He arrived in the U.S. and encountered lots of discrimination and also was on an exchange visa status. His salary was at University standard and my mother worked as well to support all of us which we were able to live affordably in University housing. He received high honors and recognition for his research and work in his field. After pursuing higher studies and research at the University of Chicago he received several job offers from the marketplace. At this point in his life he decided to apply for green card status which was very difficult to get in those days. During this course of time he faced heavy discrimination and lots of obstacles in the work arena. personal life. from the government well...
In spite of all these obstacles he was able to overcome it and finally received the highest honors and rewards in his professional life, a very good-high ranking job position and he became a U. S. citizen where he took active role in politics as well. It is his background which has made him a true gentleman, decent, genuine, honest, loving sincere, courage, neat. sweet. dignified, noble. distinguished character like qualities. Everything he encountered in his life was with a smile. lots of faith in god and a good decent heart. He was a vety decent, clean, loving gentleman where he would preach that "God is great!" Due to these qualities and his generous nature he has helped people all around the world where all have succeeded in whatever endeavor people have pursued. In addition. all those who came in contact with him had high respect for him and high regard for his work, personality and his sincere efforts to improve mankind. This also pertains to his fellow colleagues. professional friends and even distant acquaintances. He received the highest honors and great achievements in his professional work life where he highly surpassed his American counterparts and was greatly respected in his field not only by his professional peers but also by his higher level colleagues.
No single individual has done as much for the Indian American Community. Mr. Lalvani. Community activitist and social worker by profession. Lalvani has dedicated his life to promote justice, equality, understanding and unity among the Asian American Community and mainstream Americans by participating with various social, cultural, religious, political, professional and community organizations.
Lalvani initiated the Sindhi Association of Chicago in 1965 and served as its a president in 1969. He was the founding member of the West Suburb India Society, and its president in 1970, 1980 and 1992; he was the founding member of the Alliance of Midwest India Association in 1986 and its current president. He was a member of Hindu Host Committee in 1993 during the Centenary Celebration of Parliament of World Religions. Presently serving as its executive director, Lalvani initiated Alliance of Sinai Associations of Americas in 1993. He was chairman of Twelfth Annual Asian American Coalition's Lunar New Year Celebrations Committee in 1995. Prem and Rose Lalvani have been attending Asian American Coalition together for a number of years. They have chaired various committees. Their children. Nadja and Prem Jr., have been participating in various events as volunteers. Lalvani was co-chair of the First Asian American Festival which sponsored "Taste of Asia". He has been involved with Independence Day Parade, sponsored by the Alliance for several years. Since 1987, Lalvani has organized Thanksgiving dinners through the Alliance of Midwest India Society. The Alliance also organizes free health fairs for uninsured persons.
Lalvani also holds several other public positions, including the National Association of Social Workers. Social Workers in Emergency Medicines. West Side Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Network, Chicago Sexual Assault Service Network, Service and Rehabilitation Committee of American Cancer Society. He was a member of Minority and Site Visitation Committee of Mental Health Association of Ald. Danny Davis City Council Advisory Commission on Alcoholism and Substance Abuse in 1985.
Asked how he got deeply involved with community service. Lalvani said that it runs in the family. His father the Late Dr. Tarachand J. Lalvani, a journalist, medical doctor. and labor leader was involved in India's Independence Movement with Gandhiji and other freedom fighters. His mother, Rukmani, was the first Indian woman in British India to become the editor of Karachi Daily, an English newspaper. Lalvani is a Licensed Social Worker (LSW), and Academy of Certified Social Worker (ACSW). Prior to immigration, he served on the editorial staff of Indian Express. He served as a Divisional Director in the Department of Social Work. Cook County Hospital for over 30 years. An accomplished photographer. Lalvani has many awards and honorable mentions in American and international competitions.
He specializes in portrait photographs. Having received Bachelor of Arts, Law and Journalism degrees from Bombay University, Lalvani received a Masters degree in Social Work from Tata Institute of Social Science and a Master degree in Education from De Paul University. Social work and community service are two areas that are very dear to Lalvani.
"My approach to life changed when I joined a course at Tata Institute of Social Science in Bombay," he reveals, "I grew up from a boy to a man in this institution. The course changed my whole perspective towards life.- he adds. saw stark poverty, illness and disease." Despite his many achievements, Lalvani remains a very down-to-carth person. Time and tide may have taken him places, but they have not changed his resolve to work for the less fortunate and the betterment of society. If anything, they have only strengthened Lalvani's resolve to help make this world a better place.
Now we have to see the position of Sindh Hindus who have spread far and wide and still feel something missing inspite of their economic gains
Dr. G.K. Kripalani has put his ideas about the position of Sindhis in the years ahaead. He has given a strong analogy of Fish in water. Fish that has been produced in sea water may not survive in fresh water, but some may adapt or become mutants. Thus a new type of Sindhi is created who has a flexibility and adaptability to survive the change of culture taking place in the modem world and may not be the same like his anscestors in their thinking and their work habits. Many of our older people would like to continue the old traditions, which is only possible in India for those Hindus who moved to states closer to Sindh.
We in U.S.A. believe that in order to maintain our Sindhiyat, We have to learn from our Jewish Brothers, who lost their land and still survived as Jews for nearly two thousand years. This they achieved by being strongly united and helping their poor and downtrodden to come up. Jewish Charities arc well known. American Jews even today send money and their talented people to Israel to help a nation to come to present level. This is a lesson for all the Sindhis wherever they are now settled for making a living to survive. This is a saying that God expects more from those who have been blessed with more. The purpose for which this Alliance is created is to bring Sindhis together and be united to solve our own problems.
It is much easier to maintain our language and culture due to modern technology. Among us we have people in U.S.A. who have started teaching Sindhi to the kids. A video is being made to learn Sindhi at home by Mr. Laxman Malkani of San Francisco. He has a mission to improve the standard of education for poor Sindhi students of India and also how to improve our matrimonial system for our youth through communication. Then we have people working in pharmaceutical and medical fields who wish to contribute medical assistance and training to our medical personnel in India. All this can be achieved if we are united.
As you know that in every democratic country the number of votes count. In this country many of our Sindhis are interested in taking part in local and national politics. We should support thier efforts.
Unity gives us strength and our numbers in U.S.A. will bring recognition, politicians will listen to our view points for our Hindu brothers who are facing extinction, conversions and abduction of women. We should strive to get them refugee status.
Enclosing I have to say that the future of Sindhi Hindus is bright because of their nature. Let us stand together and be counted here and abroad.
The year was 1989; there were a handful of Sindhi Associations in some of the major cities in USA. The idea of an umbrella organization was conceived by Mr. Prem Lalvani who was the Director of Alliance of Midwest India Associations along with Mr. Kaloo Thadhani. It took them four years to form the Alliance of Sindhi Associations of Americas, Inc. and secure the tax exempt non-profit status. Initially the Sindhi associations who joined the Alliance were from New York, New Jersey, Chicago, Washington D.C, Los Angeles and San Francisco. The bylaws were drafted and a constitution was approved.
The main purpose of the Alliance was to preserve and nurture our Sindhi traditions, language and values for the future generations, to have unity among Sindhis, to help our needy Sindhi students in India to get education and to help build Senior Sindhu Centers in each of the major cities in USA. To achieve these objectives, the organization needed collective thoughts, so was born the idea of Sindhi Sammelan, a three day event where Sindhis from around the country could come together.
The first Sindhi Sammelan was held in New Jersey in 1994, it was hosted by Sindhi Association of New Jersey. There were about 150 attendees. The second Sammelan was held in New York with a theme, “Investment in Youth” which was attended by 400 Sindhis from around the country. The third was held in Chicago in 1996, the theme was “Year of the Sindhi Women” and was attended by over 550 Sindhis. In year 2005 the Alliance held its 1st Sindhi Sammelan outside of USA. The 12th Sindhi Sammelan was held in Mumbai, India. Since then Alliance has held Sammelans in London, Jakarta, Singapore, Indore India, Ahmedabad India with the 21st Sammelan held in 2014 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
The success of the Sammelans in India, Europe and Far East countries prompted to shift the focus from American to a Global organization. In the year 2013 the Alliance of Global Sindhi Association was conceived. The organization has the same objectives and mission with a broader focus.
Datuk Shah Lalchand Ranai
Mr. Prem Lalvani
Ramola Motwani
Mr. Lal Motwani
Dr. Dayal Meshri
Ms. Vimla TewariMr. Prem LalvaniLate Dr. Kaloo Thadhani
