The Association of Indians in America (AIA) honored five distinguished business leaders with its 2026 Kautilya Awards at a gala held at Crest Hollow Country Club in Woodbury, New York. More than 250 business executives, entrepreneurs and community leaders attended the event, celebrating excellence under the theme “Power Builders of Scale.”
The honorees were Aravind Melligeri, Chairman of Aequs and Co-Founder of QuEST Global; Ashok Sancheti, President of Pioneer Gems; Pankaj Bhalla, Senior Vice President of Procter & Gamble and CEO of Gillette North America; Dr. Samarth Kulkarni, CEO of CRISPR Therapeutics; and Yakub Mathew, Managing Director of Wells Fargo Advisors.
The awards recognized their contributions to aerospace manufacturing, gemstones, consumer products, biotechnology and financial services. AIA National President Nilima Madan and Board of Trustees Chair Ravi Bhooplapur presented the honors.
A major highlight was a panel discussion on artificial intelligence titled “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for Innovation, Economic Progress & Responsible Global Leadership.” Experts discussed AI-driven growth, cybersecurity, governance, sustainability and workforce transformation, emphasizing responsible and human-centered innovation.
The evening also featured a classical music performance by tabla artist Rimpa Siva and sitar maestro Abhik Mukherjee, celebrating India’s rich musical traditions.
Messages congratulating AIA’s initiative were received from India’s Consul General in New York Binaya S. Pradhan, U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
Founded in 1967, AIA continues to promote Indian American achievements and support educational and humanitarian initiatives. The organization also announced plans for the Charaka and Sushruta Medical Awards in 2027 as part of its upcoming 60th anniversary celebrations.
