Indo-American Community Federation

Celebration of 19th Annual Unity Dinner
2020-03-20 | Indian Community Center (ICC), 525 Los Coches St, Milpitas, CA 95035
Celebration of 19th Annual Unity Dinner
Friday, March 20, 2020
Indian Community Center (ICC), 525 Los Coches St, Milpitas, CA 95035.
A prominent group of more than 400 community members including organizations and public officials supported this signature event to network and promote unity in diversity. Nearly 35 public officials and senior lawmakers attended.
Restoring Unity: The Path Forward for Kashmir
In keeping with our theme, this year the IACF and “Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA)” planned a Panel discussion from 6:45 PM to 8:00 PM, led by an esteemed Kashmir expert invited from Kashmir, India to promote peace and understanding in Kashmir, India.
The Unity Dinner features keynote speech, Guest speakers, Awards, and a top-notch entertainment program.
Special Guests:
Hon. Member of Congress Anna Eshoo,
Hon. Lieutenant Governor of the State of California Eleni Kounalakis,
Hon. Consul General of India Ambassador Sanjay Panda,
Hon. California State Senator Bob Wieckowski
Master of ceremonies: Dr. Raj Salwan
Jeevan Zutshi Speech at IACF 25th Anniversary

Kashmiri Pandits brief members of U.S. Congress on way forward in troubled state
2019-10-19
WASHINGTON, D.C.— Over 200 Kashmiri Pandits from across the U.S., descended on Capitol Hill on Oct. 16 to interact with U.S. lawmakers and their aides at a Congressional briefing titled, ‘Kashmir, the Way Forward,’ in the aftermath of the government of India’s revoking Article 370 of the Indian Constitution that provides for special status for the Muslim-majority state of Kashmir.
“The objective of the briefing was to promote pluralism, reconnect and to reintegrate the hearts and minds of the people of Kashmir following the removal of Articles 370 and 35A on August 5, 2019.”
Taking the lead in organizing the briefing was the Indo-American Community Federation (IACF), founded by longtime Kashmiri Pandit activist Jeevan Zutshi, who got Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (D.-Calif.) to co-host the event. Partnering with the IACF, were the Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA) and U.S.-India Political Action Committee (USINPAC), led by their chairpersons, Dr. Shakun Malik and Sanjay Puri.
Besides Eshoo, among the lawmakers who marked their presence included Reps. Ro Khanna, Mike Thompson, Zoe Lofgren, Mark Desaulneir and Dorthy Matsui, all Democrats from California.
The chairman of House Foreign Affairs Committee, Elliot Engel (D.-N.Y.) also attended the event, and in his brief remarks, said, “Democratic and pluralistic communities are very much needed to live harmoniously, and I commend all of you for promoting harmony across the globe.”
Earlier, Eshoo said, “It is a testament to this worthy cause (of the Indian American community) that we have so many members of Congress here to support you, including chairman Eliot Engel.”
“I am very touched and can’t believe so much torture is being inflicted in Kashmir,” she said, apparently referring to the ethnic cleansing alleged by the Pandits, who were driven from their homes in Jammu and Kashmir more than two decades ago due to the terrorism by alleged Pakistan-backed militants, and have been living as refugees in various parts of India, and now after the repeal of Article 370, have been left wondering if they could return to their ancestral homes.
Khanna, in his remarks, said, “I was born in the USA in 1976, and I am proud of my South Asian roots, and I came to this briefing to grasp the many issues related to the Kashmiri community, and I am glad that I am here tonight to learn more.”
“Malik, spoke of the sorry plight of the “ethnically cleansed Kashmiri Pandits and the discrimination faced by Kashmiri women, minorities and weaker sections of society due to Articles 370 and 35A,” while Puri informed the lawmakers and aides present that “Kashmir is a very serious issues for Indian Americans.”
He said, “It should also be an important issue to the U.S. as India is a vital partner,” and exhorted that “we must continue to work together so that the future generations of Kashmir, regardless of their background or religion, have an opportunity for good education, jobs and security.”
Jeff M. Smith, Research Fellow and the head of the South Asia Program at the conservative Heritage Foundation, recounted his previous visits to Kashmir and said, he was touched by the heart-wrenching stories of Kashmiri Pandit victims and wondered why “these stories of genocide and ethnic cleansing have not been covered by the western press while Pakistan’s narrative about Kashmir has been getting wide press coverage.”
He also explained to the audience that U.S. policy on Kashmir continues to be that any resolution of the problem has to sorted out bilaterally between India and Pakistan without any third party intervention, and that the recent revocations of Articles 370 and 35A are clearly  “the internal matters of India.”
Earlier, gripping personal stories by victims of Kashmiri terrorism, particularly in 1990-1991 were shared by Swapna Raina, Dr. Archana Kokroo, and Sachin Koul, while Dr. C Shaykher, a cardiologist from Florida spoke about what he argued “are misconceptions about Hindutva” and provided a historic perspective of Kashmir, emphasizing “that Kashmiri Hindus have a 5,000-year documented civilizational legacy.”
Dr. Surinder Kaul, International Coordinator of Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora, stated that “the most dangerous framing of the issue in the U.S. media reporting is fanning religious polarization with the use of the Hindu Muslim binary,” and asserted, “The only binary that exists in Kashmir is that between peace and violence, and the latter was introduced by the gun culture of the terrorists.”
He said that just in the past few weeks, “terrorists aided and abetted by Pakistan have killed four innocent people in cold blood and are making attempts to disrupt public harmony.” Kaul also referred to the bellicose saber rattling by Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan and his declarations of Jihad against India for the repeal of Article 370 and the alleged subjugation of the Kashmiri people in his eyes.
Zutshi who earlier had joined Eshoo in welcoming the U.S. lawmakers, their aides and the hundreds of guests and other participants, returned to the podium to address the question of ‘The Way Forward for India,’ and emphasized that the “only way forward for Kashmir is to ensure that people of all religions, including minorities live peacefully in Kashmir with justice, security and economic opportunities for all.”
He expressed the hope that with the abrogation of Articles 370 and 35 A “will result in expanded and equal opportunities to all and a chance for the development of regions like Ladakh, which have been neglected for far too long.”
Zutshi also made a fervent appeal “to my fellow Kashmiris, that we must promote pluralism in the state so that all communities can live together as they did before Pakistani trained militants created mayhem and forced Kashmiri Pandits to leave Kashmir valley. IntraKashmiri dialogue, exchange programs of students, writers, artists to offer their strengths in all the regions will definitely help in reconnecting and reintegrating hearts and minds of the
people.”
He also said that “we must educate community members to use discretion when making hurtful intolerant or bigoted comments on social media and elsewhere. I urge you to remember — secularism was not promoted by a law or by a constitutional belief — it was promoted by the ethos of the society. The ethos of our society in India has not changed, and the ethos of India, the Hindu ethos, is very secular.”

IACF Celebrates 25 Years, Features Panel on Women at 18th Annual Unity Dinner
2019-03-28
It was a dual celebration for the Indo-American Community Federation, which concurrently celebrated its 25 anniversary 18 annual Unity Dinner at the India Community Center in Milpitas, Calif., March 22. Seen here is IACF’s Indian American founder Jeevan Zutshi (right) being honored by U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., who was the night’s keynote speaker and Lif Achievement Award recipient, with a ag own over the Capitol in Washington, D.C. (In Focus Photography photo via IACF)
MILPITAS, Calif. – In celebrating 25 years, the Indo-American Community Federation pulled out all
the stops for its 18 annual Unity Dinner event March 22 at the India Community Center here.
Among the guest speakers at the annual event, themed “Women’s History and Contribution,” and
which coincided with the federation’s silver anniversary, included U.S. Reps. Anna G. Eshoo and Ro
Khanna, both Democrats from California, as well as Consul General of India in San Francisco Sanjay
Panda.
The annual Unity Dinner event, created by IACF to improve community involvement, education,
health and understanding of different cultures, was created in 2002 in the wake of the Sept. 11,
2001, terror attacks to promote harmony and unity in diversity.
IACF was founded as a nonprot by Indian American community activist Jeevan Zutshi in 1994 to
build bridges with mainstream organizations, diverse leaders, think tanks and public ofcials.
“The 25th Anniversary celebration of our organization, which coincided with our signature Unity
Dinner 18th Annual event, was received very enthusiastically by the community, diverse leadership
and lawmakers with two members of Congress, members of Assembly, county supervisors, city
mayors, councilmembers and many other public ofcials,” Zutshi told India-West.
“IACF was conceived to inspire Indo-Americans to be a part and parcel of mainstream America by
serving community at large. Today, after 25 years, we have a vice-mayor, a congressman and so
many enthusiastic members of the Indo-American community vigorously involved in mainstream
issues positively and have integrated with the American values bringing the best of Indian culture
to blend with it,” Zutshi added.
“I feel that my vision of promoting unity and harmony has proved to be a blessing for my own
personal development and am rmly committed to continue in my mission to unite community,” he
said.
Eshoo, who represents California’s 18 Congressional District, was honored with the Lifetime
Achievement Award at the event and served as the keynote speaker.
“This evening is extraordinarily special for me and is for you,” she said. “This organization (IACF)
has prospered over time, where other organizations wear down over time.”
Eshoo thanked Zutshi for creating the federation, which she said has made a difference and
continues to make a difference.
“I have a very deep understanding that our country is made stronger through its diversity,” Eshoo
stressed, noting she experienced it in her family and sees it in her district. “We’re a nation of
immigrants and it is our greatest advantage.”
Eshoo also touched on the importance of the relationship between the U.S. and India, and how she
is working on upping the number of individuals from the country who can come to the U.S. on green
cards.
“My promise to (Zutshi and IACF) is that you have a sister (in me),” Eshoo said in response to
receiving the lifetime achievement award.
The congresswoman, in conclusion, awarded Zutshi for his 25 years of IACF with an American ag
that was own over the Capitol in Washington, D.C.
Khanna and Panda were also featured at the event as honored guest speakers.
Khanna, overjoyed to be back in the Bay Area and seeing the diversity, called it “the future of the
nation.”
“The country is changing. It is extraordinarily diverse and that’s our strength,” Khanna said. “Every
time I come back home, I’m so inspired to represent this place.”
Khanna believes the freshmen class in Congress is what the country is all about – diverse, women,
youth.
“Now we have people in Congress from all walks of life,” he said. The second-term congressman
said Congress is now a more apt indication of what America is and those people will bring forward
Zutshi’s vision for unity.
Panda, who has been in his role since November 2018, was speaking at the Unity Dinner for the rst
time since taking ofce.
Using the theme of the night, Panda cited a quote apt for the event. “If you want something to be
said, ask a man. If you want something to be done, ask a woman,” he said.
Additionally, there was a panel discussion on women’s history and contributions. Among the
panelists were Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley; Fremont, Calif., Police Chief
Kimberly Peterson; League of Women Voters president Syeda Reshma Inamdar; and Dr. Connie
Wun, advocate, educator, researcher and a national expert on issues impacting women and girls of
color. It was moderated by lawyer Anjali Shaykher Zutshi.
The panel discussion specically focused on the #MeToo movement.
Zutshi, in kicking off the discussion, noted that the movement isn’t just a women’s or girls’ issue,
but affects everyone.
O’Malley noted that social media, as well as people who are in show business, made the movement
spread like wildre.
“What’s important is that, those who responded, were from people from so many different
backgrounds just like us,” O’Malley said.
Wun echoed O’Malley’s point, adding that it is important that women are using their brand in
leadership roles to bring in more victims and raise awareness.
Inamdar added that some of the perpetrators now faced some sort of accountability.
“These powerful gures were nally held accountable where previously the women who came
forward were held accountable,” she said. “When women were considered human beings (receiving
the right to vote), the movement started to take shape.”
The police chief credited the snowball-like effect, saying the movement has had strength in
numbers.
“It has reached a tipping point and the time is right,” Peterson said.
In shifting focus to the culture aspect of victims, Inamdar noted that there has been a shift where
there was previously shame placed upon women or victims who came forward and that has changed
with the new wave of voices.
Peterson used anecdotes as a younger police ofcer saying that in certain situations with cultural
differences, women were afraid to come forward and law enforcement didn’t get involved until it
was facing physical abuse allegations.
Wun talked about how her organization would travel across the country to hear what women deal
with in regards to sexual violence.
“There’s an imagination (here in the U.S.) that we as women are supposed to accept that we are to
be acted upon,” Wun explained. “What has been considered the norm can no longer be considered
the norm, especially if there is no consent.”
Wun elaborated for several minutes on the cultural aspect of the movement, noting women are
fearful of many repercussions of coming forward.
“What we want (victims) to know is that abuse, sexual abuse and violence is never OK,” district
attorney O’Malley stressed.
Anjali Zutshi opened the panel up to Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh being conrmed into
the position despite facing sexual abuse allegations.
The panel spoke about how Christine Blasey Ford was right to come forward despite her allegations
stemming from decades earlier.
“I think women felt defeated,” O’Malley said, “but I think others felt inspired by her coming forward
when she had nothing to gain from it.”
Wun seconded O’Malley’s point, adding that, as a survivor herself, coming forward and having the
courage to speak out is not easy.
“What she did was continue to speak and showed the world she would continue to speak, and I
don’t believe she thought she was going to win,” Wun noted, adding that it is a win in itself not to
be silenced.
“Kavanaugh escaped, but that doesn’t mean the next one will,” Inamdar said.
The panel wrapped up with the panelists talking about stories from their past and providing advice.
“If something does happen, speak up,” O’Malley stressed. “It’s the courage that allows others to
come forward.”
In a male-dominated industry, Peterson said that people were very respectful for the most part, just
at the shock at seeing her in the position she held, citing her time on the SWAT team.
“The millennial generation grows up expecting equality,” she said. “To me, that’s a positive change.
I do think things are moving in the right direction.”
Wun said she has been experiencing #MeToo moments since she was in junior high, to varying
degrees.
“I got a Ph.D. at U.C. Berkeley so I could be the perfect woman so my story would be accepted,” Wun
stated. But she said she had dealt with too much trauma, which led her to starting her own
nonprot, bypassing her aspirations to becoming an academic.
“The rst thing you have to know is it’s not your fault,” Wun advised. “No. 2, you are not alone. And
No. 3, you have to go through the process of healing.”
Going forward, Inamdar said there needs to be more education for children as to what’s normal and
what is not.
“We need a lot of prevention, and that’s through education and through society saying ‘this is not
OK,’” she said.
Each of the panelists stressed the need to give everyone a voice, and education in general will help
as the movement continues to ratchet up.
The IACF also used the platform of the Unity Dinner to dole out several awards. In addition to
Eshoo being bestowed the Lifetime Achievement Award, AAPI Women Lead co-founder Wun was
named Advocate of the Year; Alameda County administrator Susan Muranshi was honored with Excellence in Public Administration; Peterson was named the Public Safety Ofcer of the Year;
VajraSoft Inc. chief executive Kameshwar Eranki was named Entrepreneur of the Year; and the
Rajasthan Association of North America was named Community Organization of the Year.
The event was attended by hundreds of community members, including several dignitaries, among
whom were California Assemblymembers Ash Kalra, Kansen Chu and Evan Low; California State
Controller Betty Yee; Newark, Calif., Mayor Al Nagy; former Milpitas Mayor Jose Esteves; and
several members of the Fremont City Council, among many others.

Unity Dinner: Immigration Must Be National Priority
2015-03-27
Milpitas, Calif. – Immigration must be a top priority to ensure the continued growth of the U.S. economy, said Russell Hancock, president and CEO of Joint Venture Silicon Valley, on the sidelines of the 14 annual Unity Dinner, held Mar. 20 at the India Community Center.
“We’re fooling ourselves by thinking we can build fences to protect our national interests,” Hancock – the keynote speaker at the evening event founded by Indian American Jeevan Zutshi – told IndiaWest. He advocated for an expansion of the H-1B skilled temporary worker program, but declined to comment on a new initiative which would allot work authorization to the spouses of H-1B workers.
H-4 visa holders – spouses of H-1B workers who are often as skilled as their partners – were previously denied work authorization. But U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services unveiled a new initiative Feb. 24 that would allow some H-4 visa holders to work. Indian spouses make up the majority of H-4 residents: 180,000 people will be eligible in the rst year, and 55,000 will become eligible in successive years.
The annual Unity Dinner, organized by the Indo American Community Federation, brought together local, state and national elected leaders and Indian American community and business leaders. Rep. Mike Honda, D-Calif., California state Treasurer John Chiang; State Controller Betty Yee; and California state Assembly members Bill Quirk, Kansen Chu and Evan Low were among the many politicians who attended the event.
Fremont Mayor Bill Harrison, Cupertino Mayor Rod Sinks and Milpitas Mayor Jose Esteves also attended the dinner, along with council members from several local cities.
In his keynote address, Hancock acknowledged the vast contributions of immigrant workers – particularly Indian Americans – to the growth of the San Francisco Bay Area’s Silicon Valley. “Any technology company here is like the United Nations. You’ve got people from all over the world feverishly working to attain a common goal.”
“The Silicon Valley is not an American phenomenon. It was built by people from everywhere, working on a path to success,” said Hancock, the inaugural director of Stanford University’s Shorenstein Forum for Asia-Pacic Studies.
“Most countries have a race, religion or tribe that binds them together. What is unique about the U.S. is the lack of tribe that binds us. This country was based on the glue of nationhood, liberty, justice and opportunity,” said Hancock, noting that in 1776, when America’s leaders were founding a democracy – including an elected president and Congress – most countries were still ruled by monarchies. “Two hundred and fty years later, only the American institutions remain,” he said.
Venkatesan Ashok, India’s new consul general in San Francisco, also spoke about the impact of the co-mingling of cultures in his keynote address. “India is the best example of diversity compared to anywhere in the world,” he said, noting the numerous cultural communities, languages and religions that make up the world’s largest democracy.
“From that community, you have come to this community, another shining example of diversity,” said Ashok, who took ofce in November 2014 when former consul general N. Parthasarathi retired from public service and returned home to Bangalore.
Ashok spoke about a new directive issued by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which all Indian consulates and embassies throughout the world will celebrate the rst International Yoga Day. The United Nations declared the date after Modi’s address to the General Assembly, urging nations to adopt the practice with the aim of fostering world peace.
In San Francisco, the Indian Consulate has issued an open invitation to people “from the length and breadth of California,” to participate in a day-long celebration of yoga at the Palace of Fine Arts. Per capita, non-Indians do more yoga daily than Indians, noted the affable diplomat, adding: “We will be teaching ourselves the value of something that many people here already know.”
Ashok also addressed the troublesome visa process, noting that the consulate is holding “visa camps” throughout the Bay Area, in Fresno, Calif., and Seattle, Wash., to help people through the often tortuous process of applying for an Indian visa.
Former Cupertino, Calif., Mayor Gilbert Wong – who now serves on the city council – told IndiaWest that the Silicon Valley township recently established a sister-city relationship with Bhubaneswar and hopes to promote cultural and educational partnerships. Cupertino currently has sister-city relationships with Hsinchu, Taiwan; Toyokawa, Japan; and Copertino, Italy. Initially, both cities will send six students over to experience the culture of each country.
Jeevan Zutshi, founder of the IACF, told India-West that the event had raised more than $5,000 to support the Amit Zutshi Foundation. The foundation was created in 2008, he said, after Zutshi’s son abruptly died that March from the use of over-the-counter health supplements. Jeevan Zutshi has written a book about the tragedy – “The Last Smile” – which has been made into a featurelength lm.
In the non-documentary lm directed by Shankey Srinivasan, Keith Stevenson plays Kapil, a father searching for clues as to what killed his son. Danny Arroyo plays a detective who helps Kapil navigate the complex process of how drug manufacturers market their goods to a primarily-younger demographic concerned with body image.
“The Last Smile” is scheduled to be released this May, said Zutshi.

IACF-US Welcomes GOPIO SV Chapter and raise awareness for Creating Jobs in CA at the 2012 Unity Dinner
2012-03-30
30 March 2012
IACF-US Welcomes GOPIO SV Chapter and raise awareness for Creating Jobs in CA at the 2012 Unity Dinner

Blindly Seeing the World as One: Jeevan Zutshi
2012-02-08
Blindly Seeing the World as One
Jeevan Zutshi
By Diana Rohini Lavigne
Jeevan Zutshi founded the Indo-American Community Federation (IACF-USA), a non-prot, in 1994 to pave the way for Indo-Americans to get involved in mainstream activities. IACF helps build Indo-U.S. relations through educating law makers, organizing international seminars and keeping an open dialogue with public ofcials in the U.S. and in India.
After 9/11, things changed in the United States. He created an annual Unity Dinner in association with his son, Rahul Zutshi, to help foster unity and understanding among a diverse number of community groups and leaders. The Unity Dinner has grown from a small event to a large-scale event and grabs the attention of some high prole members of Congress and the Senate as well as other government bodies.
Jeevan Zutshi’s background is as a civil engineer, a teacher and a real estate broker. This jack of all trades hails from the strife torn state of Kashmir and has fought for the human rights and rehabilitation of Kashmiris in India, who were forced to ee their homes as a result of terrorism since 1990.
“Not only did IACF-USA bring other Indo-American factions and organizations together to support mainstream involvement but also brought together other diverse community leaders and organizations along with a host of policy makers and public ofcials,” explains Zutshi. “I wish I could make people color blind and remove the word ‘hate’ from the dictionary replacing it with compassion and love.”
So it shouldn’t shock readers that these two world leaders are his biggest inuences; Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King. Both fought for human rights and spread the message of love and harmony across the globe and have inspired Jeevan in his work.
When asked what his special skill is, Jeevan said he has an uncanny way of recognizing good people and puts his effort towards showing them their value to him. Surrounding himself with like-minded good people is one skill that everyone should learn from this grand master of diversity and community.

IACF Celebrates Unity with Awards and awareness - Mar 26, 2010, shehjar
2010-03-26
26 March 2010
IACF Celebrates Unity with Awards and awareness – Mar 26, 2010, shehjar

Celebrating Diversity: IACF Unity Dinner (2007) 6th unity dinner
2007-04-24

Sixth Unity Dinner a big draw (2007) 6th unity dinner
2007-04-06
6 April 2007
Sixth Unity Dinner a big draw (2007) 6th unity dinner

Tri-city who's who at glittering IACF dinner 2007, 6th annual dinner
2007-04-03
03 April 2007
Tri-city who’s who at glittering IACF dinner 2007, 6th annual dinner

Unity Dinner 2006 - a Sellout Event (5th annual dinner)
2006-04-07
7 April 2006
Unity Dinner 2006 – a Sellout Event (5th annual dinner)

Unity Dinner 2005 Press Coverage by India West Newspaper
2005-01-24
24 January 2005
Unity Dinner 2005 Press Coverage by India West Newspaper

Indo-American Community Federation, kick-off, Unity Dinner 2004 (3th annual dinner)
2004-12-10
10 December 2004
Indo-American Community Federation, kick-off, Unity Dinner 2004 (3th annual dinner)

Pallone Hosts Hearing on Plight of Kashmiri Pandits (2003)
2003-11-14
14 November 2003
Pallone Hosts Hearing on Plight of Kashmiri Pandits (2003)

Dinner for Unity on 24th January 2003 - A Report by India Currents December 2, 2002
2003-01-24
24 January 2003
Dinner for Unity on 24th January 2003 – A Report by India Currents December 2, 2002

Second Unity Dinner in California Focuses on Peace and Harmony (2nd Unity Dinner)
2003-01-24
24 January 2003
Second Unity Dinner in California Focuses on Peace and Harmony (2nd Unity Dinner)

Unity Dinner 2002 on 25th Jan' 2002 - The Indo-American Community Federation's first annual event Unity Dinner 2002 with Live musical entertainment by Melody Queen Alka Bhatnagar
2002-01-21 08:00 - 17:00 UTC
21 January 2002
Unity Dinner 2002 on 25th Jan’ 2002 – The Indo-American Community Federation’s first annual event Unity Dinner 2002 with Live musical entertainment by Melody Queen Alka Bhatnagar
