(L to R) Giriraj Rao, President FIA Ashwin Patel, S.R. Tayal, Congresswoman Denise Majette, Dhiru Shah, Amit Shah, Bhupendra Patel and Bhudev Sharma.

The Federation of Indian-American Associations, FIA-Georgia, launched the 50-day Indo-US friendship awareness exhibition with fanfare at the Fulton County Library System on May 30. Congresswoman Denise Majette cut the ribbon to inaugurate the exhibition. The Consular General of India, Mr. S. R. Tayal attended the gala function. Several distinguished guests from Atlanta including Ms. Anne T. Haimes, Director of the library were present on this occasion. 

Mr. Ashwin Patel, President of FIA, who worked tirelessly with his team of volunteers to make the event possible, gave the tour of the exhibition located on the ground floor and fourth floor of the library to Congresswoman Majette, Mr. Tayal and many other community activists. Mr. Patel explained to the large gathering about the significance and importance of several exhibits pertaining to India’s history, culture, traditions, heritage and the advances made by India in space and information technology as well as India’s contributions 
to the world in the fields of science, mathematics, technology, medicine and yoga. A well-organized cultural program and elaborate snacks and refreshments followed the event.

Indo-US friendship awareness Exhibition is presented by FIA, in cooperation with the India Awareness Foundation and the Gandhi Foundation of USA, with the main objective of bringing awareness about India to the people of Georgia. The exhibition will remain open till July 4, 2004. FIA has plans to take this exhibit to various schools and other public places in Georgia and elsewhere in USA. 

Mr. Dhiru Shah, president of India Awareness Foundation, welcomed the guests in the library auditorium. A one-minute silence was observed by the members of the audience in remembrance of the soldiers who gave their lives for America in commemoration of Memorial Day. 

Mr. Giriraj Rao, Executive Director of Gandhi Foundation of USA, introduced Consul General of India, Skand Tayal. Hon. Tayal presented his keynote address emphasizing the importance of India-USA friendship and urged the members of the audience to bring their American friends to the exhibition in order that they understand India better. He talked about the history of the India-USA friendship and the continuing efforts being made by the 
Indian Government to strengthen the ties between the world’s two largest democracies. Mr. Tayal also spoke about the recent Indian election exercise when more than 600 million eligible voters were allowed to exercise their ballots through electronic machines. He said that the election has once again shown that the Indian people value democratic traditions. 

Mr. Tayal further stated that India has always carried the message of non-violence for thousands of years and gave examples of Buddha and Mahavir Jain going back to 300 BC. 

The multi-talented cultural program showcasing Indian classical and folk dances was choreographed by Atlanta's dance teacher Kumud Savla and presented by versatile youth performing artists. Amitabh Sharma and Suchita Vadlamani of FOX TV emceed the cultural program. At the end of the cultural program, Mr. Ashwin Patel thanked Congresswoman Denise Majette, Consular General of India, Mr. Tayal and the various supporting organizations affiliated to FIA as well as several volunteers and local artists for making this 
program a great success. 

FIA was organized in Georgia as an umbrella organization of various Indian American associations of Georgia to serve the interest and issues concerning the Indian American community and to serve as a catalyst for better Indo-American ties. In that spirit of FIA’s mission, the current exhibition is a befitting tribute to the friendship between India and America.