CHACS President's Address
Namaskar swagatam to each one of you and thank you for joining us today.
Our special thanks to the dignitaries who took time out from their busy schedules to be here.
Canadian Hindu Arts and Cultural Society is a new organization which was formed this past December 2002. Our motto is “Working for the Community”, and our mission is to uplift, educate and propagate Hinduism. Our goals are to establish and start the first Hindu academic school this coming September 2003. Secondly, to establish a Hindu Arts and Cultural Center where our youths can perform. Thirdly, to establish an old age home for our seniors.
We will assist and work closely with other organizations to ensure our mission is a success.
As part of our program, we felt it necessary to pay tribute and honor to our dear sister, as part of the ever growing “Global Indian Family”, and also to acknowledge that we are fast becoming “Indians Without Borders” as was much publicized in the recently concluded “Pravasi Bharatiya Divas” conference held in New Delhi, India.
Much has been said about Dr. Kalpana C. Chawla, and her inspiration to many Indians, both in India and across the globe. Today in Mississauga, Ontario, we have present with us a unique, caring, number of people, who came today to share in the grief and sorrow.
We have been in contact with the Indian consulate office in Houston who informed us that the family of Dr Chawla returned to India this past Thursday and is still in seclusion.
To continue, I ask Pundit Suraj Persad, Chaplain of the University of Toronto to take the podium and conduct this memorial service.
Thank you once again and feel free to visit our website at www.aumcanada.net to get more information about CHACS.
Namaskar.
Nirvan Balkisson
Memorial Service for Dr. Kalpana C. Chawla
Speakers
Festival Performers