Sibu Nair from Buffalo, NY has been honored with a citation during Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

New York: Noted political and community activist Sibu Nair has been honored bt the Government of India with a citation for his various services, during the Pravasi Barathiya Divas celebration held at the Indian Consulate in New York, January 9.

Sibu Nair is a clinical trial administrator for the department of medicine at the University at Buffalo (State university of New York.)

‘I m so humbled and honored to accept the honor for my leadership and community service in the US,’ he said.

Sibu Nair grew up in a village called Sooranand in Kollam District of Kerala. “I take pride to be an Indian and Malayali. India is a country of rich culture and heritage,’ he said.

He moved to Mumbai in 1997 to pursue a masters degree and in 2005 immigrated to the United States with his wife and toddler son. “As we were busy making a living for ourselves and adjusting to this new culture I knew that I had left a part of me back home. The rich culture and heritage of my homeland was missing and I knew that my son was missing out on his roots. We were not the only immigrant parents who were experiencing the same issue of existentialism,’ he noted.

‘That is when I decided to do something about connecting the cultures. In addition to my efforts towards connecting the culture, I had spent significant amount of time building Indo American relationship in the US, especially in the Western New York.’

He was a past president of India Association of Buffalo. ‘During that time, I lit up Niagara Falls 3 times in tricolor (Tiranga) on August 15th to celebrate India’s Independence Day. During the same time period I was able to obtain a cricket ground from the local government for the Indian community.’

He also initiated a festival called Festival of India in Buffalo, NY. Now it has become the biggest festival in the Indian community. Later on he formed an organization called CHAI (Council of Heritage and Arts of India) and currently he serves as the executive director. ‘Under CHAI’s banner we promote and nurture Indian heritage, arts and culture in Western New York. Recently we have built and inaugurated a Mahatma Gandhi bust in Buffalo. Local politicians and Consul General of India, New York were present at the inaugural even on Gandhi Jayanti, last year.’ CHAI also does charity activities when there is a need in the community.

In addition to his commitment towards promoting India in the US he is actively involved in the American politics as well. ‘In the past I have been asked to run for public office. Once I know that the time is right I will certainly move forward.’

His wife Meghana is a scientist at Roswell Park Cancer Institute. They have two kids –Tanush, 15, and Sharanya, 11.

Following are some of his affiliations and appointments:
Erie County Executive’s appointee to the Charter Revision Commission, 2016.
Transition Chair to the Amherst Town Supervisor Brian Kulpa
Campaign Manager for Erie County legislator Janne Vinal in 2018
Advisory Board Member – Arts and Culture, Erie County, NY
Community Liaison for Consulate General of India, NY and Indian Embassy at DC
Liaison for Erie County and Indian Community Cricket Ground
Vice President of Hindu Cultural Society of WNY(http://hcswny.net)
Co-Chair - Akshaya Patra -Food for Education (https://www.akshayapatra.org/)