For Immediate Release

Los Angeles, CA

August 19, 2006

Press Contact:

David Sommers

Phone: (213) 974-1095

Fax: (213) 626-6941

DSommers@lacbos.org

Dalip Saund Award for Outstanding Political Contributions to the Indo-American Society

Thank you for honoring me with the Saund Award for Outstanding Political Contributions to the Indian-American community.

It is appropriate for this award to be named after Congressman Saund – who served this nation with honor and excellence not just during his years in Congress, but also throughout his entire adult life.
It is an honor to be given an award named in tribute to a man who inspired an entire generation of political activists within the Indian-American community.
 

As a political leader, I have longed valued the relationship and input of the Indian-American Community and I thank you for your support.
 

As much as we are here to honor the award winners, we are also here in recognition of the outstanding and ever-expanding relationship between India and the United States.
 

Our two nations have long enjoyed close economic and political ties.
 

Perhaps Mark Twain put it best when he said – quote – “India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend, and the great grand mother of tradition.”
 

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