Jain Digest 2007 11 2

Author(s): Federation of JAINA
Publisher: USA Federation of JAINA

Page 19

Jain Digest. Winter 2007
SAURABH DALAL GETS 'HENRY SPIRA GRASSROOTS' AWARD
it is groups like Pastors for Peace, which have tremendous difficulty entering Cuba due to U.S. restrictions that comprise much of this aid overseas. Says Pastor Marquez, translated from Spanish, “Our greatest challenge is showing the world that the cultures of Cuba and the U.S. can live together in peace and prosperity. Demonstrating our fraternal relationship is most important to us." While the outlook on how U.S.-Cuba relations will proceed in the near future or during the next U.S. presidential administration is hazy, Pastors for Peace maintains a lucid vision for its future. They will continue expanding their presence, spreading their passion for economic solidarity and pursuing their quest for unity one caravan at a time. Shreyans is a junior at the Cairersity of Pennsylania and is currently studying abroad at the Universin of Harana in Cuba For questions or comments, please e-mail Strepans of shranudd gmail.com
Chandu Shah of Boston recognized by the State of MA.
Vegetarian Society of D.C. (VSDC) President, Saurabh Dalal received the newly renamed 'Henry Spira Grassroots Activist Award at the Animal Rights 2007 Conference held in Los Angeles in July. Henry Spira who died in 1998 is renowned for pioneering grassroots activism in the U.S. Animal Rights Movement. Last year in 2006, he was given `AHIMSA AWARD' by JAIN FRIENDS, an International Jain Internet Organization, H.Q. in Poona, India. Saurabh Dalal has been the Pioneer in the Vegetarian, Animal Rights, and Environmental Movements among Indian Americans in U.S.A. He has the wide range of contacts with writers, researchers, professors, and others in these fields. He is the President of Vegetarian Society of District of Columbia (VSDC) for over 10 years. It is the second largest and the oldest vegetarian society in North America (U.S.A. and Canada) with over 900 members. He is the Chairman of the Vegetarian Union of North America (VUNA). He is also the Vice Chair of International Vegetarian Union (IVU) which holds World Vegetarian Congress every other year in different countries of the world. He attended the 2006 Conference held in Goa, India. Among Jains, Saurabh Pioneered in the Organization of Young Jains of America (YJA), Young Jain Professionals (YJP), and Young Jains International (YJI). He has been a member of JAINA Executive in the past. He was the the First to Introduce JAIN JEOPARDY in U.S.A. He keeps in touch with 'Beauty Without Cruelty (BWC), head quartered in Poona, India and Vegetarian Society of Bombay, India. He has convinced and converted many into Vegetarianism / Veganism (Plant - Based Diet, not using any Animal Products including Dairy/Milk, Silk, Leather, Wool, Fur, Eggs, in addition to Meat, Fish, Fowl, etc.) being a VEGAN himself for over 15 years. Apart from his above Mission for Non-Violence, he is by Profession, an Optics Engineer with Two Graduate Degrees of M.S. in Engineering and Physics from John Hopkins University, Baltimore.
Chandu Shah, President and CEO of S4 Inc., has been awarded the State of MA Minority Business Person of the Year Award, by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The purpose of this award is to recognize a minority owned small business that best exemplifies entrepreneurial success and leadership in the community. Chandu Shah performed the short comedy play "Aham Na Odkar" at the NJ convention. He is a noted Gujarati poet, playwright, director and actor besides being a suc- cessful businessman. His plays have been commercially performed in India and outside of India including North America. He has just finished writing a script for a play that will be directed by Manoj Shah (Apurva Avasar fame) and commercially performed in Mumbai. We congratulate him on this great recognition from the State of MA
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