The Indian Panorama is grateful to each and every member of the Organizing Committee for helping with their time, effort and expertise in making the Holi/Hola event on April 5 at Cotillion Banquet a grand success.  

Jyoti Gupta: Coordinator

Jyoti Gupta has worked in the corporate world and has won many accolades for her community service.

With a Masters in Political Science from Jabalpur University, she came to the US and worked in banking institutions like Barclays Bank, Kredit Bank and ING Bank, where she rose to the rank of Assistant Treasurer.

From 1996-2001, she ran Jwala Travel, specializing in discount travel to India and vacation packages to Europe and Caribbean countries. She went on to cofound social groups like Rafi Lata singing group, Divine Meditation, Adabi Sangam, Mehfile Sangeet, and Karaoke Club.

Jyoti founded Long Island Ladies Circle, aimed at Women Empowerment, and helping battered women. She is also active in India Association of Long Island, Indian American Forum, and India Day Parade.

She has received prestigious awards including: Town Of North Hempstead Community Service Award;  Senator Anna Kaplan Community Service Award;  Covid Hero Award by Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams; Community Service Excellence Award by Senator Kevin Thomas: Community Service Award by Congressman Tom Suozzi; Republic Day Community Service Award by County Executive and Independence Day Community Service Award by Nassau County.

Anju Sharma

Anju Sharma is a former professor, successful businesswoman , and community leader. She is CEO of JBMS Inc, where she runs a free training program for interns for job placement.

In India, she taught at Kanya Maha Vidyalaya in Jalandhar for 16 years and was Director of Guru Nanak Dev University’s Youth Festival Team for Inter University competition. She was an inter-university record holder in swimming.

She is currently President of the Long Island Indo-American Lions Club and has served as Jt. Treasurer Rotary Club Hicksville South, and IALI Cultural Chair. She is Secretary, Indo American Association for Community Development, Trustee of Long Island Ladies Circle, Board Member of Long Island Diversity Circle and Member of SAWAO. She is on the Advisory Board of Sanford Brown Institute, Member of United Cultural Society of NY & GCP Civic Association. She is Lifetime Sponsor of Each One Teach One in India.

Beena Kothari

As the incoming President of AIA-NY for 2025-2026, Beena Kothari’s extensive involvement with both Indian and American communities has left a lasting impact. Her numerous contributions to various social and cultural non-profit organizations, often in leadership roles, have been truly remarkable. Guided by the ancient Indian philosophy of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbhakam”, Beena strives to foster a sense of unity and inclusivity within the community. Her efforts aim to bring people together, ultimately serving the greater good of humanity.

 

Dr. Abha Bhatnagar

Dr. Abha Bhatnagar is an active member of several esteemed Indian organizations, including IDP, SEVA, and SAWAO, along with various scientific associations. Presently, she serves as the Secretary of SEWA and holds positions on the Executive Council of both IALI and SAWAO. As an author, she has written two books on Computer Education and has published numerous research papers in international journals, concentrating on Chemistry and Physics.

Sanju Sharma

Sanju Sharma is known for selfless service and true leadership. She has a Double Master from Guru Nanak Dev University represented it at Youth Festivals, and was a national-level swimmer. A former computer teacher at Sacred Heart School, she has worked as an Administrative Manager. Above all, she loves to serve her community in charitable and social events and promote Indian culture and heritage.

She is the Founder of the Each One Teach One charity committee to provide education to students in need in India. She is Club Admin of LI Indo-American Lions Club, Joint Treasurer India Day Parade, Executive Member and Program Coordinator for Indo American Association for Change, Executive Member of Long Island Diversity Circle, Member of Sawao, and of GCP Civic Association.  She is also Secretary of Indo American Association for Community Development, and Communication coordinator of Long Island Ladies Circle.

Shashi Malik

Shashi Malik is a businesswoman and manages her own IT Software Company, SD Services Inc. Earlier, she worked at the executive level for several Fortune 100 companies.

Currently, Shashi is the Founder and President of Seva Center for Humanity, which helps students, veterans, and needy families. She is also General Secretary for the Nargis Dutt Memorial Foundation and Executive Committee Member of the AIA-NY Chapter.

She has been actively involved in community organizations including  IALI, India Day Parade, World Vegan Vision, Gift of Life USA, Rotary Club of Hicksville South, Suffolk County Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and INN Soup Kitchen.

Shashi Malik is a Member of the United Way Community Impact Council and of the Long Island Hate and Bias Prevention Regional Council for bringing awareness and preventing hate and bias incidents in New York state.

In 2013, she received the US President’s Volunteer Service Award for her service to the community.

Shashi worked in the Indian Army on their first computer before coming to the USA. She co-authored a book on Cross System Product (CSP) – A Developer’s Guide published by McGraw Hill.

Gunjan Rastogi

Gunjan Rastogi is an entrepreneur, community leader, and philanthropist. After moving to the US in 1980 after graduating from Miranda House in New Delhi, she worked as a software engineer with major Wall Street firms before pursuing her dream of owning a healthcare agency.

Gunjan holds several influential positions, contributing actively to the Indo-American and broader communities in New York. Her roles include: Chairperson of the National Indo-American Association for Senior Citizens (NIAASC), Vice President for the National Federation of Indian American Association (NFIA), Vice President for World Vegan Vision, National Secretary of the Association of Indians in America, Board Member for Queens County Board and Boys Scouts of America,  Past President of IALI.

Gunjan is also a talented artist with awards in classical dance, singing, acting, and choreography. Her talents were showcased early on as a model for Campa-Cola and as a TV anchor for the children’s program Nanhe Munne in Lucknow.

Jaskiran Saluja

Jaskiran Saluja embarked on her journey in India as a life coach, initially focusing and leading her work in Bangalore. Over time, her path led her to the United States, where she now serves as a Property Manager for residential properties. With a deep interest in personal relationships, Jaskiran excels in connecting with others and fostering positive environments.

An unexpected yet impressive skill she possesses is her talent in accounting, an area she has mastered with great proficiency. Beyond her professional endeavors, Jaskiran is a dedicated contributor to The Indian Panorama, specifically in their Indian American section, where she shares her insights and experiences.

As the daughter of Professor Indrajit Singh Saluja, Jaskiran has been influenced by strong community values and remains committed to active involvement in initiatives that support and uplift her community. Through her contributions, she strives to ensure that her community continues to be recognized for its achievements and excellence.

Bina Sabapathy

Bina Sabapathy has served three record terms as President of India Association of Long Island. She is Founder of Indo American Community Voice and has organized Ganesh Festival for past three years in Hicksville. She is a Trustee and Director of Vedic Heritage (Hanuman temple), former President of World Vegan Vision, and has been associated with AWB Food Bank and the Indian American Forum.

Bina grew up in Udupi, a holy town in Karnataka, graduated from SPP College with a double major in History & Economics and minor in Sociology. She  migrated to the US in the 1980s with her mechanical engineer husband. Her hobbies include gardening and singing.

Amita Karwal

Amita Karwal works as Director of a Senior Adult Care center in Nassau County, which gives her an opportunity to serve and give back to the community, especially senior citizens living in Nassau and Suffolk Counties.

She has been a resident of Long Island for close to three decades. She is blessed with two beautiful kids who she is raising with her husband of 20+ years. “We all cherish the blissful life offered by the culturally diverse community that we live in on Long Island,” she says.

 

Dr. Jagmohan Kalra

A cancer and blood specialist, Dr. Jagmohan Kalra is a practicing hematologist and oncologist in New York.  She is also involved in the community, doing health talks about cancer awareness and arranging entertainment activities like singing.

Parveen Chopra

Founder of alotusinthemud.com, Parveen Chopra is a seasoned media professional specializing in wellness, personal growth, and spirituality. A trained teacher of meditation, he founded Life Positive, India’s first body-mind-spirit magazine, from New Delhi in 1996. Moving to the US, he edited The South Asian Times for over a decade and One World Under God interfaith journal. He also writes the column ‘Lotus Pond’ on Pathoes.com, a multi-religion platform. Earlier, he served as President of the American Press Club.