The Oklahoma Desi

The Oklahoma Desi
Quarterly Newsletter by IAGT
Volume V, Issue 1, January 2009
From the President’s Desk
The year 2008 ended with a somber note for millions of peace loving people throughout the world and for Indians
in particular, in the wake of the tragic events of Mumbai. The India Association of Greater Tulsa organized an Inter-faith Prayer Meeting in memory of the victims of the tragedy and for peace and understanding between people
of various faiths. People from all walks of life came together in solidarity and listened to the speakers. Manju Kaul,
outgoing President of IAGT welcomed everybody and the meeting was moderated by Steve Cranford of Inter Faith
Alliance. Among those who addressed the gathering were: Venugopal Swamy Gattu of Hindu Temple, Barry Abels
of Jewish Federation, Msgr. Gaalaas of Catholic Church, Jasjit Parmer of Sikh Community, Priscilla Reem Gaulstun
of Islamic Society, Sarah Gettie Burks of Unitarian Church, Sister Ellen Finley, Episcopalian nun, Nancy Day of
Oklahoma Center of Community and Justice and Amarjit Sen of IAGT. A short note from Congressman John Sullivan was also presented.
The New Year’s eve party was held at the Spirit Bank Center in South Tulsa and was well attended by over 150
people in spite of the cold. The evening started with snacks and drinks followed by song and dance and a delicious
dinner. Everybody enjoyed the music presented by the DJ from Dallas and danced their heart away. The kids also
had a lot of fun with the clowns. The New Year was welcomed amidst champagne and fanfare.
India became a Republic on January 26, 1950 after gaining independence from the British. As we celebrate this
memorable day of the largest democracy in the world, we salute the freedom fighters of this great country for their
sacrifices. In the last six decades India has made a lot of progress which is evident in the daily references made by
many political leaders and pundits in the U.S. We sincerely wish and hope that under the leadership of our new
President Obama, the bridge of friendship between our two countries will be stronger than ever. May the glory of
the Tricolor fly high for years to come!
We have many friends in our community who have not been members of IAGT yet. We invite them to enjoy and
participate in all our activities by being active members of IAGT.
Happy New Year !
Amarjit Sen
President, IAGT 2009
IAGT EVENTS FOR 2009 (MARK YOUR CALENDARS)
Sunday, February 22
India Republic Day Celebration
Sunday, May 3th
Holi Picnic
Saturday, Sept 12th
UTSAV - India Fest 2009
Saturday, Nov 7th
Diwali Program
Thursday, Dec 31st
New Year’s Eve Party
IAGT Tulsa, OK
WWW.IAGTOK.ORG
(918) 615-8323
COMMUNITY NEWS
Kudos to You !!!
Mumbai Terrorist Attack: Inter-faith Prayer Meeting
In response to the horrific tragedy of terrorist attacks on Mumbai and to express solidarity and support for India at this tragic time, IAGT held an Inter-faith Prayer Meeting on
Sunday Dec 14th at the University of Oklahoma (Schusterman Campus) in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Dr. Manju Kaul, President IAGT welcomed this well attended and an emotional meeting
in which representatives from different faiths were present and was moderated coordinated by Mr. Steve Cranford, former Executive President of the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministries and current President of the Tulsa Inter-Faith
Alliance
Asha Kumar Chandrasekar
won the Spelling Bee Championship held at Jarman Elementary School. (Asha is in
the middle)
Each representative spoke very briefly and offered
a prayer addressing issues of peace, unity, tolerance
and non-violence. Head Priest of the Hindu Temple of Greater Tulsa, Sriman Venugopala Swamy
Gattu, led a prayer for the peace of the soul of those
innocents who lost their lives in this terrorist attack
on Mumbai and also prayed for universal peace.
Executive Director of the Jewish Federation of
Tulsa, Barry A. Abels, spoke about Rabbi Gavriel Holtzberg, who was brutally killed
along with his wife Rivka by the terrorists and had dedicated his life to the community.
Representing the Catholic Church was Msgr. Gaalaas who read the message by Pope
Benedict on learning about this tragedy in Mumbai.
Jasjit Parmar representing the Sikh Community led a group prayer and Priscilla Reem Gaulstun from the Islamic Society of Tulsa quoted from
the Quran and prayed for global peace. Sarah Gettie Burks from the All Souls Unitarian Church prayed for those who lost their lives and also
for those who lost their loved ones in these tragic attacks. Sr. Ellen Finley, an Episcopalian nun presented the Buddhist perspective and prayed
for peace.
Nancy Day, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Center for Community and Justice thanked the organizers for taking this initiative in memory
of those who lost their lives in this terrorist attack. Dr. Amarjit Sen, President-elect, IAGT, in his closing statement talked about his personal
loss as his close friend Sandeep "Sam" Jeswani, of Chicago, with whom he was scheduled to attend a meeting in India, was also killed in this
terrorist attack. The meeting concluded with a “We shall overcome/‘Hum Honge Kamyab’ (Hindi version) in which all attendees participated.
February
Community Calendar of Events First Quarter 2009
⇒
India Association of Greater Tulsa (IAGT) in collaboration with University of Tulsa Indian Students Association presents: Reflections of India (a musical event) on February 22, 2009 (4-6 pm) at Allen Chapman Activity Center at
University of Tulsa. The event will be followed by dinner. For details contact: 918-615-2383 or visit www.iagtok.org.
⇒
Hindu Temple of Greater Tulsa celebrates MahaShivratri on Sunday February 22, 2009.
⇒
South Asian Performing Arts Foundation (SAPAF) presents and evening of Odissi dance by Sujata Mohapatra,
with live Orchestra, on February 28, 2009 at 6.30 PM at Thoreau Demonstration Academy, Tulsa.
For details contact: 918-361-7472 / 918-408-7108 or visit www.sapaf.org.
March
⇒
Game Night Sponsored by Oklahoma Telugu Sangam:
♦ Table Tennis: March 28, 2009. Contact Sitaram @ 918- 798-7267
♦ Billiards: March 21, 2009. Contact: Prakash @ 918- 671-9687
♦ Carrom: Contact: Rekha @ 918-459-7918
♦ Chess: Contact: Poornima @ 918-249-0840
April
⇒
⇒
Oklahoma Telugu Association presents: Ugaadi (Telgu New Year) on April 4, 2009 (3:30-7:00 pm) at Thoreau Demonstration Academy, Tulsa, OK 74133. Contact: Hari Musapeta @ 918-637-8185 or Partha Karamched @ 918-2503727
Indo-American Chamber of Commerce participates in the Tulsa-City County Library System's 2009 Small Business Information Kickoff Fair on Saturday April 4, 2009 (9 am—12 noon) at Hardesty Library (8316 E. 93rd St.).
IAGT Tulsa, OK
WWW.IAGTOK.ORG
(918) 615-8323
NEW YEAR'S EVE 2009
DESI DHAMAKA
We entered 2009 with a Bang at the
New Year’s eve party at the newly
built Spirit Bank Center in South
Tulsa and was well attended by over
150 people in spite of the cold. The
evening started with snacks and
drinks followed by song and dance
and a delicious dinner.
Everybody enjoyed the music presented by the DJ from Dallas who
had the dance floor overflowing with
young and old, experts and amateurs, all joining in and showing off
their moves. The kids also had a lot
of fun with the clowns. The New
Year was welcomed amidst champagne and fanfare.
ALL HAD A WONDERFUL TIME
Photographs: Dr. Amarjit Sen
IAGT Tulsa, OK
WWW.IAGTOK.ORG
(918) 615-8323
IAGT Tulsa, OK
WWW.IAGTOK.ORG
(918) 615-8323
IAGT
P.O. Box No. 54682
Tulsa, OK 74155-4682
Diamond Sponsors
Dr. Pragna Suthar, D.D.S.
General Dentist
918-254-0135
Reddy Pipe & Supply, Inc.
Pradeep Reddy
918-234-3651
We would like to
acknowledge and thank all
our sponsors for their
Joshi Technologies International, Inc.
Dr. Sada Joshi
918-665-6419
support of IAGT.
RCI Insurance Group
Mick & Chet Cottom
918-341-6081
Platinum Sponsors
Clarion Hotel
Kalpesh Desai
918-258-7085
Sooner Realty Properties, LLC
Kamlesh Aggarwal
918-260-5286
Galaxy Home Recreation Superstore
Mukesh Shah
918-835-1166
- IAGT Executive Committee
IAGT Tulsa, OK
WWW.IAGTOK.ORG
(918) 615-8323