Indian American Activist Jeevan Zutshi Launches Second Book ‘Earth on Trial - Fighting The Invisible and Visible Enemies’
2020-12-20
Jeevan Zutshi, founder of the Indo-American Community Federation, is seen at the organization’s 19th annual Unity Dinner May 23, held via Zoom this year due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Indian American activist has just launched his second book titled, “Earth on Trial – Fighting The Invisible and Visible Enemies.” (IACF photo)
Jeevan Zutshi’s rst book, “The Last Smile: A Father’s Love Story,” highlighted the dangers of over
Written during the Covid-19 lockdown and through the lens of Zutshi’s cultural and personal perspective, “Earth on Trial – Fighting The Invisible and Visible Enemies,” combines history, extensive information, and personal anecdotes, in an attempt to provide a comprehensive insight into the most pressing topics of our time, from the global pandemic to the Black Lives Matter movement.
It also explores the everyday quest to seek perfection in our mind and bodies, which is often pursued through dangerous means, such as dietary supplements, fad diets, and unconventional health trends.
“In 2020, unlike any other time, mankind everywhere has been united against a common enemy: an invisible virus that has inltrated every land, claimed thousands of deaths, and brought the world, as we know it, to its knees,” reads the book’s ofcial description. “The coronavirus pandemic rages, but it doesn’t stop the reign of the many visible enemies that have plagued man from time immemorial – racism, bigotry, and religious discrimination, to name a few. Even a deadly pandemic could not humble the ego of man, and so mother nature has been rocked, humanity has been tested, and the earth is on trial.”
“Earth on Trial,” it adds, reveals the “hard truths about the corrupt pharmaceutical industry and its insidious inuence, which has frayed the fabric of our society, particularly the millennial generation.”

Unity Dinner 2021: The Road Ahead – A Unified Recovery
2021-03-19
Together we build a tapestry of colorful cultures
Co-Hosts:
Jeevan Zutshi, Dr. Raj Salwan, Yogi Chugh, Varun Kapur
Master of Ceremonies: Vijaya Aasuri
Panel Moderator: Anjali Shaykher Zutshi, Esq.
March 19, 2021, 4:45 PM to 7:15 PM
You are invited to join us at the 20th Annual Unity Dinner, organized by Indo-American Community Federation (IACF), on Friday, March 19th, 2021 from 4:45 PM to 7:15 PM.
IACF celebrated its 25th anniversary in March 2019 and has successfully been promoting unity in diversity.
A panel discussion will be held from 5:15 pm to 6:00 pm PST on current issues related to Covid-19, after members of Congress and our Consul General of India address the community.
The Panel discussion is titled “Covid-19 Pandemic: Response, Lessons Learned and Recovery” and is being moderated by Anjali Shaykher Zutshi Esq., Attorney at National Nuclear Security Administration.
Panelists:
Fish Stark – Global Director of Programs at Peace First
Harsha Ramchandani, M.D. – CMO, Bay Area Community Health
Chander Shaykher, M.D. – Miami Heart Center
Kimberly Hartz, CEO – Washington Hospital
Mihir Meghani, M.D. – Emergency Medicine Physician, Kaiser Permanente
This will be followed by Honorable speakers, IACF Leadership awards, Book releases and a cultural program.
The entire meeting will be virtual, keeping the pandemic situation in view.
This year’s theme is Unity Dinner 2021: The Road Ahead – A Unified Recovery. It will focus on deep-diving into the key issues around us and what we must do as a community to fully recover. The program includes Keynote Speeches, Awards, and top-notch cultural performances.
A prominent group of more than 400+ community members, organizations, and public officials have supported this signature event to network and promote unity in diversity, year after year. Nearly 45 elected officials and senior Lawmakers attend and support every year. Coincidentally, we were the first organization to start this event after 9/11 to promote unity in diversity.
We will be welcoming the President of Ohlone College Dr. Eric Bishopand some newly elected officials as well. The following are some of the confirmed honored guests, as of this moment.
Consul General of India Ambassador Dr. T.V. Nagendra Prasad
Member of Congress Anna Eshoo
Member of Congress Ro Khanna
Senator, State of California, Bob Wieckowski
Senator, State of California, Dave Cortese
Assembly member Ash Kalra
Assembly member Bill Quirk
Assembly member Alex Lee
Alameda County Supervisor David Haubert
Santa Clara County Supervisor Otto Lee
Mayor Lily Mei, City of Fremont
Mayor Alan Nagy, City of Newark
Mayor Larry Klein, City of Sunnyvale

UNITY DINNER 2021
Virtual Program
The Road Ahead – A United Recovery

1.
Opening Unity Dinner Program Introduction of IACF BOD – Dr. Ramesh Konda
(4:45-4:50)

2.
About IACF by Dr. Subhash Garg
(4:50-4:53)

3.
National Anthems
(4:53-5:00)

4.
Address by IACF Chairman Jeevan Zutshi
(5:00-5:03)

5.
Presenting Congresswoman
Anna Eshoo by Jeevan Zutshi
(5:03-5:04)

6.
Address by Congresswoman Anna Eshoo
(5:04-5:07)

7.
Introductory Remarks & Presenting Congressman
Ro Khanna by Yogi Chugh
Address by Congressman Ro Khanna
(5:07-5:09)
(5:09-5:12)

8.
Presenting Consul General of India by Vijaya Aasuri
Address by Consul General of India Dr. T.V. Nagendra Prasad
(5:12-5:13)
(5:13-5:16)

9.
Presenting Assembly member Dr. Bill Quirk by Dr. Raj Salwan
Address by Assembly member Dr. Bill Quirk
(5:16-5:17)
(5:17-5:20)

10.
Introduction of Anjali Zutshi by Dr. Raj Salwan
Panel Discussion by Panel discussion moderator Anjali Shaykher Zutshi Esq. and Panelists: Dr. Harsha Ramchandani (CMO, Bay Area Community Health), Kimberly Hartz (CEO, Washington Hospital), Dr. Chander Shaykher (Miami Heart Center), Dr.Mihir Meghani (Kaiser Permanante), Fish Stark (Programs at Peace First)
(5:20-6:05)

11.
Book Release Introduction by Yogi Chugh
Earth on Trial-Fighting the visible and invisible enemies by Jeevan Zutshi
Sikh Heritage beyond the borders by Dr. Dalvir Pannu
(6:05-6:11)

12.
Presenting Special Guest Speaker Ohlone College President by Yogi Chugh
(6:11-6:12)

13.
Address by President Dr. Eric Bishop President of Ohlone community college
(6:12-6:15)

14.
Address by Fremont Police Chief Kim Peterson
Introduction by Yogi Chugh
(6:15-6:19)

15.
Introduction & Presenting Elected County Supervisors (Otto Lee and David Haubert) and Assembly members (Ash Kalra, Alex Lee and Kansen Chu) By Dr. Raj Salwan, Fremont City Councilmember
(6:19-6:27)

16.
Introduction of City Mayors and Council members By Yogi Chugh
IACF UNITY Awards: (Yogi Chugh)
Dr. Dalvir Pannu for promoting Unity and Sikh Heritage
Sanjiv Gupta, CPA for community service and Philanthropy
Association of Indo-Americans (AIA) for uniting community organizations and promoting Indian heritage
Arjun Banerjee Mulchandanifor Youth Leadership
La Familia for serving underserved communities in Alameda County
Global Kashmiri Pandit Diaspora (GKPD) for promoting Kashmiri culture globally through extensive festivals
Deepak Ganju, Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Advisor for Philanthropy
(6:27-6:35)
(6:35-6:54)

17.
Cultural Program – Moderated by Vijaya Aasuri
(6:54-7:10)

18.
Vote of thanks – Dr. Naresh Sharma
(7:10-7:15)

22nd Annual Unity Dinner 2023
2023-04-21 17:00 - 23:59 UTC | The India Community Center, 525 Los Coches Street, Milpitas, CA.
Indo-American Community Federation (IACF-USA) was co-founded by Jeevan Zutshi in the year 1994 as the first Indo-American organization to build bridges with mainstream organizations, diverse leadership groups, think tank and public officials. The Unity Dinner celebrates unity in diversity and the achievements of community leaders in our local community after 9/11/01 to promote unity in diversity and address serious community issues. IACF is proud to have celebrated 25th anniversary on March 22, 2019.
Unity through Diversity: Reclaiming a Sense of Connection
Friday, April 21, 2023 (5:00 PM to Midnight)
at the India Community Center, 525 Los Coches Street, Milpitas, CA.
Master of Ceremonies: Dr. Raj Salwan, Councilmember, City of Fremont, CA
Co- Master of Ceremonies: Rakhi Israni, Esq., President of Excel Test and a Public Relations Director for Sewa International.
Program:
5:00 pm to 6:15 pm
Panel discussion: The Rise in Gun Violence and the impact on our Youth
Moderator: Anjali Shaykher Zutshi, Esq.
Introduction by: Shyla Zutshi
Anjali is National Security Law Attorney at National Nuclear Security Administration, U.S. Department of Energy.
Panelists:
Teresa Keng, City of Fremont Councilmember
Jeff Rosen, Santa Clara District Attorney
Desrie Campbell, City of Fremont Council member
Fish Stark, Head of Program & Curriculum at Ever Scouts
Dr. Harmesh Kumar, Licensed Psychologist
Ragini Vecham, Parent representative
– 5:50 pm to 6:00 pm: Address by San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan
– 6:15 pm to 7:15 pm: “Tim Reilly – The Canyon Band” & Host bar and Dinner
– 7:15 pm: National Anthems by Manasa Gadepalli
– 7:20 pm: Introduction of IACF Board by Dr. Ramesh Konda, President
– 7:24 pm: “Why growth requires Diversity?” by Sanjiv Goyal, Chairman, Droisys
– 7:29 pm: Address by Jeevan Zutshi, Chairman, IACF-USA
Introductions
Consul General of India Ambassador, Dr. T.V. Nagendra Prasad
Congressman Ro Khanna represented by Tom Pyke
State Senator (CA-15), Dave Cortese
Patti Cortese, Eastside Union H.S. District
State Senator (Former), Bob Wieckowski
Assemblymember (CA-25), Ash Kalra
Assemblymember (CA-24), Alex Lee
Mayor, City of San Jose, Matt Mahan
Mayor, City of Milpitas, Carmen Montano
Mayor, City of Newark, Michael K. Hannon
Newark Former Mayor Al Nagy and Mrs Connie Nagy
Fremont City Mayor Lily Mei
Mayor, City of Tracy, Nancy Young represented by Mr. James Young
Mayor, City of Santa Clara, Lisa Gillmor
Mayor (Former) Milpitas, Rich Tran
Mayor (Former) Cupertino, Darcy Paul
Santa Clara City Vice Mayor, Kevin Park
Vice Mayor, City of Milpitas , Evelyn Chua
Councilmembers, City of Fremont, Dr. Raj Salwan, Teresa Keng, Teresa Cox
Board President, Alameda County Water District, Paul Sethy
Councilmember, City of Santa Clara (District 1), Kathy Watanabe
Councilmember, City of Oakland, Janani Ramachandran
Councilmember Arjun Batra, City of San Jose and Mrs. Batra
Councilmember (District 3), Murali Srinivasan, City of Sunnyvale
Alameda County Supervisor (CA-1), David Haubert
Santa Clara County Board Supervisor (District 3), Otto Lee
Santa Clara County Supervisor (District 4) – Board President, Susan Ellenberg
Santa Clara County Supervisor (District 2) – Cindy Chavez – Betty Duong, Esq., Chief of Staff
Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington
Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee (Area 2) Tara Sreekrishnan
Senior Assistant District Attorney and Policy Chief, Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Cynthia Chandler
Milpitas Unified School District Board of Education Trustee Anu Nakka
Milpitas Unified School District Board of Education President Chris Norwood
Commissioner to the President’s Advisory Commission on Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Ajay Bhutoria
Santa Clara Human Rights Commissioners Pranjali Dani, Mita Dey, Robert Cheykin
Milpitas Planning Commissioner Dipak Awasthi
Marie Bernard, Executive Director, Sunnyvale Community Services
Joined by Prof. Bruce Paton, Board member, Leadership Sunnyvale

– 7:37 pm: Joe Johal
– 7:39 pm: Address by Consul General of India Dr. Nagendra Prasad
– 7:45 pm: Introduction of Community leaders by Rakhi Israni, Esq.
Hindu American Foundation (HAF)
Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS)
Hindu Swayam Sewak Sangh (HSS)
Sewa International
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Milpitas, CA
– 7:52 pm: Guest Speaker and Presentation by Hindu American Foundation (HAF)
– 8:02 pm: Honored Speaker – CA State Senator Dave Cortese
– 8:08 pm: Honored Speaker Susan Ellenberg, President, Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors
– 8:13 pm: Fashion Show by Frontier Heritage Fremont
– 8:20 pm: IACF-USA Honorees
Deepak Ganju, Lifetime Achievement award
Fremont Police Chief Sean Washington, Public Safety Official of the year
The Urban League of Greater San Francisco Bay Area, Community organization of the year
Sanjiv Bhandari, Prominence in the field of Architecture
– 8:35 pm: Hispanic Ballet Folklorico by Martha Alvarez
– 8:45 pm: Keynote address by Dr. Tae Yun Kim, Motivational speaker and founder of Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions, Inc.
– 9:00 pm: Free drawing for fantastic prizes donated by Dr. Tae Yun Kim
– 9:15 pm: Dance performance by students of Aero Dance Academy Director: Ranjani Manda
Introduction by Vijaya Aasuri, AIA and BATA leader
– 9:25 pm: Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks by Dr. Ramesh Konda, IACF-USA President
– 9:30 pm onwards: Yeh Shaam Mastani organized by Prasad Mangina and Veeru Vuppala, BATA Karaokee

Live Bollywood music 🎵 concert by popular Bay Area singers
Videography & Photography by Sachin
Media Sponsors:
Tri-City Voice
Radio Zindagi
Indica News

Event Sponsors:
Comcast
Dr. Tae Yun Kim, Motivational speaker and the founder of Lighthouse Worldwide Solutions
Deepak Ganju, Managing Director, Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management
Droisys, Inc., a leading Software company
Washington Hospital Healthcare System
Bay Area Community Health (BACH)
Alameda County Supervisor Dave Haubert
Dr. Raj Salwan, City of Fremont Councilmember
Dr. Dharam P. Salwan, Salwan Properties
Association of Indo-Americans (AIA)
Dr. Dalvir Pannu, Pannu Dental
Hindu American Foundation (HAF)
Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS)
Hindu Swayam Sewak Sangh (HSS)
Sewa International
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Milpitas, CA
Dr. Harmesh Kumar, Licensed Psychologist
Kishore Pallapothu, Entrepreneur
Teresa Keng, City of Fremont Councilmember
Ashok and Pushpa Saraf
Dr. Vijay Chowdhury
Joe Johal
You are also invited to join IACF leaders on the Senate floor at the California State Capitol on Monday, April 24, 2023, as the State of California celebrates IACF’s Unity Day. RSVP with your full name and contact information.
For additional information, feel free to contact anyone of us:
Mr. Jeevan Zutshi, jeevanzutshi@aol.com, (510) 589-3702
Dr. Ramesh Konda, rameshkonda.phd@gmail.com, (510) 565-2495
Mr. Amit Goel, Amit@droisys.com, (415) 706-8643
Mr. Shashi Sharma, Shashisharma1@gmail.com, (408) 569-3396
Dr. Naresh Sharma, nareshcsharma@yahoo.com, (408) 206-3330
Dr. Subhash Garg, Sooku@yahoo.com, (702) 308-6339
Dr. Harmesh Kumar, harmeshkumar@sbcglobal.net, (925) 285-9881

Panel Discussion: Gender Equity And Modern Solutions
2023-07-23 11:30 - 14:00
JULY 23RD, SUNDAY
11:30 AM – 2PM
INDIA COMMUNITY CENTER
525 LOS COCHES STREET, MILPITAS, CA 95035
Opening remarks by Mr. Jeevan Zutshi, Founder, IACF-USA
Revant Kasichainula – Moderator
Sheryl Brinkley, MBA – Women’s Exec and Leadership Coach at ITM Coaching Next Level
Ruth Yong, Ph.D. – Executive Director at Palm Academy
Connie LaScola, MBA – Finance Professional at Codexis
Ramesh Konda, Ph.D. – Vice President at FloData
Dr. Harmesh Kumar, Ph.D. – world renowned clinical psychologist
FREE ENTRY. DONATIONS ARE APPRECIATED. LUNCH IS PROVIDED.
Mr. Jeevan Zutshi
Jeevan Zutshi has been deeply involved in Community Development projects internationally for decades.
It is not a coincidence that he was one of the first on the west coast to see the need to get involved in mainstream America and inspire other Indo-Americans through Indo-American Community Federation (IACF), a non-profit organization.
Consequently, he was honored by the California legislature in 2004 in a ceremony on Capitol Hill for being a pioneer in leading the Indo-American community towards assimilating in mainstream culture. Jeevan is the author of a non-fiction “Earth on Trial – Fighting the invisible and visible enemies” and “The Last Smile – A Fathers love story – A journey of hope” which are available on Amazon.
He is also the Executive Producer of the award-winning film, The Last Smile, an 87 minutes long independent film, based on his book and true events – presented by Amit Zutshi Foundation, highlighting the dangers of over-the-counter-supplements and the multi-billion-dollar pharmaceutical industry involved in marketing these life-threatening products, and one that remains totally unregulated by the FDA. The film is available on Amazon Prime.
Dr. Harmesh Kumar
Dr. Harmesh Kumar, renowned bay area clinical psychologist with a world-level reputation, has enthusiastically added his name to the list of candidates running for California U.S. Senator presently held by retiring Senator Diane Feinstein. With three members of congress having previously declared their candidacy to the position, Dr. Kumar-a Democrat– is the first non-member of congress to declare his candidacy.
Sheryl Brinkley, MBA
She is the Founder and CEO of ITM Coaching Next Level, is an International Coaching Federation certified Executive Coach, and is a Certified Leadership Development Professional specializing in Mid-Level Career progression and acceleration.
She is passionate about working with emerging and Mid-Level Female leaders aspiring to continue up the platinum staircase and into Senior Leader and Executive level seats.
Sheryl’s decades of experience in Fortune 100, Public, Private, Tech, and Utility sectors have given her a wide and varied lens on leadership environments. She leverages her acumen in talent pipeline program strategy and delivery in her approach with working with clients and within organizations.
Sheryl is a proud Bay Area native and holds an MBA from Holy Names University, a certification from UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business – Women’s Executive Leadership Program and holds a specialty certification in Emotional Intelligence EQ-i 2.0.
Ruth Yong, Ph.D.
Ruth is an ‘Educator at Large’. She has worked in and around education for most of her career, including being a classroom teacher, a center/school administrator with a wide variety of responsibilities and a coach and trainer for aspiring teachers and entrepreneurs. Dr. Ruth came to education and childcare services with over 10 years of industrial experience, which helped her approach educating children from a very different perspective. She thinks that emotional intelligence is just as important, if not more important, than intellectual intelligence in today’s world. Ruth was raised in Fremont, California, went to Mission San Jose High School, graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Berkeley and Purdue University for her Masters and PhD. degree.
During her time in industry, she traveled extensively to different regional offices in the U.S. and overseas to conduct training certifications for upper management. She has also worked with research and development to develop a computer training module that, still this day, continues to train thousands of employees every month.
It was her family that brought her back to Fremont, California to start Fastrackids and Palm Academy in 2006. Besides dedicating most of her time to preschool centers and children’s education, she also coaches aspiring entrepreneurs, teaches children’s Sunday school, and sings in the choir.
Connie LaScola, MBA
Connie is an experienced Finance professional with a demonstrated history of working in the biotechnology industry. Skilled in Accounting, Public Speaking, Internal Controls, and Management.
As President of Bay Area Spirit Enthusiasts, Connie loves to inspire and promote youth and young adults to make a difference in our communities and national organizations through financial and volunteering commitments.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting and an Executive MBA focused on Global Economics.
Ramesh Konda, Ph.D.
Ramesh Konda has 30 years of combined working experience in automotive, semiconductor, manufacturing, and information technology industries. During his career, he has held key responsibilities such as Vice President, Director, Asst. Production Manager, Quality Manager, and Program Manager. Ramesh has worked at notable companies such as General Motors and Seagate Technology.
Ramesh is a Fellow of the American Society for Quality (ASQ), and the past chair of the ASQ Silicon Valley section. He is a Certified Quality Engineer (CQE) and Certified Quality Auditor (CQA) from ASQ. Ramesh holds Ph.D., M.B.A., M.S. (Industrial Engineering), and B.S. (Mechanical Engineering).
Revant Kasichainula
Revant is a high school senior at Basis Independent Fremont, driven by the desire to raise awareness and instigate change regarding gender equity in society. In addition to his advocacy work, he is also an accomplished author, having written the book “Mixed,” which is available on Amazon. This captivating novel delves into the fictional narrative of a biracial child’s experiences growing up in the 1960s American South.
Revant’s talents extend beyond the realm of literature. He is an exceptional sportsman, excelling as a national-level table tennis player and a dedicated marathon runner. Through his athletic pursuits, Revant embodies perseverance, discipline, and a commitment to personal growth.
Beyond his achievements, Revant’s true passion lies in fostering a more compassionate and caring society. With his infectious motivation, he serves as a source of inspiration for those around him, encouraging others to embrace empathy and actively contribute to the betterment of their communities.

Indo-American Community Federation, (IACF-USA)
2024-03-29 17:30 - 22:00
Board of Directors:
Jeevan Zutshi, Dr. Ramesh Konda, Mr. Amit Goel, Mr. Shashi Sharma, Dr. Subhash Garg, Dr. Naresh Sharma, Dr. Harmesh Kumar, Mr. Rahul Zutshi, Mr. Sujoy Sarkar, Dr. Deepak Sachdev
IACF-USA was once again recognized and honored by the California State Senate in May, 2023 for promoting understanding and harmony amongst diverse communities for decades!
Friday, March 29, 2024 (5:30 PM to 10:00 PM)
30th Anniversary and Unity Dinner
Unity through Diversity: Breathing Life into Education
India Community Center, 525 Los Coches Street, Milpitas, CA.
Master of Ceremonies: Kathy Stahl Kimberlin
Honored Chief Guest: Ambassador of Peace Acharya Dr. Lokesh (visiting from India)
Keynote Speaker: Hon. Assemblymember Ash Kalra
Program:
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM: Social Hour
6:30 PM – 6:40 PM: National Anthem by Tanya Gupta
6:40 PM – 6:50 PM: 30 years of IACF-USA- presented by Dr. Subhash
Garg, IACF Director
6:50 PM – 7:00 PM: Brief presentation on Yoga by Shyla Zutshi
7:00 PM – 7:05 PM: IACF supports Sudha Society– YouTube message
7:05 PM – 8:00 PM: Panel Discussion
“Breathing Life into Education” Co-Convened by Art of Living
Introduction by Shyla Zutshi
Moderator: Anjali Shaykher Zutshi, National Security/ Intelligence Lawyer/Chief of Staff, National Nuclear Security Administration
Panelists:
Eileen McDonald, Alameda Board of Education Trustee
Vivek Prasad, Fremont School Board Member
Dr. Nilima Sabharwal, Founder, Home of Hope
Bill Herman, Founder and International Director, SKY Schools and Senior Faculty, Art of Living
Kasturi Basu, Principal at Lyndale Elementary School, Alum Rock Union School District.
8:00 PM – 8:05 PM: Honored Guest Speaker Alam Khydeeja
Executive Director, California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (APIA)
California is proud to be home to over six million Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIA), the fastest growing ethnic population in the state.
The California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA) was established in 2002 and is charged with elevating the political, economic, and social issues of Asian and Pacific Islander Americans (APIA), in the state.
The Commission advises the Governor and the Legislature on how to best respond to views, needs, and concerns of the state’s diverse and complex APIA communities. Additionally, the commission provides assistance to policymakers, state agencies, departments, and commissions to develop appropriate responses and programs that meet the needs of APIA communities, including focus on cultural language sensitivity, and hate incident and hate crime prevention measures.
8:05 PM – 8:45 PM: Dinner
8:15 PM – 8:20 PM: Hispanic Cultural Program – ballet Folklorico
8:20 PM – 8:30 PM: Presentation by Art of Living Foundation
8:30 PM – 8:40 PM: Indian dances by the Students of Aero Dance Academy by Ranjani Manda, Artistic Director
8:45 PM – 8:55 PM: Honored Chief Guest speaker Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni
(Introduction by Ajay Sehgal, IACF-USA India Liaison)
H.H. Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni Ji, Founder President “Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti” is a versatile thinker, writer, poet, and social reformer has been continuously making efforts for National character building, development of human values, and establishment of non-violence, peace, and cooperation in society for the last 39 years. He has, To, give practical shape to these values he founded “Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti” and thus made his field of activities spread throughout the world. With the establishment of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharti, he started a strong movement against social evils like the abortion of female children, drug addiction, Environmental Pollution, etc.
H.H. Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni is the recipient of many awards: including ‘The National Communal Harmony Award 2010’ by the Government of India ‘Ambassador of Peace’ at London Parliament. He has been honored by the United Peace Federation with the ‘Ambassador of Peace Award’ in 2014 at the United Nations Centre for his remarkable contributions towards World Peace & Communal Harmony. Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni has been honored with the Bharat Gaurav Award at U.N. Headquarters, U.S.A.
8:55 PM – 9:05 PM: Keynote Speaker Hon. Assemblymember Ash Kalra
Assemblymember Ash Kalra represents California’s 25th Assembly District, which encompasses the majority of San José, including downtown and open space areas in southeast Santa Clara County. He was first elected in 2016, becoming the first Indian American to serve in the California Legislature in state history, and was re-elected to his fourth term in 2022.
Assemblymember Kalra is the Chair of the Committee on Judiciary and also serves as a member on the Housing & Community Development, Local Government, and Natural Resources committees. He is Chair Emeritus of the California Legislative Progressive Caucus and works to ensure that key legislative priorities are successfully passed on civil rights, criminal justice, economic and worker justice, environmental justice, and housing justice, Previously, he served as Chair to the Assembly Committee on Labor and Employment.
9:05 PM – 9:15 PM: Address by Jeevan Zutshi, IACF Founder United we Stand – Community builders
Living the dream For All People ……Hon. Teresa Cox, Fremont City Councilmember
Introductions
Community Organizations:
Kashmiri Overseas Association (KOA)
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, San Jose, CA, USA
Hindu American Foundation (HAF)
Foundation for India and Indian Diaspora Studies (FIIDS)
Satish Chandra, A4H and Chief Advisory Committee for Santa Clara Police Department
South Asian Behavioral health and training foundation (Dr. Harmesh Kumar)
Home of Hope, Inc. (Dr. Nilima Sabharwal)
IbadatKhana Foundation (Tasawar Jalali)
Public Officials:
Congressman Ro Khanna represented by Tom Pyke
Attorney General of California represented by Tong Thao
State Senator (CA-15), Dave Cortese
Assemblymember (CA-25), Ash Kalra
Assemblymember Evan Low, District 26
Assemblymember (CA-24), Alex Lee
Mayor, City of Milpitas, Carmen Montano
Mayor, City of Newark, Michael K. Hannon
Newark Former Mayor Al Nagy
Fremont City Mayor Lily Mei
Mayor, City of Santa Clara, Lisa Gillmor
Councilmembers, City of Fremont, Dr. Raj Salwan, Teresa Keng, Teresa Cox
Alameda County Supervisor (CA-1), David Haubert
Alameda County Supervisor Lena Tam
Santa Clara County Supervisor (District 2) – Cindy Chavez
Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee (Area 2) Tara Sreekrishnan
San Jose Councilmember Arjun Batra
Patrick Ahrens, Governing body member of Foothill DeAnza Community College District
BART Director Liz Ames
9:15 PM – 9:25 PM: IACF Board Recognition including the Registration and Hospitality Committee
By Dr. Naresh Sharma, Member, Board of Directors
Closing Remarks by Amit Goel, President
9:25 PM – 11:30 PM: DJ Kish/Sing and Dance
Media Partners

Indica News
New India Abroad
India West
Radio Zindagi
FIJI Sun-USA
Sakshi TV / Ruchika Sharma
TV9
TV Asia

Thanks to all the Event Sponsors
Grand Sponsors:
Alameda County Supervisor Dave Haubert
Deepak Ganju, Managing Director, Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management
V.I P Table Sponsors:
Washington Hospital Healthcare System
Kishore Pallapothu, Entrepreneur
Dr. Raj Salwan, Fremont City Councilmember
Vin Kruttiventi, Congressional candidate
Pannu Dental Group
Dr. Harmesh Kumar, Psychologist
Ashok Bhat, Hotelier
Droisys, Inc., A Software Solutions Company
Ajay Sehgal, IACF- India Liaison
Gaurav Patwardhan, Community Leader
Deepak Sachdev dental offices
Videography & Photography Directed by Sujoy Sarkar
Event Decorations by CC DECORS (Krishna Priya)

IACF Unity Dinner and Conference 2025
2025-04-18 17:30 - 22:00
24th Annual Unity Dinner & Conference
Presented by the Indo-American Community Federation (IACF-USA)

In collaboration with ICC

Overview
About
Schedule
Guests
Board
Sponsors
Contact

Event Overview

📅 Date: Friday, April 18, 2025
📍 Venue: India Community Center, 525 Los Coches Street, Milpitas, CA
🕠 Time: 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Theme: Unity in Diversity: Emerging Technology and its Role in Uniting Community

About the Conference
Since its inception in 1993, the Indo-American Community Federation (IACF) has been a beacon of unity, hosting the Annual Unity Dinner since January 2002, post-9/11, with robust support from the community, businesses, and elected officials. Recognized by the California State Senate in May 2023 for the third time, IACF continues to foster understanding and harmony among diverse communities.
This year’s event will be focusing on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity, with experts from the field participating in a panel discussion, exploring their transformative roles in governance, public services, and community cohesion, with over 28 public officials and industry experts in attendance.

Schedule

Master of Ceremonies: Lily Mei – Mayor Emeritus, City of Fremont
5:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Registration & Sumptuous Indian Dinner
Network over a delicious Indian dinner.
Throughout the Evening | The Kashmir Experience
Step into Kashmir: Cultural Booth Experience – Immerse yourself in the rich heritage of Kashmir with an interactive cultural booth available during the event.

AI in Public Services and the Future of Work (6:30 PM – 7:30 PM) – Click here for details
AI is transforming how we govern, move, and work. From smart cities and public transit to cybersecurity and enterprise automation, this panel explores how public officials and industry leaders are navigating the AI era—balancing innovation with ethics, equity, and impact.
Moderator: Tasawar Jalali – Chief Information Security Officer, AC Transit & Chair, AI Committee, APTA
Panelists:

Dr. Liang Chao – Mayor, City of Cupertino
Lily Mei – Mayor Emeritus, City of Fremont
Huseni Saboowala – CEO, Daxa.ai
Karthik Krishnan – CEO, Concentric.ai
Yervant Zorian – Chief Architect, Synopsys

7:30 PM – 10:00 PM | Unity Gala
7:30 PM – 7:35 PM | National Anthem
Performed by Tanya Gupta
7:35 PM – 7:42 PM | Cultural Program
Ao Dai Fashion Catwalk and a Chinese Dance
7:42 PM – 7:47 PM | Address
Jeevan Zutshi, Founder IACF
Recognition of Sponsors
7:47 PM – 7:50 PM | Address
Raj Salwan – Mayor, City of Fremont
7:50 PM – 7:55 PM | Keynote Address
Rob Bonta – Attorney General, State of California
7:55 PM – 8:00 PM | Presentation
Launching San Francisco Unicorn by IACF
8:00 PM – 8:05 PM | Honored Guest Speaker
Garrett Yee – Major General (Retired)
8:05 PM – 8:10 PM | Honored Guest Speaker
Mr. Rakesh Adlakha – Deputy Consul General of India, San Francisco

Rob Bonta
Attorney General, State of California

Garrett Yee
Major General (Retired)

8:10 PM – 8:15 PM | Presentation
Meadows Behavioral Health
8:15 PM – 8:22 PM | Introduction of Honored Guests
8:22 PM – 8:28 PM | Recognition of IACF Board and Volunteers
8:28 PM – 10:00 PM | Live Performance
Melodious songs and Dancing with Bollywood Singer Irfan Ali (www.aliirfan.com)
Bollywood Dance Melodies from the Last Decade
Performed by Jaya Sharma, Akshata Bhuskat, Avaani Thakur, Nimisha Sharma, and Srishti Tewari

Ali Irfan
Vocal Artist

Distinguished Guests (Partial List)

Mr. Rakesh Adlakha, Deputy Consul General of India, San Francisco
Abhishek Sharma, Consul, Consulate General of India, San Francisco
Congressman Ro Khanna (represented by Tom Pyke)
Congressman Sam Liccardo
Attorney General, Rob Bonta
California State Treasurer Emeritus, Betty Yee
California State Assemblymember, Alex Lee (represented by Anurag Pal)
California State Assemblymember, Ash Kalra
California State Assemblymember, Liz Ortega, AD 20
Santa Clara County Supervisor & Board President, Otto Lee
Santa Clara County Supervisor, Betty Duong
Alameda County Supervisor, Dave Haubert (represented by Kathy Kimberlin)
Alameda County Supervisor, Elisa Marquez
Alameda County District Attorney, Ursula Jones-Dixon
Nancy E. O’Malley, Retired District Attorney, Alameda County
Mayor, City of Milpitas, Carmen Montano
Mayor, City of Fremont, Raj Salwan
Mayor Emeritus, City of Fremont, Lily Mei
Vice-Mayor, City of Fremont, Teresa Keng
Councilmember, City of Fremont, Yajing Zhang
Councilmember, City of Fremont, Raymond Liu
Councilmember, City of Fremont, Kathy Kimberlin
Councilmember, City of Fremont, Desrie Campbell
Councilmember, City of Fremont, Yang Shao
Teresa Cox, City of Fremont Councilmember (retired)
Mayor, City of Newark, Mike Hannon
Mayor Emeritus, City of Newark, Alan Nagy
Vice-Mayor, City of Hayward, Zermeno Francisco
Mayor, City of Dublin, Sherry Hu
Mayor, City of Cupertino, Dr. Liang Chao
Mayor, City of Campbell, Sergio Lopez
Mayor, City of Santa Clara, Lisa Gillmor
Councilmember, City of Santa Clara, Raj Chahal
Newark School District Retired Board Member, Raj J. Rodriguez
Fremont School District Board Member, Rinu Nair

Board of Directors

Mr. Shashi Sharma
Dr. Deepak Sachdev
Dr. Harmesh Kumar
Dr. Naresh Sharma
Dr. Subhash Garg
Dr. Ramesh Konda
Mr. Amit Goel
Mr. Sujoy Sarkar
Mr. Akhil Rana
Dr. Misha Sharma
Mr. Neeshil Shah
Mr. Rahul Zutshi
Mr. Jeevan Zutshi

Sponsors

Diamond:

San Francisco UNICORN

Platinum:

Deepak Ganju, Managing Director, Merrill Lynch Global Wealth Management
Dave Haubert, Alameda County Supervisor
Hindu American Foundation

Gold:

Concentric.ai
Meadows Behavioral Health
Comcast

Silver:

Kevin Carter (INQQ)
Dr. Raj Salwan, Fremont Mayor
Kishore Pal
Pannu Dental Group (Dr. Dalvir Pannu)
Washington Hospital Healthcare System
Bay Area Community Health
Tasawar Jalali (Ibaadatkhana)
Shashi Sharma
Sanjiv Gupta, C.P.A

Table Sponsors:

Hongkonger Community Center
Avanzando, Newark, CA
Sewa International
APAPA
Association of Indo-Americans (AIA)
Dr. Harmesh Kumar, Therapeutic Residential Care Services, Inc.
Droisys
FIIDS

Event Decorations:

CC Decors (Krishna Priya)

Media Sponsors:

DIYA TV
American Time TV
India West
India Currents
Tri-City Voice
Milpitas Post
Radio Zindagi
Yo India TV
TheraWin Health

Contact & Registration
📢 Join us! Reserve your spot:
https://IACF-UnityDinner-2025.eventbrite.com
Questions? Contact us:
📩 Jeevan Zutshi – JeevanZutshi@aol.com | 📞 (510) 589-3702
📩 Neeshil Shah – neeshilshah1@gmail.com | 📞 (408) 315-2798
🔗 Learn more at: www.indocommunity.us
Tax ID Number: 94-3304171

IACF Unity Dinner and Conference 2026
2026-04-03 17:00 - 22:00
25th Annual Unity Dinner & Conference
Presented by the Indo-American Community Federation (IACF-USA)

Overview
About
Highlights

Event Overview

📅 Date: Friday, April 3, 2026
📍 Venue: India Community Center, 525 Los Coches Street, Milpitas, CA
🕠 Time: 5:00 PM – 10:00 PM

About the Conference
The Indo-American Community Federation (IACF) cordially invites you to join us in celebrating our 25th Anniversary Unity Dinner and Awards Night on Friday, April 3, 2026, at the India Community Center, located at 525 Los Coches St, Milpitas, CA 95035. This is also the 32nd year of the organization’s inception, founded by Jeevan Zutshi.
This milestone event marks 25 years of fostering unity, cultural exchange, and community empowerment within the Indo-American community and beyond after the events following 9/11. We would be honored to have your presence as we commemorate this special occasion.

Program Highlights

Conference on Artificial Intelligence: Engaging discussions on the future of AI and its impact on our communities.
Cultural Performances: Vibrant Mexican, Chinese, and Indian dance performances showcasing our diverse heritage. A vibrant Fashion Show will also include the program.
Awards Ceremony: Recognizing outstanding contributions to our community.
Sumptuous Dinner: A delightful culinary experience featuring a variety of cuisines.
Singing and Dancing with Bay Area’s Best!

Buy Tickets

America at 250: A Civic Roundtable on Our Past, Present, and Future
2026-07-12 16:00 - 20:30
America at 250: A Civic Roundtable on Our Past, Present, and Future
Host: Indo-American Community Federation (IACF) and Paradise Ballrooms

Overview
About
Highlights
Contact

Event Overview

📅 Date: Sunday July 12, 2026
📍 Venue: Paradise ballrooms, 4100 Peralta Blvd., Fremont, CA
🕠 Time: 4 PM to 8:30 PM

About the Event
On behalf of the Indo American Community Federation (IACF), we are honored to invite you to join us for a special civic celebration on July 12, 2026, marking the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The event, “America at 250: A Civic Roundtable on Our Past, Present, and Future,” will bring together public officials, community leaders, educators, business leaders, youth, and civic organizations to reflect on America’s journey over the past 250 years and discuss the future we must build together.
Many like minded organizations are joining us in this celebration.
As our nation approaches this historic milestone, IACF believes this is an important moment to celebrate democracy, honor public service, recognize the contributions of immigrant communities, and renew our shared commitment to civic responsibility.

Program Highlights
Get ready for an unforgettable evening featuring a lively roundtable conference, mouth-watering finger-licking delicacies from Raja Sweets, and energetic dancing!

Contact & Registration
Thank you for your leadership and service to our community. We hope you will join us for this meaningful celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Here’s the registration link. Please go ahead and count yourself in! It’s going to be a memorable celebration that our country truly deserves.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/america-at-250-a-civic-roundtable-on-our-past-present-and-future
Contact us:
Jeevan Zutshi
JeevanZutshi@aol.com
(510) 589-3702
