Mumbai: The Indo-American Society presented its third annual Young Achiever Awards here recently. The programme was attended by a glittering audience of over 450 celebrities, VVIPs, and past IAS Young Achievers.

The annual awards are given to individuals under the age of 40 who have achieved excellence in different disciplines. In the esteemed panel of judges to select the recipients were past Young Achiever awardees.

This year’s awards were received by 30 and included soldier and patriot Lt Nawang Kapadia (posthumous); Daniel Pearl (posthumous); Greg Malstead of The Justice Mission; Ashutosh Gowariker of Lagaan fame; industrialist Gautam Singhania; film actor Raveena Tandon who was given the Actress of the Decade Award, and others.

Industrialist Kumaramangalam Birla and actor Shah Rukh Khan (Actor of the Decade Award), who could not be present, will be presented the awards separately. A list of the recipients is enclosed.

Chief guests for the evening were US Consul General in Mumbai Angus Simmons and wife Julia Wei Simmons. The evening had several poignant moments. The audience observed a one-minute silence in memory of late Nani Palkhivala, one of India’s most eminent sons, former Indian ambassador to the US, and former president of the Indo-American Society.

It was Palkhivala who lifted the society to new levels, which the society has sustained since, a society press release said. The audience also stood in salute to Lt Kapadia, gallant soldier and patriot who sacrified his life for India and brought glory to the country. Fighting Pakistan-based terrorists, he died a hero’s death in the jungles of Rajwar in Kashmir. His mother, Geeta Kapadia, received this first posthumous award given by the society.

While addressing the audience, Nawang’s father Harish Kapadia said: “There are plenty of soldiers in the Indian army because of whose sacrifice we are sitting peacefully in Mumbai. My son was not a violent person at all. He believed in justice and democracy, principles which the US, like India, believes in and because of which they are forced to take up arms against terorrists.”

Another posthumous awardee was Daniel Pearl on whose behalf Joanna Slater received the award from Consul General Simmons.

While receiving the award for directing Lagaan and putting Bollywood on the global cinema map, Gowariker reminisced about his doing a photography course at the Indo-American Society in 1982 when it was the only institution which had a course on the subject.

While receiving his award, Greg Malstead of The Justice Mission gave a lot of credit to the police, the department of child and women develoment, and the judiciary in Mumbai for the success that he and his staff have attained. He requested the audience to spare a moment for the girls that even tonight live in brothels in Mumbai. The reason I am here, he said, is “because those girls still remain there. There are so many who still need to be brought out.”

The evening also saw what probably was the first-ever ‘Ms Indo-American Contest’ which tested, apart from the personality of the 16 participants from institutions in Mumbai, their knowledge of India, the US and Indo-US issues. The contest was won by Sabira Patni from the Institute of Science who will receive a return trip ticket to visit the US.

The first runner-up was Priyanka Rodricks from St Xavier’s College and the second runner was Radhika Treon from Jai Hind College. The contestants received more than a month of rigorous training from well known trainers and the training included segments in public speaking, personality development, and voice culture, all programs for which the Indo-American Society is well known.

The evening also saw the formal launch of the Indo-American Society’s Youth Wing, an initiative of president S Ramadorai, which will organise activities to promote understanding of India and the US among the youth. The formal ceremony included the reading of the Youth Wing Charter by Kay Soon Brown, wife of the chairman of the Youth Wing, the unveiling of the Youth Wing Flag by Julia Simmons, and the release of balloons by Mala Ramadorai, wife of the society resident.

Arun C Vakil, vice-president, the prime architect behind the evening, and ravishing VJ Raageshwari played hosts. Tata Consultancy Services was the principal sponsor, and cosponsors included Citibank, Export-Import Bank of India, Fossil Priority Marketing, Indian Oil Corporation, JP Morgan, Wartsila India, and Zandu Pharmaceuticals.