Historic DAR Constitution Hall Event Showcases the Growing Leadership and Unity of the Indian-American Community

Washington – In a major showcase of unity and leadership, the Indian-American Committee, alongside over 40 community organizations from across the United States, hosted a celebration marking America’s 250th Anniversary at the DAR Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C.

The landmark gathering brought together Members of Congress, international diplomats, senior administration officials, business executives, physicians, academics, and veterans to highlight the contributions of the Indian-American diaspora to the nation’s democratic and economic landscape.

Key Highlights & Special Messages
Unity Platform: Brought together more than 40 national and regional Indian-American organizations under a single coalition.

National & Global Messages: Featured video messages from Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev emphasizing civic service, along with a special congratulatory message from U.S. Senator Steve Daines.

Congressional & Diplomatic Presence: Attended by Congressional Co-Chair Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congressman Shri Thanedar, and over 15 serving and former ambassadors coordinated by Ambassador Pradeep Kapur.

Cultural Performances: Included showcases by Grammy Award winner Falu Shah, the acapella group Penn Masala, and a live Bhangra dance troupe. The US National Anthem was performed by Medha Shanbhag.

Prominent Guests & Sector Representatives
Government & Public Policy: Uttam Dhillon (former Acting Administrator, DEA), Arjun Mody (Deputy Commissioner, Social Security Administration), and Ashok Pinto (Senior Technology Executive).

Defense & Aerospace: Dr. Michael D. Griffin (Former NASA Administrator) and Dr. Vivek Lall (Global Aerospace Leader).

Healthcare & Business: Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori, Dr. Meher Medavaram (President, AAPI), Rahul Patel (Chairman, AAHOA), and Prof. Rajendra Srivastava.

Veterans: Chris Aryan (Founder & President, Indian American Veterans Association) and Arun Ayyagari (U.S. Air Force Auxiliary Pilot).

Strategic Initiatives Announced
Addressing the gathering, Ramesh Viswanath Kapur (Co-Founder & Co-Chair) announced plans to onboard a professional PR agency to project positive narratives regarding the community’s national contributions. Co-Founder Dr. Suvas Desai, along with Event Co-Chairs Narsimha Koppula and Deepak Raj, reaffirmed the committee’s objective to establish a permanent umbrella platform to unify Indian-American advocacy and expand civic participation on Capitol Hill. Secretary Rajender Dichpally emphasized the historical milestone as a launchpad for future generations.

The event execution was managed by Event Manager Manish Sood (Intense Entertainment), with local organization coordination by Alok Srivastava and emceeing by Priya Samant and Anju Preet Poddar.