Receiving Mahatma Gandhi Parvasi Samman
This past summer, the Los Angeles Business Journal
recognized Malibu Chronicle as one of the best small businesses in Los Angeles.
At that awards ceremony, I met Mr. Mohammad Islam, President of the SABAN
(South Asian Business Alliance Network), and we spoke about promoting my book,
‘Learning to L.I.V.E’.
Some time later,
Mr. Islam introduced me to Mr. Singh who is in the publishing business. He
thought Mr. Singh could help promote my book in the Indian market, and that, with
our common business and publishing backgrounds, it might be good for us to
meet. He told Mr. Singh about my life, my business background, my inspirational
‘All Good News’ magazine Malibu Chronicle, and my self help book about how to
recognize the signs of domestic abuse and how to find a life after abuse. Mr.
Singh graciously agreed to meet us for a half hour at his hotel near the LAX
airport.
That short meeting quickly turned into a family affair. Mr. Singh invited his wife and nephew to come
meet us. He had many questions for me, and we spoke openly for a long time. He
wanted to know about my life and my journey from Michigan to Malibu, from
software engineer to publisher, from living in a traditional role of wife and
mother, to being free to do and live my life on my terms. We also talked about my most recent life journey
on the peace path with my education in Spiritual Psychology at the University
of Santa Monica, and conflict management, having just received a Masters Degree
in Dispute Resolution from Pepperdine University Law School. By the end of the
meeting, we had made plans to meet again in L.A. and India to discuss more
business opportunities.
At that time, Mr. Islam and I did not know that Mr. Singh,
while travelling throughout the U.S. and other countries, was also in search of
worthy candidates for an upcoming event at the House of Lords in London, UK in
which individuals of Indian origin living outside of India are recognize and
honored for making the name of India shine with their inspirational work and
lives.
A few days after our meeting, Mr. Islam and I received an
email from
Mr. Deepak Singh that he had nominated me to the NRI Welfare
Society of India for the Mahatma Gandhi Parvasi Samman award. The award is named
after Mahatma Gandhi because he was an Indian living outside of India when he
began his amazing journey that brought freedom to the country. Parvasi
means Indian living outside of India, and Samman is the honor. I was surprised and could not believe the
email, so I called Mr. Islam. He was happy for me and told me that he would confirm
the details with Mr. Singh, which he did. He also said let’s wait and see what
happens with the nomination.
Two weeks later, I received an email from Mr. Singh that the
board accepted my nomination. He said
that the decision of who would receive the award would be made soon. He also
told me that, if I were one of the awardees, he would like me to go to London
to accept the award at the House of Lords; it would be a good place to meet the
other awardees from around the world.
This started to seem real, but though I wasn’t sure I would
be going to London, I still needed to start making tentative plans. I wanted my
sons Kunal and Rahul to come with me, and I had to make sure they were
available the end of September.
Then it happened. In
early August, Mr. Singh wrote that I had been chosen as one of the awardees at
the House of Lords this year!! It was
real! I had to decide quickly if I was going to accept the award in person,
which meant I had to buy the tickets and ask my sons to clear their schedules.
This was the first time I would be away from Malibu during
the “crunch” week for the magazine, getting the October issue ready to go to
print. I would be back in time to go over the layout, but a lot of work is
necessary before then. My staff had to assume a huge responsibility. I had to
trust JC, our Director of Operations, and Sue, our Editor, to manage without me
being physically present to oversee every step as I usually do. They encouraged me to go and assured me that
it was good for the magazine. Thanks to both JC and Sue’s commitment, and the wishes
and encouragement from the rest of the staff, I was able to take this trip.
I reached London with my sons on the morning of September
21st. After a short rest, we met Mr.
Singh and a few other delegates at the Hotel and headed to the House of Lords.
It was all very formal. We reached the Tower
and each handed the guard our individual invitation card required to enter the
Gates to the House of Lords. We walked
into the reception hall, which was filling with dignitaries, officers of the
organization, and delegates. We were meeting everyone for the first time at
this reception. Delegates had come from around
the world to be part of this prestigious event. Most of them had come with
their families. I imagined that, just like
me, they wanted to share this once in a lifetime moment with their loved ones
as they received this illustrious award named after Mahatma Gandhi.
We were seated at long decorated tables. The servers offered appetizers and drinks as people
were being seated and introductions were being announced. After dinner, the award ceremony began. The Mistress of Ceremonies announced the names
and a brief background of each delegate receiving the award. The Minister of
Tourism and cultural affairs of the Seychelles, Mr. Alain St. Ange presented the
award medals, and the Right Honorable Baroness Sandip Verma, Minister of International
Development, U.K., handed the award certificate to each delegate. The cameras
of the professional photographers and proud family members flashed with every
award, and the hall was roaring with applause in recognition of every awardee.
The atmosphere was euphoric.
Then I heard my name announced. I stood to receive the
award. My sons Kunal and Rahul followed me, capturing the moment in pictures -
the pictures I later sent to JC, who posted them on Facebook.
After all the main awards were delivered, the Minister of Seychelles
expressed his thanks to the NRI Welfare society for inviting him to the
ceremonies. To everyone’s surprise, he then announced that he had awards for
two very special people he met during this visit. I was shocked when I heard him call my name. He
invited me to the stage again, where he presented me with a beautiful award and
extended an official invitation to the India day celebrations in the
Seychelles, or to use any time to visit the Seychelles as his guest. I was overwhelmed with this honor and invitation.
It was wonderful to have my sons there to share this amazing
experience with me. I feel blessed.
I am proud of the work my staff and I put into bringing this
beautiful magazine to you every two months. This prestigious award is a good
sign that our work is being noticed and recognized around the globe.
I tell everyone I am a shameless networker and salesperson,
so, of course, my luggage was full of Malibu Chronicle magazines and a few of
my books. I used the Minister’s speech
about my magazine as an opportunity to share them with some delegates and other
visitors. Soon, people were flocking around asking for the magazine and my
business cards. They asked if I would do speaking engagements, and wanted to
talk to me about other events and awards.
It was a proud and wonderful evening for the Malibu
Chronicle and for me. I am grateful that I was able to attend, and I thank all
my staff, family, and friends for their support that made it possible.
