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Narayanan praises role of Indian Americans

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON MAY 26. The former President, K.R. Narayanan, has paid rich tributes to the members of the Indian community in the United States and impressed upon them their dual function — of being loyal and helpful to the community in the country of their choice and being Ambassadors of India.

Inaugurating the Washington Metropolitan Chapter of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) here last night, Mr. Narayanan, who was once India's Ambassador to the U.S., recalled that the Indian American community had grown from about 300,000 members in the early 1980s to more than two million now and said the importance was not merely confined to numbers. The Washington Chapter of the GOPIO is headed by Renuka Misra.

"Today (the community) is over two million and not only is it a numerical increase but a qualitative development," Mr. Narayanan said characterising the growth of the Indian community as an "amazing story of success and dedication".

He congratulated the Indian community here for its active part in the social and political problems of India and for furthering the political process in this country. In this connection, he referred to the growth of the Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans from barely a handful in the 1980s to 163 members today in the House of Representatives.

Mr. Narayanan said he had come to the U.S. for two reasons: to participate in the 90th anniversary celebrations of the Gadar Party which played a historic role in India's Independence struggle; and for medical treatment.

Addressing the gathering, the Indian Ambassador, Lalit Mansingh, said Mr. Narayanan had risen to the very top in his chosen fields of pursuit — academics, diplomacy and politics.

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