Former Defence Minister of India Shri. A. K. Antony celebrated his 75^th birthday with members of Indian National Overseas Congress, USA, Midwest Chapter at a meeting held in Chicago on 27^th of December. Mr. Antony was visiting U.S. for a medical checkup and was given a clean bill of health at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He was accompanied by his wife Elizabeth and son Anil during the trip. It was not lost on the minds of everyone who gathered there that Indian National Congress was also formed on the same day, 131 years ago.

In a meeting organized by the Midwest wing of the Kerala Chapter of INOC, USA, Mr. Antony praised the non-resident Indians for their commitment to their ancestral land and encouraged them to continue to build bridges between these two democracies. He also lauded the Indian community for being good ambassadors who are making India proud.

The meeting was also attended by Shri. Ramesh Chennithala, Home minister of Kerala who has accompanied Mr. Antony to U.S. Mr. Chennithala assured an audience that primarily consisting of Malayalees that a new NRI commission has been created by Kerala with a mandate to make recommendations to resolve various issues that are affecting the NRIs worldwide.

The meeting was presided over by Mr. Augustin Karimkutty, President of the Midwest Chapter in Chicago and number of the speakers included former Presidents Satheesan Nair and Thomas Mathew, General Secretary Thampy Mathew, Vice-President George Panicker, Secretary George Vallikulam and Babu Mathew.

Earlier, INOC, USA Chairman George Abraham, President Mr. Mohinder Singh Gilzian and Kerala Chapter President R. Jayachandran have sent their greetings and best wishes to Shri. A. K. Antony.

Many community leaders from the Midwest have also participated in the discussions that included Mariamma Pillai (former FOKANA President), Herald Figuroa, Josy Kurisinkal, K.M. Eapen (Managing Editor, Kerala Express), members of the Board Pratheesh Thomas, Tomin Thomas, Benny Parimanam, Saji Kurian, Joseph Nazhiampara, Easo Varghese, Jose Chamakkala, Cyriac, Jose George, Jose Chennikara (Sangamam), Sunny Vallikulam (Chicago Malayalee Association), John Elakkatt, Mercy Kuriakose (Nurseâ€™s Association), Jose Antony and Basil Periera.

Santhosh Nair was the Emcee for the evening.

Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony celebrates his 75th Birthday in Chicago