Efforts for Direct Houston-India Flights Are Continuing
By Pramod Kulkarni
Last updated: Jan 07, 2009
 |
|
HOUSTON: Rajya Sabha member Dr. Najma Heptullah and Mrs. Rina Gavai, wife of Shashi Gavai, former Consul General of India in Houston, were honored guests at a reception hosted by the newly arrived Consul General Sanjiv Arora and his wife Chchaya.
The guests at the informal dinner reception included Houston Indian community leaders, close Houston friends of Mrs. Gavai, and representatives of AFMI (American Federation of Muslims from India).
After a holiday visit to Houston, Mrs. Gavai will return to Ottawa, where Shashi Gavai is serving as India’s High Commissioner to Canada. The Aroras are still strug- Dr. Najma Heptullah reveals her lobbying efforts in remarks at an India Consulate reception gling with life in Houston as their shipment of household effects in still in transit.
Dr. Heptullah is on a private visit to Houston as her daughter resides in the city. In brief remarks to the gathering, Dr. Heptullah recalled her previous visits to Houston as she was one of the prime movers of the installation of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Hermann Park. “I made it a point to visit Gandhiji at the park,” Dr. Heptullah said.
Dr. Heptullah was also active in arranging the visit of former President of India Abdul Kalam’s visit to Houston and India House. Dr. Heptuallah said she is currently lobbying India’s Civil Aviation ministry to approve direct flights between Houston and Indian cities.
Mrs. Gavai thanked the Aroras for their hospitality and recalled their prior associations in New Delhi during stints at the Ministry of External Affairs. “It is a strange feeling to come as a guest to a home where you’ve lived for three years,” Mrs. Gavai admitted.
|
