CHICAGO: Over 1000 people attended the Asian American Coalition of Chicago’s 13th annual Lunar New Year Celebration on Feb. 10, 1996 in the Grand Ballroom of the Hyatt Regency O’ Hare in Rosemont, a suburb of Chicago, Illinois. Over 100 of the attendees were Sikh Americans. Sardar Bhupinder Singh Kalra was posthumously honored.

Lunar New Year’s traditionally the single largest organized event in Chicago’s Asian ‘American community, which numbers over 300,000. On hand to share the spirit were US Senators Paul Simon and Carol Moscley Braun, Illinois Governor Jim Edger, Secretary of State George Ryan, Treasurer Judy Baar Topincs, Cook county’s board president John Stronger and state’s antinomy Jack O’Malley, members of the Asian diplomatic corps, Mayors of Palatine Rita Mullins and of Bolingbrook Roget Clasr, managers of universities, major media, corporate businesses, many local politicians, and candidates, Debra De Lee, CEO, 1996 Democratic National Convention to be held in Chicago, represented President Bill Clinton and read his message.

Tim Edgar, Governor of Illinois applauded the Asian American community for its contribution and commitment to the state’s economy, academic and healthcare institutions, and family, social and moral values and presented the fifth annual Pan ‘Asian American award posthumously to Mr. Ping Tom 1 Chinese American leader.

“The community service awards to outstanding community leaders were presented by the Thai ambassador to USA. Mr. Bhupinder Singh Kalra of the Sikh American ‘community was posthumously given this award, which was accepted by his widow Satnam Kaur Kalra, A large size photo portrait of Mr. Kalra, was also presented to Mrs. Kalra as a mark of homage paid to Mr. Kalra, the last year’s hard working seminar ‘committee chairman who passed away on Nov. 21, 1995 at age 59.

Sardar Kalra, a librarian, organized Sikh youth symposium through Hemkunt Foundation on zonal, regional, national and interactional levels.

Ravneet Singh, an assistant1o the Lt, Governor Bob Kustra was the youth co chairman and also made a slide presentation, “Proud to be Asian America and coordinated by him.

There was a colorful Asian fashion show displaying ethnic costumes. Gulzar Singh and Mini Multani represented our community in their wedding dress,

‘A vibrant and colorful Punjabi folk dance “Rangla Bhangra,” was presented by the Sikh Students Society of the University of Illinois Chicago, the item was sponsored by Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago.

Mayor of Palatine, Rita Mullins and State’s Attorney Jack O’Malley were the guests of the Sikh American community.

Mohinderjit Singh Saini was the Co-Chair and Thakar Singh Basati a member of the ‘program committee.

Article extracted from this publication >>  March 6, 1996