Asia Society Kicks Off 2017 Tiger Ball at CGI’s Residence

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Group Shot: Indian Consul General Anupam Ray and his wife Amit (extreme right) opened their residence to the Asia Society to hold a kickoff party for the upcoming Tiger Ball next March which will highlight Magnificent India. With them were Asia Society President Bonna Kol (center), honorees Sushila and Dr. Durga Agrawal and the other co-chairs and honorary chairs.

By Jawahar Malhotra

HOUSTON: You couldn’t have asked for a more festive season to kickoff the preparations for the annual Tiger Ball held by the Asia Society and a cozier venue to hold the event than the residence of the Indian Consul General Anupam Ray off Chimney Rock north of Woodway. The downstairs rooms had been striped aside of their furniture for the 200 expected guests and seats and tables had been arranged in the paved backyard for a presentation from the raised patio. A sumptuous buffet dinner in the dining room awaited the guests.

But alas, Nature was fickle in its mood that night, Thursday, December 8, as the first day of a four-day long cold front and rainy weather intervened to upset the plans, but Anupam Ray and his wife Amit held their composure as plans were rearranged. Guests bundled in with overcoats, forcing the Rays to make last minute arrangements to set up racks and turn the study into an impromptu coat closet. The see-through acrylic podium and speaker system was quickly moved inside and dinner started early to allow for the delay.

But when all was done, Ray was able to set to the podium and speak to the die-hard audience about the upcoming Tiger Ball, slated for Friday, March 3, 2017, headlined “Magnificent India”. As usual, the Ball will be held at the Society’s much-admired building on 1370 Southmore in the Museum District, with the crowd spilling out into the front lawn, as in years past.

Ray stated that this epoch is the Century of Asia and spoke with pride of the growth of India into a world super power and its supercharged economy, currently the world’s fastest growing. He acknowledged the contributions of the Asia Society in promoting Indian culture and arts and lauded the upcoming Tiger Ball for focusing on India. Agrawal added that he appreciated the Asia Society’s help in establishing India House, of which he was a founding force. Bonna Kol, Asia Society Houston President, said she was looking forward to working with the community to make the Ball a success and acknowledged how involved the Indian community has been with many programs at the Center.

The Ball will honor Sushila and Dr. Durga Das Agrawal and have as co-chairs Gina and Devinder Bhatia; Dr. Marie & Vijay Goradia and Angela and Chowdary Yalamanchili. Honorary co-chairs will be Drs. Renu and Suresh Khator; Raj and Jugal Malani; Nalini and Dr. Virendra K. Mathur and Nidhika and Pershant Mehta.