New York: Indian Overseas
Congress Vice Chair George Abraham, one of the founders of the Congress
organization in America
a quarter of a century ago, received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Rahul
Gandhi in a rare honor.
The event was the IOC reception of Rahul Gandhi at the Terrace on Park in Queens, New York,
on June 3, ahead of his public meeting on June 4. To everyone's surprise, IOC
Global Chair Sam Pitroda announced the honor and invited Rahul Gandhi to
present the plaque that lauded his vision and commitment to the organization.
The 300-plus party supporters in the audience greeted it with thunderous
applause. It was a proud moment for Abraham, who started his association with
the Congress Party during his school days. He worked in 'All Kerala Balajana
Sakhyam' (a youth organization) and became the state treasurer. Later he worked
in the Kerala Students Union (KSU) before moving to the U.S.
He has completed 55 years in the U.S. and kept his Indian
citizenship. In the U.S.,
too, he held the ideals of the Congress Party in his heart. Congress leaders
who visited the U.S.
were always welcomed by him and received his hospitality. It was in the late
90s that he, along with a few others from Kerala, came forward with the idea of
setting up an organization to support the party. During a visit of former Chief
Minister Oommen Chandy in 1988, the former Kerala chief minister, an
organization called 'Indian Overseas Congress' was launched. It is to be noted
that the first planning meeting for the organization was held at his house in New York. Later, it grew
to become a national organization known as INOC. Sonia Gandhi, former AICC
President, inaugurated the organization upon her visit to the U.S. on June
25, 2001. Upon the creation of an Overseas Congress Department under AICC and
the assumption of Chairmanship by Mr. Sam Pitroda, the organization's name was
reverted to IOC.
The award was a befitting recognition for a person for his vision, dedication,
and hard work. His wife, Lona Abraham, too, worked side by side with him for
the organization.
Mr. Abraham retired as a Chief technology officer at the United Nations.
Photo 1: Arathi krishna (AICC Secretary), Mohinder Singh Gilzian, Rahul Gandhi, George Abraham, Sam Pitroda, Pradeep Samala, John Joseph
Photo 2. Lona & George Abraham