CURRENT EVENTS

Current Events Program/History and Background
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(In the above photo from left Umakanth Serma,Former Chief Secretary Bihar State, India, Bharat Desai coordinator of program,and T P Subramonian, Former Executive of Burmah Shell is giving talk at 'Current Events' program)
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Current Events Program/History and Background
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The Current Events program was initiated in february 2002 with the active support of Mr Dinesh Bajaj, then President, ICSC and implemented by Mr Bharat Desai who is a coordinator of the program. It faced lot of odds in the beginning but has been run successfully with the cooperation of Prof. A Srinivasan, Mr M L Swamy, Mr M Santhanam, Prof. C G Desai and Mr A Narayanaswami. Besides that Mr Pradeep Joshi, Program Director, ICC and his all staff members have been great help to run this program very successfully.
The main aims and objectives of the program is to create interest among members regarding the changing world by giving them feed back regarding the latest developments, which generally they do not come across. Besides to give opportunity to members by the way of discussion to further add in the contribution already made by the presenters. The main aim is to increase participation of members instead of creating controversy. These way members can differ with certain presentations but without wasting time in controversies. We have been able to involve most of the eminent members whose names are also given for your information in Anneture-1
We had also invited some eminent people from the fields of medias, literature, community leaders, science and technology etc to throw lights on the latest hot problems of the day. We give here below the names and the subjects they spoke thereon in Annxture-11.
We are also aware the high calibers of our members who had occupied very good positions in their professional life. Therefore we have been trying to run the program very professionally with the highest standard discipline.
We assure you to further improve the program keeping in view the various suggestions made by the members. We are trying to implements those suggestions which are practical and suitable for the program.
However we request our members to continue to give their valuable cooperation in our endeavor to make it more interesting.
ANNEXURE-1
LIST OF MEMBERS WHO PARTICIPATED ACTIVELY IN THE " CURRENT EVENTS " PROGRAM SO FAR
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1) MR M L SWAMY
2) MR M SANTHANAM
3) MR AKUR SRINIVASAN
4) MR HARI VARMA
5) MR UMAKANT SERMA
6) MR KSHITISH DIVATIA
7) MR ARYA BHUSAN
8) MR B K RAO
9)MR T P SUBRAMONIAN
10) MR V K DORISWAMY
11) MR A NARAYAN SWAMI
12) MR S KRISHNAMURTHY
13) MR DINESH BAJAJ
14) MR C MUKHARJEE
15) MR C G DESAI
16) MR H THYAGARAJAN
17) MR HARIKRISHNA MAJMUNDAR
18) NIRANJAN PARIKH
19) Dr R M Mathur
20) MRS Pushpa MATHUR
21) CAPT, RAJ TANDON
22) MR PRAVIN SHAH
23) MR SURESH SHARMA
24) MR DHANU SIVA
25) MRS RAJESHWARI DHANU SIVA
26) MRS AMRITA VERMA
27) DR SAROJ AGRAWAL
28) MR HARI VARMA
29) MR SVR PARANGUSAM
30) MR LAXMINARAYYANA VENKATES
31) DR V K JOTWANI
32) SMT. GEETA MAHAJAN
33) MR KSHITISH DIVATIA
34) RAMKRISHNA AYYAR
35) DR MAHIPAL GHEMAWAT
36) INDU CHHABRA
37) DR PADMA RAJGOPALAN
38) SMT PREMLATABAHEN MAJMUNDAR
39) SMT JAYSHRI VASAVADA
40) SANAT DESAI
41) MANOHAR WANCHOO
42) R B SINGH
43) SMT SITA DORAISWAMI
44) SHAKUNTALA BAHADUR
45) KANU SHAH
46) RAMJI PATEL
47)CHANDRASEKHAR RI
48)BALWANT PURANIK
49)NILU GUPTA
50)NAVIN JAGADA
51)Narindra Chopra
52)Dr N Srinivasan
53)Rukkmini Srinivasan
54)Mrs Laxmi Ramkrisha Ayyar
55)R Parthsarathy
56)Manilal Jagtap
57)Chittaranjan Mukherjee
58) M P WANCHOO
59) M K Rao
60) S V Sastry
61)R P Banga
62)Madhusudan Thatte
63)R K Garg
64)K S Ramaswami
65)Rajlaxmi Jagannathan
66)P S Manoher
67)Despande Jorapur
68 )Mrs Dinker
69)Shakuntala Gheewala
70)MrsBhanumati C Desai
71)Varsha B Desai
72)Padma Sohoni
73)Rangamani M Swamy
74)Sujaya Ashwadhati
75)Shyamala Narvenkar
76)Kalyani Subromanian
77)Urmila Talwalkar
78) A K Krishna
79)Kiran Jotwani
80)Prema Santhnam
81)Rajalakshmi Jagannathan









ANNEXTURE-11
SOME OF THE IMPORTANT SESSIONS
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LIST OF EMINENT GUEST WHO SPOKE ON IMPORTANT TOPICS IN "CURRENT EVENTS" PROGRAM SO FAR
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NAME/DISCRIBTION/TOPIC
====================== 1)MR M L SWAMY, FORMER WORLD BANK CONSULTANT - 'NATIONAL WATER GRID OF INDIAÂ’
2)MR M SANTHANAM,FORMER JUDGE------------ 'INDIAN JUIDICIARY'
3)MR UMAKANT SERMA RETD IAS-'INDIAN CIVIL SERVICE AND HIS EXPERIENCES THEREOF'
4)MR KSHITISH DIVATIA FORMER CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF SARABHAI CHEMICAL ------'GUJARAT COMMUNAL RIOTS AND ROLE OF MEDIA THEREIN'
5)MR HARI VARMA, FORMER ADVOCATE, SUPRIME COURT, INDIA---------------'IRAQI WAR- INDIAN POINT OF VIEW
6)MR BEN GRYN, DISTRICT MANAGER,SSI--------------'MEDICARE AND MEDICAL DISABILITIES'
7)MRS TALAT HASAN, CHAIR PERSON, ICC-------------'ICC AND ITS VISION'
8)MR RAJ DESAI, FORMER EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TIE-'RECCESSION AND RIVIVAL OF HIGH TECH IN SILICON VALLEYÂ’
9)MRS KAREN SEPAHAHMANSOUR, MEMBER OF AGEING COUNCIL, SANTA CLARA COUNTY-------------------'IRAN PRESENT AND PAST'
10)MR NIRAJ BAXI, FORMER, PRESIDENT,NFIAA,-----'WHAT IS A ROLE OF INDIAN AMERICAN AND WHERE WE ARE HEADED?'
11)MR ASHOK JETHNANDANI, EDITOR, INDIA CURRENT-----------'OUTSOURCING'
12)MR PHIROZE KAZI,WRITER/POET-----' COMMUNAL HARMONY'
FROM 2005 UPTO THE MONTH
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13)MR B K RAO, FORMER SECRATARY, STEEL AND MINES,INDIAN GOVERNMENT- 'MY EXPERIENCES'
14)MR TODD MOKHARTI,ASSISTANT NEWS DIRECTOR, NBC,SAN JOSE 'ROLE OF MEDIA IN COMMUNITY DEVELOPEMENT'.
15)MR HARESH PANCHAL, FORMER PRESIDENT, INDIA CULTURAL ASSOCIATION,INDIAN FEDERATION OF INDIAN AMERICAN ASSOCIATIONS----------'UNITY OF INDIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY'
16)SMT. SHUBHANGI SAKHALKAR, INTERNATIONALLY RENOWNED INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC ARTIST--------'INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSIC' AND DEMONSTRATIONS THEREON.'
17) P THIYAGRAJAN, FORMER CHIEF INCOMTAX COMMISSIONER, INDIAN GOVERNMENT,----' THE CORRUPTION IN INDIAN SYSTEM'
18)ON 'GANDHI JAYANTI CELEBRATION 06' UNDER 'CURRENT EVENTS'- ANAYYA DESHPANDE, GANDHIAN, ON'MAHATMA GANDHI AND HIS PREACHING' AND TALAT HASAN,CHAIRPERSON,ICC, ON 'GANDHIJI AND HIS VIEWS ON WOMEN'
(57TH SESSION)
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19) KRS MURTHY, A POET/WRITER/MUSICIAN /TECHNOCRATE/SCIENTIST/ COMPOSER, GUEST SPEAKER/ARTIST SPOKE ON 'INTERNATIONAL MUSIC' AND PRESENTED SELF COMPOSED MUSIC THEREON'
(58TH SESSION)
20)SEEMAJI, THE EXPONENT OF HINDUSTANI MUSIC WAS A GUEST SPEAKER/ARTIST PRESENTED 'THE HISTROY OF HINDUSTANI MUSIC' ALONG WITH THE PRESENTATIONS OF GAZAL/DEVOTIONAL SONGS/CLASSICAL MUSIC. ARSHAD SAIYED, RENOWNED TABLA PLAYER ACCOMPANIED ON TABLA WITH HER.
(59TH SESSION)
21)MARY TINKER, GUEST SPEAKER, DIRECTOR, PUBLIC AUTHORITY ON IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES, SANTA CLARA COUNTY GAVE TALK ON 'IN-HOME SUPPORTIVE SERVICES RENDERED BY THE COUNTY'
(60TH SESSION)
22)SATISH GADADKAR, A PROMINENT MUSICIAN AND VIOLINIST PRESENTED MELODIOUS MUSIC. HE WAS ACCOMPANIED WITH SONALI SRIVASTAV ON TABLA AT THE 60TH SESSIONS OF CURRENT EVENTS)
(61ST SESSION)
23)SACHIN DESHMUKH, WRITER, DRAMATIST, ENVORINIST, EXPERT IN HOMEOPOTHY, ARYUVEDIC MEDICINE AND YOGA A GUEST SPEAKER GAVE TALK ON 'THE IMPORTANCE OF ARYUVEDIC MEDICINE FOR SENIORS)
(62ND SESSION)
24)SURESH PATEL, A COMMUNITY LEADER,LEADING HOTELIER, CONVENOR OF GUJARAT DAY, AND CHAIRMAN OF COMMITTEE ON SISTER STATES OF GUARAT AND CALIFORNIA GAVE A TALK ON "THE FORMATION OF VIBRANT GUJARAT STATE,AND SIGNIFICANCE OF CELEBRATION OF GUJARAT DAY" (
(63RD SESSION)
25)PRADEEP JOSHI, PROGRAM DIRECTOR, ICC, SUNNYVALE, A GUEST ARTIST, PRESENTED OLD HIT SONGS FROM THE INDIAN MOVIES(I.E. INCLUDING MUKESH SONGS)
(64TH SESSION)
26)SEEMA GUPTA, A BUDDING INDIAN CLASSICAL SINGER,AND GUEST ARTIST PRESENTED CLASSICAL AND SEMI CLASSICAL DEVOTIONAL SONG. SHE ALSO SANG KABIR BHAJAN IN YAMAN RAGA.SHE WAS ACCOMPANIED SHAKEEL AVADHANY ON TABLA.
(65TH SESSION)
27)SUBODH DESAI,FORMER JOINT SECRETARY GUJARAT GOVERNMENT,A GUEST SPEAKER SPOKE ON 'THE LATEST ECONOMICAL DEVELOPMENTS IN GUJARAT' AND GUEST ARTIST ARABHI SUNDERARAJAN PRESENTED CLASSICAL AND SEMI CLASSICAL MUSIC.
(66TH SESSION)
28)PRAVIN SHETH, WRITER, JOURNALIST,RESEARCH SCHOLER,A GUEST SPEAKER SPOKE ON'THE MEANING OF GANDHI TO DAY' AND GUEST ARTIST ROCHIT GUPTA PRESENTED CLASSICAL AND SEMI CLASSICAL MUSIC INCLUDING DEVOTIONAL SONGS,GAZALS AND OLD HINDI MOVIE'S SONG ON MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS)
(67TH SESSION)
29)NARANJI PATEL,COMMUNITY LEADER, FOUNDER OF SUNNYVALE TEMPLE,A GUEST SPEAKER SPOKE ON 'THE VISION FOR SERVEING INDIAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY'AND HARSHADA JAWALE A GUEST ARTIST PRESENTED CLASSICAL AND SEMI CLASSICAL MUSIC INCLUDING DEVOTIONAL SONGS AND GAZAL.
(68TH SESSION)
30)GOPI GODHWANI, CHAIRPERSON SENIOR, INDIA COMMUNITY CENTER, A GUEST SPEAKER GAVE TALK ON 'THE VISION OF INDIA COMMUNITY CENTER FOR SENIOR, AND PARIMAL GANDHI GAVE MUSICAL PERFORMANCE RECEPECTIVELY.
(69TH SESSION)
31)PATRIC SARKAR, DY CONSUL GENERAL, INDIAN CONSULATE, SAN FRANCISCO WAS A GUEST SPEAKER WHO SPOKE ON DUEL CITIZENSHIP, VISA, ETC.
(70TH SESSION)
32) JERRY RODRIGUE, RETIRED CORRECTION OFFICER, FEDERAL BURAUE OF PRISON, WAS A GUEST SPEAKER AND WHO SPOKE ON AMERICAN JUDICIAL SYSTEM.
(74TH SESSION)
33)DR MUNJALKANT DWIWEDI,RENOWN VASTUSASHTRI WAS A GUEST SPEAKER WHO SPOKE ON 'THE GOOD HEALTH THROUGH VASTUSASHTRA'AND MITUN BHATTACHARJEE, A GUEST ARTIST PRESENTED CLASSICAL AND SEMI CLASSICAL MUSIC.
(75TH SESSION)
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34)NAREN BAKSHI, PRESIDENT, ICC A CHIEF GUEST GAVE TALK ON THE VISION OF ICC FOR SENIORS. MR Y S HEGDE, A GUEST SPEAKER,CONSULTANT, TCS, GAVE SPEECH ON INDIA, YESTERDAY,TO DAY, AND TOMORROW. SNNIHITA A GUEST ARTIST PRESENTED A MUSICAL PROGRAM.
(83RD SESSION)
35)HEMANT UPADHYAY,FORMER CHIEF MANAGER, BANK OF BARODA AND CONSULTANT TO 'KALUPUR CO-OPERATIVE BANK, AHEMDABAD, MADE POWER POINT PRESENTATION ON 'THE VIBRANT GUJARAT IN CONTEXT OF ITS LATEST DEVELOPMENTS'
(84TH SESSION)
36)NARENDRA PATHAK, A GUEST SPEAKER, COMMUNITY LEADER, COMMISSIONER ON EQUAL OPPURTUNITY COMMISSION, AND ON BOARD OF TRUSTEES, LIBRARY, OF SANTA CLARA COUNTY, SPOKE ON 'THE SENIOR RELATED PROBLEMS' AND GUEST ARTISTS RENOO NATHAN AND ARSHID SAYYED PRESENTED MUSICAL PROGRAM.
(85TH SESSION)
37)GIRISH CHITALIYA,EDITOR,COMMUNITY LEADER,HON.TREASURER OF PRESS GUILD OF INDIA,FORMER PRESIDENTS OF 'PROGRESSIVE GROUP,INDO-AMERICAN SOCIETY, AND THE URBAN DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE RECEPECTIVELY GAVE TALK ON' THE ENCOUNTERS WITH DISTINGUISHED PERSONALITIES'. ARABHI SUNDARARAJAN WAS A GUEST ARTIST AND VIKAS YENDLURI WAS PLAYING TABLA WITH HER.
(86TH SESSION)
38)RICHARD HOBBS, A GUEST SPEAKER, FORMER DIRECTOR 'CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRANT PROGRAM' SANTA CLARA COUNTY, DIRECTOR OF 'SIREN' AND IMMIGRANT ATTORNEY GAVE A TALK REGARDING 'THE LATEST ON IMMIGRATION'AND SEEMA GUPTA A GUEST ARTIST MADE MUSICAL PRESENTATIONS
(87TH SESSION)
39)MATHANGI SUDARARAJAN,A GUEST SPEAKER MADE POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS ON BATIK, WHILE RHUCHA JOSHI PRESENTED CLASSICAL AND DEVOTIONAL MUSIC.
(88TH SESSION)
40)BHIKHUBHAI PATEL A GUEST SPEAKER MADE TAKE ON 'BIBLICAL CHRONOLOGY IN HISTORY BOOK AND ITS EFFECT UPON INDIAN HISTORY' SHATISH GADADKAR PRESENTED MUSICAL PRESENTATION ON VIOLIN. 'ON LOK SAFE WAYS' PRESENTED TO SENIORS THE VARIOUS SERVICE ARE OFFERED TO THEM'
(89TH SESSION)
41)Dinesh Bajaj, Former President of India Community Service Center, and Guest Speaker spoke on 'America and World' while Mitun Bhattacharyajee, a rising Artist of Bay Area presented Classical Music.
(90TH SESSION)
42)Uday Patel Community Leader and one of the conveners of 'Gujarat Day' in Bay Area gave a talk on 'Gujarat Day Celebration-2010'. Harshada Jawale Upcoming Guest Artist of Bay Area also gave Musical presentation of Classical and Semi classical Music including Devotional songs.
(94TH SESSION)
43)Ash Kalra, a Council Member, San Jose City Council gave talk on ' Indian American Community -including Seniors'.
(95TH SESSION)
44)Dr Darshana Nadkarni, Consultant,Educator and Guest Speaker gave talk on 'The Stress and Relaxation' while Renoo Nathan a Guest Artist gave Musical presentations.
(96 TH SESSION)
45)Jayaram Komati a Guest Speaker, Community Leader, President of 'The Telugu Association of North America(TANA), Former President of FIA gave talk on senior related subject and Rajeshwari Panshikar, a Guest Artist, gave presentations of classical Music and Bhajan
(97TH SESSION)
46)Rina Valia a Guest Speaker gave talk on The Homeopathy on the Chronic deceases of Seniors'. Manilal Jagtap presented old hit songs of Hindi movies on Mouthorgan.
(99TH SESSION)
47)Kris Wang,Mayor of Cupertino was Chief Guest and spoke on Seniors related Matters and Appreciated the program While Fawn Reed, Staff Attorney of'The Senior Adult Law Assistance' was Guest Speaker and gave talk on 'The services rendered by SALA regarding Medical/Medicare and SSI. Shubhangi Sakhalkar, a Guest Artist and renowned Bay Area classical singer gave Musical presentation.
(100 TH Session)
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Notes on the past sessions between January 2002 t0 2005
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The most of the sessions were hold on the first Monday of the month wherein eminent speakers presented the latest topics/developments relating to world (i.e. including America, and India)in respect of politics, business, science, culture and sports as under:-
YEAR 2002
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MONTH 2002 2003 2004 2005
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JANUARY 01/02/02 01/06/03 01/05/04 -
FEBRUARY 02/04/02 02/03/03 02/02 04 -
MARCH 03/04/02 03/03/03 03/01/04 -
APRIL 04/01/02 04/07/03 - -
MAY 05/06/02 05/05/03 - -
JUNE 06/03/02 06/02/03 - -
JULY 07/01/02 07/07/03 - -
AUGUST 08/05/02 08/04/03 - -
SEPTEMBER 09/05/02 09/08/03 - -
OCTOBER 10/07/02 10/06/03 - -
NOVEMBER 11/04/02 11/03/03 - -
DECEMBER 12/02/02 12/01/03 - 12/05/05
( - ALL ABOVE SESSIONS I.E. BETWEEN APRIL,2004 TO NOVEMBER,2005, WERE HANDLED BY A NARAYANASWAMI/A SRINIVASAN MY SENIOR FRIENDS AS I WAS OUT OF USA)
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