The National Alliance of Indian Organizations (NAIO) hosted its Founders and Leadership Meeting on January 31, 2026, at the Hyatt Centric in Wall Street, New York, gathering leading Indian American professionals, organization heads, and community leaders from across the U.S., both physically and virtually. This landmark meeting reinforced NAIO’s mission to create a unified national platform to promote collaboration, community empowerment, advocacy, and stronger Indo–U.S. relations.
The session began with a welcome address by Naveen Shah, who emphasized the importance of collective leadership, unity, and coordinated efforts during this pivotal period for the Indian American community. Dr. Raj Bhayani, NAIO’s founding leader, outlined the organization’s vision and three primary objectives: uniting Indian Americans on a single platform, leveraging cohesion to strengthen community influence, and fostering organized collaboration with Indo–U.S. stakeholders.
Chintu Patel highlighted the formation and evolution of NAIO, noting that the organization was established to address the growing need for national coordination among Indian American entities. Harry Singh Bolla further detailed NAIO’s forward-looking mission, stressing the significance of outcome-based strategies, measurable objectives, and accountable governance for sustainable impact.
Senior leaders, including Dr. Dipak Nandi, Dr. Navin Mehta, Danny Gaekwad, and Dr. Bharat Barai, contributed strategic guidance to refine the governance framework and initiatives. Naveen Shah presented a comprehensive overview of NAIO’s structure, branding, and upcoming programs, including an India Independence Day celebration on August 15, 2026, and a National Convention scheduled for July 4, 2027. Membership plans were discussed, with several founding members committing fully while others opted for structured installment plans, reflecting confidence in NAIO’s leadership.
Special attention was given to youth engagement and fostering next-generation leadership. COHNA President Nikunj Trivedi, alongside Rutgers University student leaders, addressed challenges faced by Indian students across U.S. campuses and explored strategies for national student advocacy and leadership development. NAIO also announced its next Founders, Trustees, and Alliance Leadership Meeting for March 8, 2026, at the Marriott in Uniondale, Long Island.
The meeting concluded with a firm commitment to transparency, inclusivity, and unity, aiming to build a strong, cohesive national voice for Americans of Indian Origin. NAIO continues to serve as a national umbrella organization, connecting Indian American leaders, professionals, and youth to enhance collaboration, advocacy, and Indo–U.S. partnerships.
