GLOBAL ADVISORY BOARD 2022
SURINAME
Ms Aashna Kanhai served as Suriname’s Ambassador to India between 2012 and 2021. Prior to that she practiced law, wrote a bi-weekly column and worked as a part-time lecturer at the Anton de Kom University, Suriname. She holds a Masters in International Law and Dutch Law from Erasmus University, Rotterdam.
NEW DELHI
Mr Amarendra Khatua was part of the Vajpayee Government's Pravasi engagement during its inception when he served as Minister, Office of the Ambassador-at-Large for NRls and PIOs, in New York between 2000 and 2005. Subsequently he became India's Ambassador to Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone
TOKYO
Mr Anil Raj is Founder, Rajgroup. A former technie-banker with Credit Suisse, Dresdner, Shinsei and Citi, he’s a serial international entrepreneur operating NehaNTech—IT company, Nirvanam—chain of Indian restaurants, Starkids—international kindergarten, manpower and India-Japan consulting. He’s instrumental in bringing the first batch of Indian construction workers to Japan.
NEW YORK
Mr Ashook Ramsaran is the President of the Indian Diaspora Council. Of lndo-Guyanese origin and settled in New York, he has in the past been President of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) International. He is a Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awardee
PARIS
Mrs Christelle Mandjiny, former banker with France's largest bank, is a Paris·based environmental and social activist. She writes fictions on the unknown and hidden history of the indentured labor system practiced by the French in their colonies following abolition of slavery. Of lndo- Guadeloupean origin, she remains spiritually connected to India.
DURBAN
Dr Dasarath Chetty is President of Research Committee 10 at the International Sociological Association, Visiting Professor at the Wupperta1 University,Germany, Adjunct Professor at the Durban University of Technology, former ProVice-Chancellor at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. South Africa. He is on the Advisory Board of MAHSA University in KL Malaysia.
JAIPUR
Dr Gauri Shankar Gupta was Ambassador of India to Mongolia, Hungary, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat. His books include Unraveling Mysteries of Life-Modern Science and Ancient Wisdom, Science and Spirituality, Limits of Consumption-Environmental Degradation and Ancient Wisdom, Mongolia-The Land of Blue Skies.
REUNION ISLAND
Dr Jean Regis Ramsamy is a prominent historian, journalist and author in the Indian Francophone diaspora whose aspirations he's articulated at several world events including the PBD. He has been decorated with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award in 2021. He spearheaded a campaign for an Indian memorial in Reunion Islands.
KUALA LUMPUR
Dr Kamalanathan Sappani's grandparents emigrated to Malaysia in the 1930s. He practiced in Malaysia's Health Ministry. For two years he was Secretary, GOPIO International and built up an impressive network among PIOs across Asia-Pacific. He works to preserve lndic culture. His firm develops IT systems for excellence in patient care.
LOS ANGELES
Mr Kewal Kanda founded GOPIO-LA (2013), was part of the core team for the RPBD in LA (2015) and chaired a diaspora committee to celebrate 75 years of Indian Independence in Southern California in August 2022. A mechanical engineer, he moved to the US in 1976 and served Boeing Co.
NEW DELHI
Mr Kul Bhushan is a former Kenya-based newspaper Editor and Publisher. During his 30 years of professional life in Nairobi, he travelled across 50 countries. He's a former Media Advisor to a UN agency in Vienna and Delhi. He is also a calligrapher, and an avid Osho disciple.
GEORGETOWN, GUYANA
Dr Kumar Mahabir
is a full-time anthropologist at University of Guyana. He earlier served University of Trinidad and Tobago. An author of 12 books, he is the recipient of the Hummingbird Silver medal, distinguished alumni award from UWI, A. Curtis Wilgus Grant, and Organization of American States (OAS) Fellowship.LONDON
Lord Rami Ranger is Chairman of Sun Mark Ltd. His firm has been decorated with the Oueen's Export Excellence Award a record five times in a row-a British record. He is Chairman of the British Sikh Association, and has donated over a million pounds to the Conservative Party.
PURI
Dr Malay Mishra has served as Indian Ambassador to Hungary, HC in Trinidad and Tobago, and Seychelles. He has served in Mauritius, France, Iran, Germany and Washington DC and was the first joint secretary of diaspora services when the Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs was set up.
MAURITIUS
Mr Mookhesswur Choonee, GOSK, is the President of GOPIO International, Mauritius and the Founder President of the International Indentured Labour-Girmitiyas Foundation. He has served as Cabinet Minister in the Mauritius Government for multiple terms over 14 years and has been his country's Ambassador to India for five years.
DURBAN
Mr Narend Singh is treasurer general and chief whip of the Inkatha Freedom Party. He is member of the South African Parliament (National Assembly) since 2007, having been re-elected in 2009, 2014 and 2019. He was elected to the Senate from KwaZulu-Natal in 1994 after actively campaigning against apartheid.
SAN JOSE
Mr Niraj Baxi is Co-Founder of the Asian American Hotel Owner's Association (AAHOA), past President of the GOPIO International, past President and Chairman of the National Federation of Indian Americans (NFIA). A third generation insurance and finance professional, he's been a former Charter Member of the The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE).
AMSTERDAM
Drs Rajindre Tewari is Global Chairman, GOPIO's Cultural Council, Secretary General, EU-India Council. As past Chairman of the Netherlands India Chamber he led trade missions to India. He is CEO of Mahler Emerging Markets Investment, Chairman of IEFP India Pvt. Ltd, and past chairman of Holland's fourth largest pension fund.
MAURITIUS
Dr Sarita Boodhoo is Chairperson of the Bhojpuri Speaking Union under the aegis of Ministry of Arts and Cultural Heritage, Mauritius. On behalf of her Government she set up the World Hindi Secretariat between 1997 and 2001. Well-versed in lndology, she has an abiding interest in lndian Diasporic studies.
SYDNEY
Dr Satish Rai,a former elected Councillor from Greenwich, London, was raised in Fiji. He's an academic, journalist , author, film and TV producer. He worked in Fiji police and Metropolitan police. He coordinates projects on global girmitiya communities.He is a recipient of Apravasi Bharatya Ratna from the UP Government.
SAN JOSE
Mr Sayantan Chakravarty is Editor and Publisher of India Empire magazine, a monthly started in October 2004 with a specialization in lndian Diaspora and international diplomacy. A career journalist, his writings have featured in the Best of Indian Express of 25 years and Best of India Today of 25 years.
HAMILTON
Mrs Suman Kapoor is a past regional coordinator for GOPIO International’s Oceania region. She is the immediate past president of the National Council of Women, Hamilton. She has made valuable contributions to ethnic communities in New Zealand. She received a Times Now award in 2013, and dozens of other recognitions.
BRISBANE
Mr Umesh Chandra, OAM, is the Publisher of Brisbane India Times and the Owner/ Presenter at Australian Indian Radio. He is also President of the Oueensland Multicultural Council, Chairperson of the Human Rights Council, and a life member of GOPIO International. In 2020, he was decorated with the Order of Australia Medal.
PORT OF SPAIN
Mr Winston Dookeran has served as Acting Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, the country's Foreign Minister, and Finance Minister. Currently he's Professor of Practice at The University of the West Indies. He's been honored with Pravasi Bharatiya Samman award and the Order of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.