more infrastructure to support the sport, especially in smaller towns and cities.

Krish Babu

Krish Babu:

I believe the USA is ready for Cricket because there are a lot of immigrants in America who would be interested in watching Cricket games. I am in Westford and I have friends in my town that play Cricket. I have experienced first hand the Cricket scene in New England and North Carolina as my dad has been a part of local Cricket teams. I think Cricket will be liked by Americans because when it was played in my school in 7th grade, students found it to be a fun and exciting game. They thought it was another cool version of Baseball. America has started to have the infrastructure for Cricket due to efforts by the community to use Baseball fields in a dual manner by adding Cricket pitches. This would mean more accessibility to this game. I hope to avail tickets to the T20 World Cup so that I can enjoy the game in this country while embracing my ethnic roots.

Arohan Pathak

Arohan Pathak:

Cricket is a much loved sport in many parts of the world. It will encourage diverse communities to come together in America when this is available to be enjoyed locally. I think the people of America are ready to embrace Cricket, to be added to the list of loved sports. Kids who like baseball automatically are drawn to this different and interesting version of a game that they already understand. It would add more challenge and a competitive spirit while promoting the sport itself. I hope and believe that schools and town recreation groups will soon start offering Cricket as part of their program roster. Hosting the T20 World Cup in 2024 in the USA is a great segway to a more widespread and welcoming presence of Cricket throughout our country.

IAGB Event Recap

IAGB Community Giving – Nov. 2023, In collaboration with Sewa Diwali

All collected items for this month went to the Burlington Food Pantry, Burlington, MA, also known as ‘People Helping People’.

About People Helping People: Burlington PHP is a non-profit, predominantly volunteer support program with a mission to establish and sustain a community-wide effort to provide assistance to residents of the town of Burlington, MA who have a need for food, medicine, heat or utilities and to provide for holiday food baskets and gifts for children. PHP is the umbrella organization overseeing the Burlington Community Food Pantry, The Burlington Covenant for Basic Needs and the Holiday Program.

This IAGB drive was throughout the month of November. A huge ‘Thank You’ to ardent youth volunteer Ananya Mathur and all the members of FMPC (Future Medical Professionals Club) at Billerica Memorial High School who helped a great deal in collecting these items. It is heartwarming to see this youth group rising and shining to the cause!

If you did not get a chance to bring in your donations this time, please know that IAGB will be doing a community giving drive every month, collecting select food items and hygiene products. All items collected each month will be donated to the chosen pantry of that month.

IAGB Sewa Diwali

Sponsoring ‘The Winter Holiday Stroll’

IAGB was a copper sponsor at ‘The Winter Holiday stroll’, a grand event that happened on Saturday, November 25th at the Downtown Nashua, NH

Veterans Day Parade - Boston

In an annual tradition IAGB community walked besides many other local organizations to remember and honor our brave soldiers and veterans.

Veterans Day Parade

President’s Note

IAGB Tanu (1)

A warm hello to my much-loved New England community!

I am honored and feel blessed to be the newly elected President of India Association of Greater Boston – IAGB.

As a life-long enthusiast, I strongly believe in inclusivity, sensibility, and camaraderie. I come with a track record of initiative, dependability, and excellence. I am outspoken, empathetic and a highly motivated, progress-focused person of long-standing.

My commitment to my role encompasses upholding IAGB’s interest as its advocate & culture champion! I pledge my commitment to upholding IAGB as a place where our fellow community members can enjoy superior quality socio-cultural, educational, and civic endeavors. I also commit to sincere community service and engagement with all regional Indian American organizations.

In my 18+ years of association with IAGB, I have seen it through thick and thin. In the current times, we are at a greatly evolving juncture within and beyond the community. I would like to see IAGB work together as a diverse community wherein we act responsibly, reliably, and efficiently; respect the community and beyond; embrace differences or conflict of opinions with empathy and understanding; hold each other with love while encouraging and soliciting open communication among and between each other.

A huge shout out to my team, each of whom are gems by virtue of their work within the community and their unique gifts of skills. I am honored and privileged to have them in my team and look forward to doing great things together!

A big ‘Shout Out’ to the outgoing President Vaishali Gade for her exceptional leadership in the previous term – I have big shoes to fill and exemplary work to carry forward!

‘Thank you’ to the wonderful community and beyond, for providing me this opportunity to serve my beloved community yet again, this time to my delight, as the President of my much-loved India Association of Greater Boston!

Let us each be a rainbow in someone’s cloud…

Much love and regards,
Tanu Phoenix

Community Conversations Nov 2023

A new IAGB Executive Committee is in place to serve the community! This month our EC members express their reasons and motivations for being a part of the leadership team.

Anagha Singh (1)

Anagha Singh:

I see this as an opportunity to grow as a person and better understand how I fit into the world around me. I strongly believe that IAGB is one big umbrella organization that represents everyone from India.

Arpita Das Pathak (1)

Arpita Das Pathak:

My vision for IAGB is to uphold it as an iconic organization amidst the many existing groups that represent the South Asian community in the New England area, irrespective of which state/region their roots might be in India.

Ashalata Thotangare

Ashalata Thotangare:

I will never bypass an opportunity to volunteer for charitable work in person or in the financial form. IAGB motivates mer to connect with people from all walks of life.

Deepak Garg (1)

Deepak Garg:

I am committed to helping grow the IAGB community by strengthening IAGB’s relationships with other community organizations and the mainstream American community.

Lohith Nagaraj (1)

Lohith Nagaraj:

As I am passionate about hiking, biking, and running marathons I look forward to organizing the annual 5k walk for IAGB. I want to continue promoting community health through hiking, biking, and running fundraisers for IAGB.

Manish Bhowmick

Manish Bhowmick:

I join IAGB with the intent of fostering a strong Indian social and cultural presence in the New England region, to give the younger generation a solid foundation of Indian history which will empower and inspire them to understand, appreciate and enjoy the rich cultural heritage of India and integrate it into American culture.

Nagendra Rao (1)

Nagendra Rao:

I have been part of team IAGB for some time now. And enjoy all the volunteering and helping the community. It’s a great opportunity for me to leverage my business skills in sales and marketing in raising awareness and funds, and in endorsing the best interest of IAGB.

Nilesh Agrawal (1)

Nilesh Agrawal:

I love being part of various IAGB initiatives such as civic collaboration, community giving, and engaging many regional Indian American organizations within the area. I can certainly leverage my rapport with several voluntary non-profit community organizations.

Pooja Shinde (2)

Pooja Shinde:

Dance, singing, fashion, and playing musical instruments is my passion. And I am looking forward to using my artistic and creative expertise to make a positive impact through IAGB. Recently I helped organize a flash mob for IAGB’s India Day celebrations at Fenway Park and enjoyed it thoroughly.

Prerna Singh (1)

Prerna Mathur:

I strive to collaborate the efforts by several cause-based non-profit community organizations for the development and betterment of a diverse and well cultured Indian community. With a versatile and creative mind that combines the strength and patience of a mother and an avid community helper, I look forward to serving the IAGB community with full zest and enthusiasm.

Shubhada Kulkarni (1)

Shubhada Kulkarni:

I am passionate about giving back to the community and have been volunteering at many local non-profit organizations for the last 20 years, IAGB being one of those. My goal is to be able to connect the youth among our community with IAGB’s focused efforts like College Admissions seminar, Discover India series, and other cultural events.

President’s Farewell Note

IAGB-EC (1)

Hello IAGB Community,
It’s hard to believe, but it’s almost time for IAGB EC Team 2021-2023 to end their current tenure. At times, September 2021 feels like a distant past, and sometimes it seems like just yesterday. September 2021 was when I was elected to lead IAGB, a mighty 6-decade-old organization that is standing strong for the Indian American community in the New England area. We were coming out of the pandemic, and I had mixed feelings – privileged to lead this organization, much excitement, the heavy weight of responsibilities, a little nervousness, and a must-deliver attitude. But at the helm of it all was one strong desire for my journey with IAGB to be one of Onwards and Upwards.

IAGB EC Team started off with the goal of building close community relationships, empowering the Indian American community, providing avenues to partake in social and civic causes, and being a valuable resource to our seniors.

I feel privileged to share that we were able to deliver on all of our original goals and some more. From carving out a space for Indian American representation at the Veterans Day march to the Unity rally to showcase our solidarity in togetherness and to condemn hate in any form, From creating a platform for community service days to organizing donation drives for causes in local communities as well as in India; From bringing awareness to political happenings to raising awareness to flag raising events with diverse community participation; From exploring India’s exciting culture to hands-on learning at many New England libraries for a diverse audience; From helping our youth and young adults in their aspirations while providing resources and information to catering to changing needs of the community entering their golden years to bringing first ever India Celebration to Boston MLB stage. Last but not least, we presented and delivered the four most impeccably designed IAGB flagship events, elevating the IAGB stage even higher.

As my term as the President of IAGB ends, I express my deepest gratitude for the support and collaboration that has defined this incredible journey. This journey has taught me that Togetherness is the place to be. As quoted by Mother Teresa, ‘Together we can do great things.’ Together as a community, we have tried to do greater good and be that well-rounded, open-minded leader within a giving and all-encompassing community. It has been an honor and privilege to serve this wonderful community.

I am confident that the incoming leadership will continue to drive IAGB’s mission forward with the same enthusiasm and commitment. As I step down from this role, I will remain an active member of this community, supporting its growth and success in any way I can.

Thank you once again for your trust and cooperation. It’s not goodbye, but rather a transition to a new chapter. I look forward to crossing paths with you all as we continue to work towards shared goals for our community. As we embark on new horizons, let’s carry the spirit of Onwards and Upwards with us.

With love and joy

-Vaishali Gade

IAGB Trailblazer Award Sept 2023

IAGB recognized ‘Women Who Win’, founded by Dr. Manju Sheth, Dr. Deepa Jhaveri, and Shaleen Sheth for the first-ever Trailblazer Award.

‘Women Who Win’ is a free media platform, with a mission to amplify the voices of diverse women of all races, cultures, and backgrounds – enabling them with an opportunity to share the stories that make them who they are today with a hope to inspire others. This platform has featured over 500 women to date, including entrepreneurs, technologists, artists, community activists, healthcare providers, and more, in the form of written articles, webinars, podcasts, and videos.

Trailblazer Award (1)

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