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MRIDUL PATHAK APPOINTED IDCs AMBASSADOR, WEST BENGAL

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MRIDUL PATHAK APPOINTED IDCs AMBASSADOR, WEST BENGAL

Mr. Mridul Pathak

The Indian Diaspora Council (IDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Mridul Pathak as Indian Diaspora Council’s Ambassador, West Bengal.

This appointment takes effect immediately. The term of this appointment is for a period of three (3) years and can be renewed upon request and approval of the Board of Directors of the Indian Diaspora Council. The Indian Diaspora Council’s Ambassador, West Bengal reports directly to the president of Indian Diaspora Council.

The portfolio of IDC’s Ambassador, West Bengal shall include: Engagement on behalf of Indian Diaspora Council of non-resident Indians (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) who are originally from West Bengal or having ancestral roots in West Bengal; liaison with State Government of West Bengal on behalf of Indian Diaspora Council for on-going and planned projects, events and programs in globally and in West Bengal; promote and advance the interest of Indian Diaspora Council in the State of West Bengal, other states in India, the Central Government of India and in other countries where IDC has presence: Mauritius, Fiji, South Africa, Reunion Island, Francophone countries, Malaysia, Trinidad, Suriname, Guyana, Jamaica, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, and other countries of the Caribbean; as well as second migration of descendants to such places as USA, Canada, UK, Netherlands, France, among other countries. We expect that this portfolio of responsibilities to be enlarged to include other areas in the latter half of 2017 as Indian Diaspora Council enhances its outreach, programs and projects.

Indian Diaspora Council recognizes that, while migration from West Bengal continues at an increasing rate, a significant number of Indian indentured laborers came from West Bengal and their descendants have traced their roots to West Bengal. IDC also recognizes that over 90% of all Indian indenture labourers were processed and housed in Kolkata before embarking to the former British colonies. The Kolkata Memorial was inaugurated January 11, 2011 in recognition of those who left India as indenture labourers during the period 1834 – 1920. March 20, 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the official abolition of Indian Indentureship, an era spanning 1834-1917. The Indian Diaspora Council (IDC), in collaboration with several organizations and institutions in various countries, is coordinating a series of high profile global events to mark the centennial of abolition of Indian.

Mr. Pathak’s career began with Government of India civil service (‘66); posted Nigeria (‘73-‘93), promoted to top civil post; Co-Chairman of Indo-American Global Chamber of Commerce (IAGCC) and Conservator of Forests W.P.O. Bhopal M.P. Crisis Management in Critical Tiger Habitat Bandhavgarh; Founded International Foundation for Sustainable Development (IFSD) in 1997 Kolkata and remains a trustee of IFSD; President of Indian Cultural Assoc. Nigeria 83-93; Founder Trustee Indian School and International School ,Port Harcourt, Nigeria 1986; Chairman, Cricket Association, Rivers State, Nigeria; Member Royal Commonwealth Society, London since 1990; Life member, Cultural Association of Bengal, New York and KALLOL, New Jersey; Vice Chairman, North American Bengali Conference (NABC), New York 2005 and Advisor,NABCsince2000 ;Life Member of Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) since2001; formerly GOPIO director of diaspora development; other primarily consultancy or philanthropy to practice sustainable development; semi-retired “philanthro-preneur”.

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MARLAN PADAYACHEE APPOINTED IDC’s MEDIA COORDINATOR, AFRICA

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MARLAN PADAYACHEE APPOINTED IDC’s MEDIA COORDINATOR, AFRICA

Mr. Marlan Padayachee

The Indian Diaspora Council (IDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Marlan Padayachee as Indian Diaspora Council’s Media Coordinator, Africa..

This appointment takes effect immediately. The term of this appointment is for a period of three (3) years and can be renewed upon request and approval of the Board of Directors of the Indian Diaspora Council. The Indian Diaspora Council’s Media Coordinator, Africa reports to the Vice President, Digital Media & Next Gen Outreach.

The portfolio of IDC’s Media Coordinator, Africa shall include: Active promotion and publicity on behalf of Indian Diaspora Council, its activities and its programs in all media in Africa, including but not limited to print, television and radio broadcast, internet and social media.

Indian Diaspora Council recognizes that a significant number of Indian indentured labourers came to Africa, in particular South Africa, during the Indian Indentureship period. South Africa is home for one of the largest populations of persons of Indian origin numbering over 1.5 million. March 20, 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the official abolition of Indian Indentureship, an era spanning 1834-1917. The history and consequences of Indian Indenturedship are deeply embedded with importance, meaningful history and reflections to millions of descendants living in many countries which were the recipients of Indian Indentured labourers. The Indian Diaspora Council (IDC), in collaboration with several organizations and institutions in various countries, is coordinating a series of high profile global events to mark the centennial of abolition of Indian Indenturedship. The global convention will be held in March 2017 while there will be a series of global events leading up to that March 2017 convention.

Marlan Padayachee is an accomplished and widely travelled award-winning journalist, photojournalist, media strategist and author in South Africa, having worked at the frontline of a racially-divided and unequal society under tough censorship laws and reporting restrictions in the apartheid state to covering the journey from the liberation and anti-apartheid movements to democracy and the new social order in major newspapers, radio, TV and publications since 1994, and continues to write commentary and opinion-editorial articles on local and global issues, while also focusing on the Indian diaspora and South Africa’s relations with its traditional allies, India and Mauritius

As a multifaceted senior practitioner in journalism, media liaison, speechwriting, protocol and editing, printing and publishing, and also specializsing in straddling his expertise and centre of influence in the government-private sector, including foreign diplomatic missions, Marlan Padayachee’s work has earned him the following awards: British Council Fellow (1988-89), United States Information Services Fellow (1995), Gopio International (2015, Life Member).

Current Positions: International Federation of Journalists (Brussels); Ambassador, City University London (City University-University of London); Board member/spokesman: RK Khan Hospital (Chatsworth, South Africa); Media liaison: 2016 Gopio International Europe Convention (Paris); Media strategist: Minara Chamber of Commerce 2016 Recognition Awards & Gala Banquet (Durban); Media and communications coordinator: 2017 Gopio International Business Conference, South Africa

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MADHUKAR JAITLEY APPOINTED IDC’s AMBASSADOR, UP DIASPORA

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MADHUKAR JAITLEY APPOINTED IDC’s AMBASSADOR, UP DIASPORA

Mr. Madhukar Jaitley

The Indian Diaspora Council (IDC) is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Madhukar Jetley as Indian Diaspora Council’s Ambassador, UP (Uttar Pradesh) Diaspora.

This appointment takes effect immediately. The term of this appointment is for a period of three (3) years and can be renewed upon request and approval of the Board of Directors of the Indian Diaspora Council. The Indian Diaspora Council’s Ambassador, Uttar Pradesh (UP) Diaspora reports directly to the president of Indian Diaspora Council.

The portfolio of IDC’s Ambassador, Uttar Pradesh (UP) Diaspora shall include: Engagement on behalf of Indian Diaspora Council of non-resident Indians (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin (PIOs) who are originally from Uttar Pradesh or having ancestral roots in Uttar Pradesh; liaison with State Government of Uttar Pradesh on behalf of Indian Diaspora Council for on-going and planned projects, events and programs in globally and in Uttar Pradesh; promote and advance the interest of Indian Diaspora Council in the State of Uttar Pradesh, other states in India, the Central Government of India and in other countries. Indian Diaspora Council recognizes that, while migration from Uttar Pradesh continues at an increasing rate, a significant number of Indian indentured laborers were from Uttar Pradesh and many have traced their roots to Uttar Pradesh. March 20, 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the official abolition of Indian Indentureship, an era spanning 1834-1917. The history and consequences of Indian Indenturedship are deeply embedded with importance, meaningful history and reflections to millions of descendants living in many countries which were the recipients of Indian Indentured labourers.

The Indian Diaspora Council (IDC), in collaboration with several organizations and institutions in various countries, is coordinating a series of high profile global events to mark the centennial of abolition of Indian Indenturedship. The global convention will be held in March 2017 while there will be a series of global events leading up to that March 2017 convention. Mr. Jetley is a Member of Legislative Council of Uttar Pradesh the Upper House of State Legislature and an active Former Advisor to the NRI & Externally Aided Projects Department, Government of Uttar Pradesh. He is a graduate from Lucknow University with over more than 30 years of experience working with the multiple sectors. He has been involved with various infrastructure initiatives of the states such as the first ever Metro Rail project in Lucknow, which has now been conceived by him in five other cities: Agra, Kanpur, Meerut and Varanasi which are tourist destinations and business hub. He is also Life member of Supreme Court Bar Association of India in practice areas of Corporate Law (No 4178).

Mr. Jetley has also been single handedly instrumental in the conceptualization and creation of a dedicated UPNRI Department for UP NRI’s. The Department aims at providing support and facilitates for issues that the NRIs may face abroad or their kin and families may face at home in the State. He also initiated the a dedicated website for UP NRIs and PIOs and the concept of NRI cards for every UP NRI across the Diaspora to have an opportunity to connect back with their roots and invest in their Mother State and giving comfort and connection to UP NRIs.

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