Accomplishments
Dr. Abraham, born, September 11, 1948, has been influential in the NRI/PIO movement over the last four decades. Dr. Abraham coined the word PIO (people of Indian origin) in 1989, when he put together the First Convention of People of Indian Origin in New York. Dr. Abraham initiated several NRI/PIO Indian community institutions in the last 36 years, as follows:
1. Federation of Indian Association (FIA) of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut – 1977 (Served as President till 1981)
2. National Federation of Indian-American Associations (NFIA) – 1980 (Served as President from 1980-'86 and as Chairman 1986-'92)
3. Global Organization for People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) – 1989 (Served as Convener and President, 1989–2004; Chairman 2004-2009)
4. Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Center – 1993 (Served as Chairman of the Board from 1997–2004)
5. Jagdish Bhagwati Chair for Indian Political Economy at Columbia Univ. ($4.0 million endowment) – 1992-2000 (Served Co-Chairman)
6. National Indian American Association for Senior Citizens (NIAASC) – 1998
7. South Asian Council for Social Services (SACSS) – 2000
8. The Indus Nanotechnology Association (TINA) – Launched Oct. 2007
Dr. Abraham was honored with Bhratvanshi Gaurav Award (Person of Indian Origin Pride) instituted by Anthar Rashtriya Sahayog Nyas (Trust for International Cooperation) and presented by former Vice President Bhairon Singh Sekhawat on January 4, 2008 in New Delhi and Pravasi Bharatiya Samman (Overseas Indian Honor) award by President of India Pratibha Patil on January 9, 2008 in New Delhi. Dr. Abraham was also recognized with Distinguished Alumni Award at the 4th Convocation of the Malaviya National Institute of Technology (MNIT) in Jaipur on November 15, 2008.
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