Dinner Honoring Daya at Consul General’s Home
From left: Daya Board and Staff Chitra Divakaruni, Lakshmy Parameswaran, Vyoma Majmudar-Banker, Vatsala Bhaskaran, Abhilasha Raj, Sesh Bala & Anita Manoharan
By Lakshmy Parameswaran
HOUSTON: Daya, an organization serving South Asian survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault was inaugurated in 1996 by the then Consul General of India, Swashpawan Singh. Since then, Daya has been fortunate to have the support of every Consul General and his spouse who succeeded Swashpawan Singh in Houston.
From left: Lakshmy Parameswaran, Nandita Harish and Consul General of India Parvathaneni Harish.
This relationship between Daya and the office of the Consul General reached a new height on October 14 when our current Consul General Parvathaneni Harish and his wife Nandita Harish hosted a dinner at their home honoring Daya’s work to end violence against women and children. The couple had invited the staff, board members and advisory board along with their spouses for this occasion. After a short yet soulful music performance by Keerthana and Kruti Bhat and Tanmayi Krishnamurthy, the Consul General spoke of his association with Daya from the time he arrived in Houston and about the importance of Daya’s work and its impact on both women’s and men’s lives. He praised and encouraged Daya’s dedicated staff and volunteers.
The sentiments expressed by Harish was all the more meaningful to the staff and board of Daya considering October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The speech was followed by an elegant formal dinner that Nandita Harish had thoughtfully planned for her guests. Nandita, like her predecessors, serves on Daya’s Advisory Board and has identified and referred clients to the organization. Her compassion and passion for women’s causes have benefited not only Daya but also our community at-large. Houston is indeed fortunate to have this power couple among its residents for a few years at least.