EDISON, NJ (TIP): The Indian American community of the tri-state area came together Thursday evening to bid a heartfelt farewell to Dr. Varun Jeph, Deputy Consul General of India in New York, who is concluding his diplomatic tenure. The grand reception, organized at the Moghul Ballroom in Edison, New Jersey, drew more than 200 members of the Indian American community.

The evening’s program began with a viewing of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi‘s podcast interview with Lex Fridman, which continued after Dr. Jeph’s arrival. The formal farewell ceremony featured presentations highlighting the achievements and milestones of Dr. Jeph’s tenure, particularly noting his adept handling of complex situations and challenges during his service.

Mr. Ankur Vaidya, Chairman of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA), delivered an emotional address praising Dr. Jeph’s contributions. “He is our man who knows the community like the back of his hands. His experience in navigating complex situations has been invaluable,” said Vaidya. He further expressed gratitude for Dr. Jeph’s role in maintaining strong connections between India and its diaspora.

FIA President Saurin Parikh commended Dr. Jeph’s exceptional management skills, attention to detail, and efforts to unify various Indian community organizations. He highlighted Dr. Jeph’s success in bringing diverse community groups together, creating a more cohesive diaspora.

Several prominent community leaders took the stage to extend their best wishes, including Anil Dosa, Kenny Desai, Mr.Sreekanth Akkapalli, Dr. Sudhir Parikh, and Mohammad Farooqi, among others. The event also featured a special tribute video honoring Dr. Jeph’s service.

In his farewell speech, Dr. Jeph reminisced about his arrival in New York amid Cyclone Ida, which had flooded the city streets. He described his tenure as “remarkable,” noting the privilege of serving the largest Indian American diaspora community. Dr. Jeph recalled meaningful experiences, from witnessing community members gathering at 2-3 AM to listen to P

M Modi’s “Mann Ki Baat” addresses to cultural events like “Dance Pe Chance.”

Dr. Jeph expressed gratitude to FIA and other organizations for demonstrating unity far from their homeland and making his diplomatic work more effective. He shared fond memories of the India Day Parade and the Unity March organized by Kenny Desai.

Before concluding, Dr. Jeph made a heartfelt appeal to support the approximately 300,000 Indian students in America, emphasizing the consulate’s commitment to assist every Indian. He assured the community of his continued availability for anyone visiting Delhi from the diaspora and thanked all organizations and his wife for supporting his journey.

The farewell was attended by representatives from numerous community organizations, including TAK Group, Bansal Foundation, TV9, Parikh Worldwide Media, TV Asia, Print Early, BJANA, Siddhivinayak Temple, MOCCAPI, Brahman Samaj of USA, Namaste Global, Maheshwari Mahasabha of North America, SKN Foundation, and the Rajasthani Organization of American Residences (ROAR).

Also present were Ms. Pallavi Jeph, and Mr. Vishal J. Harsh. Priti Ray-Patel delivered a vote of thanks, bringing the memorable evening to a close.

The event highlighted the strong bonds between the Indian diplomatic mission and the community, and the significant impact of Dr. Jeph’s service in strengthening India-US relations through diaspora engagement.
(Based on a press release)