The award cermony was held at the Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi, India, at the 9th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention, from January 7th to 9th, 2011.
His is a life of extraordinary accomplishments over the years achieved through the dint of a combination of hard work, dedication, sacrifice, fortitude, perseverance, determination, and selfless service to humanity, among other attributes.
Below is a synopsis of his life:
Mr. Ramsaran is the Executive Vice President of Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO International) and Chairperson of GOPIO’s Tracing Our Roots Committee. He has instituted several innovative ideas and programs to address issues of interest and concern of the global Indian Diaspora. He is also the Co-Founder and Director General of the Guyanese East Indian Civic Association (GEICA), and Director of the Caribbean Business Council (CBC). He is an ardent advocate of universal human rights and observance of due process and rule of law in the Indian Diaspora. He is on the board of St. John’s University’s Committee on Caribbean and Latin American Studies (SJU/CLACS) and collaborates on a continuing series of seminars and conferences on immigrant issues. Ramsaran was accorded a special recognition by St. John’s University in 2007 and a scholarship for Diaspora studies was established in name of “Ashook Ramsaran”.
He also collaborates with New York City Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs (MOIA - NYC) on annual events on immigrant experiences in New York City. He has been honored as the “Outstanding Immigrant” by New York City Council and serves annually as “Principal For The Day” in the New York Public School system. He is very active in his local New York community’s civic, political and cultural groups, contributes generously to causes on behalf of the needy, and has written extensively on issues of interest and concern affecting people of Indian origin in the global Indian Diaspora. He is prominently featured in the Global Indian 2010 publication of “Top 25 Indian Luminaries of the World”.
He arranged, coordinated and supported fund raisers for victims of cyclone in Fiji, mostly people of Indian origin. Supported and participated in many other successful fund raisers such as Tsunami, Guyana Floods, Gujrat Earthquake, Haiti Earthquake and several others.
He planned, organized and coordinated several re-unions of PIOs from Guyana, including Yakusari Teachers Alumni. Supporter and advisor to Corentyne High School Alumni and 2006 Re-Union event in Toronto, Canada. Chairman of highly acclaimed and successful 70th Anniversary and Re-Union 2008 held on Aug 9, 2008 in New York City.
He was a speaker at Pravasi Bharatiya Divas plenary session on: “Engaging PIOs in India’s Development” on January 7, 2007 in New Delhi. Also a speaker on January 8, 2008 PBD 2008 panel session titled “The Americas” on ENGAGING THE DIASPORA: THE WAY FORWARD; Chairperson of PBD2009 Regional Session “Caribbean” with overall theme “Engaging the Diaspora”; speaker at PBD Europe Sep 2009 in The Hague, Netherlands; panelist at PBD 2010 in New Delhi on evaluation and assessment of PBD.
He developed GOPIO Symposia on “India’s Emergence as an Economic Power and the Mutual Benefits of Increased Bilateral Trade in he Caribbean”: for May 30, 2007 in Trinidad; for June 4, 2007 in Suriname; for June 6, 2007 in Guyana. In conjunction with visit of Government of India Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) Minister Vayalar Ravi and delegation to attend Indian Arrivals Days in several PIO countries in the Caribbean region: Trinidad (May 31), St. Vincent’s (June 1), Suriname (June 4) as well as a visit to Guyana. That high level trip to the region brought more awareness of the Caribbean PIO community to MOIA and mobilized more GOPIO chapters.
Mr. Ramsaran developed a Summary Proposal in 2006 titled “ The Global Indian Diaspora: A Blueprint for the 21st Century”, and provided same to the Government of India Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) inclusive of ideas, suggestions and recommendations to enhance the efforts on behalf of people of the Indian Diaspora. More regional conferences and seminars on Indian Diaspora issues were among the recommendations, for example holding mini-PBDs (such as PBD 2007 in New York; similar regional PBDs followed: PBD 2009 Europe in The Hague; PBD 2010 Africa in Durban, etc).
He is a prominent Elder of First Presbyterian Church (FPC) of Flushing, New York, Chair of FPC Centennial Celebration, Trustee and Chair of FPC Finance and Budget Committee.
Mr. Ramsaran is currently spearheading the international effort by the Global Indian Diaspora Heritage Society (GIDHS) for an emigration memorial and museum/resource center at a Kolkata site where Indian indentured laborers were housed and processed prior to assignment to plantations in British colonies from 1834 thru’ 1920. This is a project that he has personally invested alot of this time, effort and money to see it become a reality for all descendants of indentured laborers. Learn more on this project at: http://www.gidhs.org/.
Mr. Ramsaran holds many public titles and heads many projects. Inspite of all of the hectic community work, he is the President of a successful company he builds, called Ramex, Inc., a loving husband, a devoted father and a wonderful grandfather.
It is a great feeling when people deserving is awarded for their hardwork and selfless service to humanity. Ashook Ramsaran is one just human being who is richly deserving of the Pravasi Samman Award. He works selflessly like a karma yogi for the betterment of others. He is one of our own from the sugar plantations from British Guiana, who have risen to great heights to make all of us proud.
Well done, Sir. We join with your family and friends in congratulating you on an honor richly deserving. Enjoy the feeling and may you rise to greater heights yet to achieve greater things still.
Below are some photos of the award ceremony in New Delhi, India
The President of India giving the award to Mr. Ramsaran
Mr. Ramsaran with other recipients and Madame President of India
Group photo.
President of India garlanding the honor to Mr. Ramsaran
In-depth photo with the Mahatma
