BY KEYA BALAR
ONTARIO,CA -The Saurashtra Patel Cultural Samaj held its eighth International Convention here, from July 4 to 7. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, delivered the keynote address to convention attendees on July 5 via a live video feed. “The Indian generation--old and present--born outside India, have preserved Indian values and...
ONTARIO,CA -The Saurashtra Patel Cultural Samaj held its eighth International Convention here, from July 4 to 7. Prime Minister, Narendra Modi, delivered the keynote address to convention attendees on July 5 via a live video feed. “The Indian generation--old and present--born outside India, have preserved Indian values and...
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have made the world aware of our values,” said Modi in Gujarati. “They have been instrumental in spreading the essence of India throughout the world.” The convention theme was “Utsav,” which means festival. Approximately 2,500 people were in attendance at the convention. The convention was hosted by the California Chapter, and spearheaded by the organization’s National Executive Committee. Hardik Kachhadiya served as the Convention Chair while Dhiru Vadodaria served as the President of the National Executive Committee. “It is very critical that we keep our roots preserved for future generations,” said Vadodaria. “We are investing in that effort right now by getting younger generations involved in community services in the U.S. and India.”
Indicorps co-founder Roopal was the keynote speaker for the SPCS Young Professionals group. Shah conducted an interactive session where she asked attendees about their connection to being Indian in an effort to set the tone for the convention.
“Most of us have, or we think we have, a similar migration story, but there’s always some variations in between,” said Shah. “We might have a similar story, but we’re not always thinking alike.”
“There were a lot of firsts at this convention where we challenged boundaries and acknowledged how we’ve progressed as a diasporic community while still retaining our Gujarati heritage,” said Digisha Vadodaria, a board member of the SPCS Young Professionals. “To increase inclusiveness, we introduced the options of non-vegetarian dishes and events with alcoholic beverages for those who wished to partake. The open-mindedness and willingness of the SPCS to continue to evolve is what made the convention successful.”
The Young Professionals board designed a separate program that catered to younger members. Seminar topics included entrepreneurship, community outreach, and how to manage stress. “We were given freedom to establish our own schedule that incorporated educational and professional development seminars, entertainment in the way first-generation millennials prefer to enjoy social conferences, and thoughtful discussions on how to explore tough topics with our parents on our own,” said Kunal Parbadia, NEC Young Professionals President. “If we continue to move towards a progressive mentality then I think we will attract younger members,” said Priya Dhanani, a board member of the SPCS Young Professionals. Overall, the convention was packed with cultural and professional networking events. Seminar topics included financial planning, women empowerment, and yoga. Convention attendees enjoyed choreographed dances, a fashion show, and an evening of garba.
Indicorps co-founder Roopal was the keynote speaker for the SPCS Young Professionals group. Shah conducted an interactive session where she asked attendees about their connection to being Indian in an effort to set the tone for the convention.
“Most of us have, or we think we have, a similar migration story, but there’s always some variations in between,” said Shah. “We might have a similar story, but we’re not always thinking alike.”
“There were a lot of firsts at this convention where we challenged boundaries and acknowledged how we’ve progressed as a diasporic community while still retaining our Gujarati heritage,” said Digisha Vadodaria, a board member of the SPCS Young Professionals. “To increase inclusiveness, we introduced the options of non-vegetarian dishes and events with alcoholic beverages for those who wished to partake. The open-mindedness and willingness of the SPCS to continue to evolve is what made the convention successful.”
The Young Professionals board designed a separate program that catered to younger members. Seminar topics included entrepreneurship, community outreach, and how to manage stress. “We were given freedom to establish our own schedule that incorporated educational and professional development seminars, entertainment in the way first-generation millennials prefer to enjoy social conferences, and thoughtful discussions on how to explore tough topics with our parents on our own,” said Kunal Parbadia, NEC Young Professionals President. “If we continue to move towards a progressive mentality then I think we will attract younger members,” said Priya Dhanani, a board member of the SPCS Young Professionals. Overall, the convention was packed with cultural and professional networking events. Seminar topics included financial planning, women empowerment, and yoga. Convention attendees enjoyed choreographed dances, a fashion show, and an evening of garba.
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