Former president Dr Abdul Kalam has accepted an invitation of the Canada-India Foundation (CIF) to be the chief guest at their gala dinner on April 18 at Toronto's 'Liberty Grand' when this newly minted advocacy group will award Sam Pitroda their 'Chanchlani Global Indian Award'.
The award will be in the form of a unique trophy accompanied with $50,000 that will go to the charity of the award recipient's choice, said CIF Convener Ajit Someswar.
At a media briefing on March 12, convened at his company 'Antex' Boardroom in suburban Mississauga, Someswar said this award had been made possible with a million dollar donation from Vasu Chanchlani, co-founder of Sigma group of Companies, after whom the award is being named.
The award will be presented annually "to a person who has demonstrated global leadership, vision and professional excellence, which has made all of us of Indian origin extremely proud of our heritage", Someshwar said.
Pitroda becomes the first recipient "for all what he has done for the country and he has made us all proud', Someswar said.
They released his bio during the media briefing in which emphasis has been placed on how he "laid the foundation for and ushered India's technology and telecommunications revolution in the 1980s' and how he 'has been a leading campaigner to help bridge the digital divide".
The bio also reveals that Pitroda 'owns close to a 100 patents'.
Chanchlani, who was also present at the media briefing, conceded he was giving a million dollar as the cause is right.
"I would like this award to grow from $50,000 by 20 percent annually and may be one day it grows to be a million dollar award."
Former president Abdul Kalam will arrive in Toronto from Finland. "He's coming entirely on our (CIF) invitation," said Someswar. "He will be here for three days and visit some Canadian universities and have an event with the children."
But that part of his itinerary/engagements have not yet been approved by Abdul Kalam and so Someswar was not able to reveal those details to the media.
Their media spokesperson and Toronto-based lawyer Manoj Pundit explained the objectives of CIF and all what CIF has achieved since it was launched over one
That's also obvious from the fact that this not-for-profit organization, federally incorporated in Canada, will be charging $5,000 (a table for 10) for their gala dinner with the former Indian President sitting on the head table as their chief guest.
Their three main objectives comprise 'promoting Canada-India relations' through their 'active intervention in public policy' which would cover domestic policies 'and bi-lateral issues affecting the Indio-Canadian community (and) such issues include culture, education, trade and investment, immigration, diplomatic, political, and strategic relations.'
CIF, Pundit said, actively promotes Indo-Canadians in the political process and national dialogue, including supporting qualified Indo-Canadians who are seeking to serve on agencies, boards, and commission and that CIF takes an active role in educating Canadians about India and Indian about Canada.
He referred to their meeting with Prime minister Stephen Harper last year in Ottawa when they explained to him their objectives of launching CIF: "He (Harper) was very receptive to hearing what our objectives were and committed to working with us to advancing those objectives."
Pundit also referred to the round table that Harper had with the Indo-Canadian leaders business leaders June last year in Toronto. Five Charter members of the CIF were invited to that exclusive roundtable, he said.
He went on to claim they have been since their inception very active: They have had private dinner with Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, meeting with Liberal Leader Stephane Dion, meeting with visiting Indian ministers Kamal Nath, Vayalar Ravi, and hosts of others.
Someswar said CIF "is actively supporting the establishment of a Canada India Inter-parliamentary Association." As many as 76 MPs have already joined this group.