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Celebrating
the Spirit of Freedom,
Mumbai Style
Endearing Indo-US
Ties at their Best
Stunning
Bollywood film actress
& eminent contemporary
dancer, Isha Sharvani
performed on the
Ganesh Wandana,
in the beginning
of the show.
Relations between
India and the United
States turn endearingly
cozy towards the
end of June; not
because of the soothing
Mumbai monsoon rains.
It's because, Indo-American
Chambers of Commerce
(IACC), traditionally
chooses to celebrate
the 4th of July,
the American Independence
Day, in advance.
And Mumbai, the
metropolis that
loves to revel in
the spirit that
is symbolic of freedom,
eagerly waits for
this occasion to
party and rock.
In fact, it partied
and rocked on 28
June like there
was no tomorrow.
The venue, Jamshed
Bhabha Theatre (NCPA),
Nariman Point, was
just right and the
atmosphere, joyful
and bright. US Consul
General Michael
Owen, the friendly
and affable diplomat,
was there as Chief
Guest. So was his
wife, Annereike,
flashing a beautific
smile. The crème
de la crème
of the city's corporate
and cultural elite
was there. And there
was the chirpy Mandira
Bedi, popular multimedia
star, compering
the evening's programme
and charming everybody
around. She lateral
induced the latest
young Bollywood
sensation Harman
Baweja, the hero
of the futuristic
film, Love Story
2050, to do a jig
on stage. He did
it without a music
track to the wild
applause of the
1000-odd audience.
The event was hosted
by IACC's Regional
President Atul Nissar
and Ashank Desai,
Chairman of the
jury of the 4th
Indo-American Corporate
Excellence Awards
2008. The Chamber's
National President
Farokh Balsara graced
the occasion as
Guest of Honour.
For Michael Owen,
who gave away the
awards, the event
was a swan song
of sorts. He would
be leaving India
in July and thanked
with a rather heavy
heart, everybody
present for making
his tenure in this
city a joyful experience.
The night unfolded
in the right spirit
with cocktails flowing
freely in the foyer,
friends greeting
each other noisily,
and new introductions
made in the din
and bustle. Men
arrived in their
casual best and
women in their gorgeous
designer saris and
salwar suits, most
of them couples.
Then followed a
musical extravaganza,
that included a
captivating dance
ballet titled “Vimukti”
by the famous Daksha
Sheth's dance ensemble.
Her daughter Isha
Sharwani, who weaved
her way into the
hearts of the audience
with her nimble
feet, stood out
as symbol of perfection.
As relations between
India and the US
are getting stronger
and stronger every
year, the July 4th
commemoration celebration
by IACC, with the
accompanying business
Excellence (I-ACE)
Awards presentation,
has become one of
the most sough-after
events of the calendar
in this city of
commerce.
Among this year's
Award winners were
the best U.S. Companies
in India in the
various categories;
Overall Best Company,
Financial Services,
Technology, Communications
& Entertainment,
Manufacturing and
Other Services.
The companies for
I-ACE Awards 2008
are short listed
based on the careful
review done by the
distinguished Jury
on parameters like
Financial Performance,
Indo-US Trade, Corporate
Social Responsibility
Initiatives and
Human Capital Management.
And the winners
were:-
• Overall
Best US Company
in India: DSP Merrill
Lynch Ltd
• Best US
Company in the Financial
Services Category:
DSP Merrill Lynch
Ltd
• Best US
Company in the Manufacturing
and Other Services
category: Monsanto
India Limited
• Best US
Company in the Technology,
Communication and
Entertainment category:
Virtusa Pvt. Ltd
The highlight of
the evening was
the lucky draw;
exclusive gift vouchers
along with a bumper
prize that were
presented to winners
from the audience.
The gift vouchers
were from Aza Fashion,
Taj group of Hotels
and ITC Grand Central.
And the BIG BIG
bumper prize was
presented by SOTC
9 nights / 10 days
couple holiday in
USA which includes
economy class return
airfare, couples
accommodation and
city tour, which
was won by IACC
member Vinod Vora,
Chairman, Repro
India Limited.
The evening wouldn't
have been possible
without the support
of the sponsors,
AZA Fashion-Platinum
Sponsor, VFS Global
Services - Gold
sponsor, Onward
Technologies- Silver
Sponsor
All this truly called
for a celebration.
Why not? In a strifetorn
world, India and
America, the largest
and the most powerful
democracies respectively
in the world, as
the oft repeated
eulogy goes, stand
together defiantly,
in the face of terrorism,
as symbols of peace,
hope and prosperity.
And hence the celebration.
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