Saying Goodbye to Friends
By Jawahar Malhotra
Last Updated:October 10, 2008

Sugar Land City Council Tom Abraham presents a gift to the couple while their sons Avinash and Ashwin (right) look on at the going away party at the Westin Oaks Hotel hosted by many of the areas Indian organizations.

HOUSTON – The night belonged to the couple who had nestled themselves in the heart of the desi community in this Bayou City over the past three years: the Gavais. With charm they had made countless friends and with grace they had attended countless community events.

And this was the community’s chance to bid a fond adieu to Indian Consul-General S.M. Gavai and his wife Rina, as they move on to their next posting, Ottawa, Canada where he will take on the position of High Commisioner.

This is the fourth Indian Consul-General who has rotated through Houston since the Consulate was opened 12 years ago. Two of the other Consul-Generals have moved on to Ambassadorships in other postings.

It has recently been announced that two new Consulates have been authorized to be opened soon in Atlanta and Seattle.

The going away party hosted by many of the Indo-American organizations in the metroplex, and spear headed by the India Culture Center. Nearly 350 people attended the $50 a person event that was catered by Madras Pavilion of Sugar Land.

This was just one of the many parties thrown across the city over the past week for the couple who had worked their way into the hearts of many of the community.

The evening began with hors d’oeuvres and a photo session with many of the local diginitaries which included the Counsul-Generals of the UK, Japan, Canada and Sweden.

Among the dignitaries were Congressman Nick Lampson and Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, both of whom presented recognition certficates to CG Gavai. Others who came to praise Gavai’s work were area elected officials Tom Abraham of Sugar land, Ken mathews of Missouri City and Neeta Sane of the HCC system.

Entertainment for the night was presented by three students of the Anjali School of Performing Arts, who were presented by their Guru Ratna Kumar. Urmilla Gadgil presented a beautiful number in which she balanced on a thali.
Local TV journalist, Ruchi Roy with TV Asia presented two videos from her production company, RMR Media: one featured interviews with local community leaders talking about the Gavais and the other featured rina Gavai and Avinash showing some of her collections from other countires she has lived in.

The Gavais leave on October 10 for a short home leave in India before travelling to Ottawa.