The Association of Indians in America (AIA) Medical Council Awards Gala, revived after a gap of 15 years, was held on May 3, 2025, at the iconic Cipriani 42nd Street, an elegant venue with its high ceilings and marble columns. The hall was filled to capacity, organizers said in a press release.
The purpose of hosting the event, according to AIA National President Gobind Munjal who has led AIA for more than 3 years, is to recognize and honor the second generation of physicians and surgeons of Indian descent, who have excelled in their career, academics and profession, as the first generation has already made a mark and earned their recognition.
“This AIA Medical Council Awards Gala is of major historical importance, as younger members of AIA are taking leadership roles and organizing this event, while we, the senior members, are supporting them, Munjal is quoted saying in a press release. The AIA estimates that 50 percent of attendees at Cipriani’s were from the younger generation. The organization plans to hold this gala every two years, expand membership from the 2nd generation, and revamp their website to reflect the changes.
The leading organizers of AIA behind the event included Medical Council Chair Dr Dolly Manvar and the four young Vice Chairs – Dr Atul Kukar, Dr Pallavi Manvar Singh, Dr Aprajita Mattoo and Dr Pratichi Goenka.
Cipriani’s buzzed with lively conversations, and the music by DJ Kucha.
Chair Board of Trustees Dr Samin Sharma in his remarks, said that in his past 15 years of association with AIA, this Gala is the best he has ever seen. He also suggested AIA pick a charity through which the donations can be channeled in order to reach to the needy people in India. He said he has set aside an amount of $100,000 towards this cause.
Awardees, who Dr. Munjal said were role models for everyone in the Indian diaspora worldwide, included:
AIA Medical Council Honorees:Dr. Deepak Bhatt, Dr. Latha Chandran, Dr. Chethan Sathya, and Dr. Shuvendu Sen. Dr Deepak Bhatt is a researcher, Dr Latha Chandran is an educator, Dr Chethan Sathya is into public health and gun violence prevention, and Dr Shuvendu Sen is an author of several books.
Dr. Nirmal Mattoo, Past National President of the AIA was honored with Lifetime Achievement Award. Dr Mattoo has also been a past Chairman Board of Trustees of AIA and Co Editor of the book Ananya, A Portrait of India published by AIA. He is the Chairman of the Indo American Arts Council. He is also the President of the Mattoo Center of India Studies at State University of New York.
Association of Indians in America (AIA) is the oldest non-profit national organization founded in 1967. Some of its achievements over the decades include lobbying for Asian Indians to be recognized as a distinct group in the Census, which began to be adopted from 1980; organizing the South Street Seaport Diwali since 1987, and joining the effort to hold Diwali at the White House, a tradition that began in 2003; Starting the Medical Council Awards back in 1973; Initiating the Project India program in 1973, and helping raise millions of dollars medical equipment for India and numerous other initiatives, for which more information is available on aianational.org.
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