The Manhattan chapter of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-Manhattan) officially inducted its newly elected leadership team during a special oath-taking ceremony held at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan in Manhattan on May 17. The gathering brought together community members, senior GOPIO officials, dignitaries, and supporters for an evening centered on leadership, community service, and strengthening ties within the Indian diaspora.
The ceremony marked another milestone for GOPIO-Manhattan, which was founded in 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic with the goal of enhancing engagement and support among Indian-origin communities across New York.
Professor Rajasekhar Vangapaty formally assumed office as President of GOPIO-Manhattan for the 2026–2027 term. Joining him on the new executive team are Bhavya Gupta as Executive Vice President, Dr. Vimal Goyle as Vice President, Raj Punjabi as Secretary, Braj Aggarwal as Treasurer, and Gagan Gujral as Joint Secretary.
The organization also introduced its newly inducted Board of Trustees, which includes Shivender Sofat, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Mukund Mehta, Siddarth Jain, Anil Narang, and Neha Motwani. Additional appointed board members announced during the event included Dr. Lisa George, Dr. Arnab Ghosh, Manoj Jareth Asig, and Jasvir Ubhi.
Several senior leaders from GOPIO International attended the program and extended their congratulations to the newly elected team. Among them were GOPIO International Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, President Prakash Shah, and General Secretary Siddarth Jain, all of whom expressed confidence in the chapter’s future leadership.
During his address, Prof. Vangapaty spoke about his plans to promote inclusive and collaborative leadership while continuing to strengthen the organization’s role within the Indian-American community. Dr. Abraham, who led the Election Committee, also reflected on GOPIO’s history and highlighted the organization’s efforts to connect and empower Indians living across the world.
Prakash Shah discussed future GOPIO initiatives, including an upcoming convention planned in Mumbai, before administering the oath of office to the Executive Committee, Trustees, and Board Members.
The event also featured remarks from New York Democratic Congressional primary candidate Vichal Kumar, who encouraged greater civic involvement and political participation within the Indian-American community.
Following the swearing-in ceremony, Prof. Vangapaty thanked the Election Committee for overseeing a smooth and transparent election process and reaffirmed his dedication to serving both GOPIO-Manhattan and the broader diaspora community.
The evening concluded with networking sessions and informal interactions over tea, coffee, and refreshments, while organizers also expressed appreciation to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan and its Executive Director Minesh Patel for hosting and supporting the event.
