Education & Arts Honored at APAHA Gala
By Kalyani Giri
Last Updated: May 30, 2008
HOUSTON – The Asian Pacific American Heritage Association (APAHA) honored three prolific Asian Americans at the organization’s 16th annual gala held at the Westin Oaks Hotel on May 22. The event, titled Our Heritage, Our Strength, felicitated an educator, a movie producer, and a legendary chef/author, and reiterated APAHA’s initiative in recognizing excellence, promoting awareness, and increasing understanding of the Asian Pacific American cultural diversity through education, arts, and celebration. The occasion, co-chaired by Yuki Rogers and Sean Carter, drew wide attendance of community, corporate, and civic leaders. British actor Linus Roache, in town celebrating the official opening of his film Before the Rains, joined the honorees and other guests on the red carpet at the Bollywood-themed gala. Radio and television personality Debra Duncan served as Mistress of Ceremonies.
In her welcome address, President of APAHA Munira Panjwani exhorted gatherees to join APAHA’S mission to promote cultural diversity. She outlined the organization’s plan for a bus tour that would accord guests the opportunity to visit and explore the various architecturally and spiritually significant institutions such as churches, temples and mosques, and to forge friendly educative dialogue with Houston’s diverse Asian/Pacific American community. The calendar of events will also include an Asian barbeque cook-off competition, and an APAHA Golf Tournament to benefit volunteer programs. Panjwani also hailed honorees Dr. Renu Khator, Ashok Rao, and Martin Yan as exemplary role models.
“Bravo to each one of you for being so distinct and setting the path for many young generations to follow in your footsteps,” said Panjwani.
Dr. Renu Khator, President of the University of Houston (U of H) and Chancellor of the University of Houston System, was the recipient of the President George H. W. Bush Achievement in Education Award. Before assuming the position in January of 2008, Dr. Khator served as provost and senior vice-president at the University of South Florida. She is the first foreign-born president of the U of H, and the second woman to hold the position. Dr. Khator delivered an engaging and impassioned keynote speech urging the local communities to donate funds and support the university. Most graduates from U of H join the local workforce and it is in the best interests of this city’s populace to help upgrade the university’s resources and equip students with cutting edge skills that would enable them to compete in the global market, said Dr. Khator. She added reflectively that the day of the gala was her 131st day in Houston.
“I am very proud to be a part of this city. How can a girl from a small town (Farrukhabad, Uttar Pradesh, India) with limited dreams be a part of a top-tier research university? I could, because I had people who inspired me and who dreamt my dreams with me,” said Dr. Khator. “This would not have been possible without my husband Suresh. It takes a very secure man to support a woman,” she added. She also praised Houston for its “incredible food, wonderful arts, and caring unpretentious people.”
The President George H. W. Bush Achievement in the Arts Award was presented to Ashok Rao, CEO of Excalibur Pictures and the producer of the movie Before the Rains. The period film features Linus Roache, Nandita Das, and Rahul Bose in leading roles.
“Amazing how much difference the middle initials make to account for the value of this award,” quipped Rao as he received the award. A career entrepreneur and businessman, Rao’s passion for moviemaking spawned what his wife Sheela considers his “second childhood”, confided Rao.
“I must thank my wife for babying me through this,” he added. His other films are My Bollywood Bride and The Whisperers.
Master Chef Martin Yan, legendary host of the popular television cooking show Yan Can Cook, received the APAHA Achievement in Culinary Arts Award.
In keeping with the theme of the evening, guests were entertained with Bollywood dances.
APAHA was formed in 1992 to increase understanding of the Asian/Pacific American cultural diversity. In 1990, the then President George H. W. Bush designated May to be Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, hence the awards being named for him. May was chosen to commemorate the immigration of the first Japanese immigrants to the United States in 1843.
For more information about APAHA and for the calendar of events, visit www.apaha.org.
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