Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund

Press Coverage

Thank you

COMRADES IN CRISIS
by Lavina MELWANI

EVEN AS CONTROVERSY dogs his steps, former President Bill Clinton did what countless others across the US have dedicated long hours to- raising funds for the victims of the Gujarat earthquake. Clinton attended a gala benefit organised by the Indo- American Arts Council (iaac) at the Sung Dynasty Restaurant. Radisson Hotel. New York. During his speech he urged the 200 guests present to ensure that abundant aid reach the stricken stale, providing a degree of solace to the bereaved. "No one can replace the loss of human life. the personal things people lose in a tragedy like this. but we would like to make something good come out of it." he said.

Clinton's newly-formed American-India Foundation has pledged to undertake the reconstruction and development of over 100 villages in Gujarat. "Our objective." said Clinton. "will be to deal with housing, healthcare. education and clean water... and also to provide access to micro-credit at an adequate level for every village, Bill Clinton is one
of many intent on rebuilding Gujarat to try to give entrepreneurs the chance to make a new beginning." According to him, the estimated cost per village, each with about 100 families. will be $500.000. Consul-General Shashi Tripathi's observation—"The tragedy has revealed how friendship flowers in times of crisis"—was accurate.

Aroon Shivdasani, executive director of iaac, with a network of friends and sup porters, ensured a large turn-out. Guests spent $250 each for cocktails, dinner, an art auction and a chance to hear Clinton. All proceeds went to the relief effort since the dinner and the space were tree. courtesy SamlShadha of the Radisson Hotel, Hugo Weihe, vice-president. Indian and South East Asian Art at Christie's, volunteered to conduct the art auction. Artists, collectors, Bose Facia Gallery and Dialectica Gallery ' had donated the artworks whose creators included M.F. Husain. Krishna Reddy. Natvar Bhavsar. Mohan Samant and Manu Parekh. The ainouni collected from the auction touched $64.000 while the entire evening's spoils of $ 14.UOO, prompted PLEDGING HELP:

For Clinton, the evening was the first of several for a beleaguered Gujarat. Meclings with community lenders and
Indian American business barons has led to another—to be held on March 2 at the jubilee Christian Centre in San
lose—a fundraiser initiated by TiE. Tickets, for the event, range from $100 to $1000. and participants include Deepak Chopra. dancer Chitresh Das and entertainer Shekhar Suman. Then the former President will head to
Gujarat to view. first-hand, the results of his fundraising efforts.

Clinton's relief effort may be the most prominent, but it certainly isn't the only one. On the West Coasl. several
community, business and charitable organisations have gathered under the aegis of the United Community Appeal
for India (UCAI). Spearheaded by TiE. UCAI has raised $2 million through a campaign involving numerous community-awareness events.

As Kailashjoshi, president of TIE, told The Mercury News: "This is the biggest effort our community has
ever undertaken. Even if we raise $25 million, it will be a drop in the bucket when compared to the devas-
tation in Gujarat." Sailesh Mehla. CEO Providian Bank. and charter member of TiE. points out. "Bay Area residents understand Ihe nature of damage a earthquake can create, so we believe our appeal will receive considerable interest." The American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin (AAPI)has already sent $5 million in medicines and collected over $ 1 million in donations for Gujarat. The medicos most ambitious effort centres around the reconstruction of the destroyed Civil Hospital at Bhuj. According to Dayan Naik, president. AAPI. the Lawrence Hospital in Bronxville. Westchesler, has volunteered lo donate equipment for the hospital's operating theatre and other offers from donors and physicians are pouring in.

Volunteers of the socio-spiritual organisation, Bochasanwasi Shree Akshar Purushottam Swuminarayan Sanstha (bars) are standing near escalators and train stations, and going door-to-door, encouraging people to donate money for Gujarat. Says Girish Patel. president of the US wing of BAPS, "We have 60000 members of which 2.000—ranging from six to 80 years of age—are involved in the fundraising efforts. We're collecting funds and
medical supplies, have set up a website and have an 800 number."

The New York chapter of Network of Indian Professionals (mtip) organised a Chai Chal at Akbar Restaurant to
discuss fundraising for earthquake relief. cry presented the Gujarat Earth-quake Relief Fundraising dinner on
February 23 at the Bukhara Grill where donors partook of di n ner and an open bar for $65.

IT'S not just organisations that have come forward. Individuals, among them many artists.are also helping to raise funds. Carnatic vocalist Savitri Ramanand, Bharatanatyam dancers Aarali Rumanand and Jyoti Argade. jaxx pianist Vijay lyer and his quartet, along with a host of others created the musical smorgasbord, "Seva: Love in Action" at the Great Hall at Cooper linion on February 11. The tickets cost only $20. an amount which enabled students to
participate in the relief effort.

Music lovers who went to World Music Institute's concerts during the last few days were requested for do-
nations at drop-off boxes. According to the Institute's Artistic Director, Robert H. Browning, over $2.000
was collected from audiences who had come for the Festival Flamenco, Sephardic Songs of Spain and the
New East evenings.

The South Asian League of Artists in America (salaam!), a fledgling theatre group, presented a reading of Delhi-based writer Manjula Padmanabhan's play T/ic Artist's Model at the Asian-American Writers' Workshop in New York. The reading, attended by over 90 young desis. raised $2,007. salaam's artistic director, Gita Chopra said, "Everyone is trying to do something and that's what it's all about. Keep in mind what love is all about— giving and remembering we are all one. brothers and sisters."

People have also been approaching the Indian Consulate in Washington in large numbers. "The support has been tremendous and cuts across all racial and ethnic lines." says Tripathi. "All sorts of people have been calling us with expressions of sympathy and concern. Normally, it's just the Indian American community that comes forward. But (for Gujarat) it's been across the board." The consulate has received many cheques—some for $5 and $10—in the mail. and has al- ready forwarded $160,000 to the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

Koshi Dhingra, a science professor at the City 1; n iversity of New York is organising "Saathi: A Champagne bene-
fit for India" on February 28 at the flute Champagne Lounge.The $100 donation allows access to an open bar. gourmet hors d'oeuvre.s. live jazz and music by DJ Magic Mike. Says Dhingra: " (The evening is) for members of all the world's communities who were affected by the tragedy in India and want to help in some way."

Rekha Malhotra, a New York dj, with her company Sangament, organises a monthly series at the popular dance-club sob's. "Your Attention Please!". The event raises funds and awareness for various causes and this month it is donating the proceeds to the relief efforts in Gujarat. She is channelling the money to Gujarat through the New York-based Children's Hope. which has earmarked $ 10.000 for the children orphaned in the earthquake.

Many New York businesses and restaurants have kept collection cans on the premises and mainstream Americans have also been donating generously. Sushil Malhotra. who owns two Dawat restaurants and three Cafe Spice restaurants, says he has collected almost $10.000 in the course of the last ten days. Many guests have donated $100 bills and singer Janet Jackson, a frequent diner at Dawat. dropped $500 into the collection bin. Malhotra plans to match the $10,000 figure and send it for earthquake relief.

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