Washington Adventist University & Association of American Indian Minorities Honor Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi

TAKOMA PARK, Md: Marking 10 successful years of Indo-US Strategic Partnership for Equitable World, Global Equity Alliance Summit was hosted by Washington Adventist University at Sligo Seventh Day-Adventist Church, on November 22.

Aimed primarily at advancing minority empowerment by fostering dialogue on minority welfare and education, renowned academicians, business and thought leaders and policymakers held prolonged deliberations on various facets of the decade-long impact of minority reforms under Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi in India.

During the summit, Washington Adventist University & Association of American Indian Minorities Honor Prime Minister Narendra Modi (in absentia) with the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Global Peace Award for Minority Upliftment.

The event was attended by Congressmen, top US Administration officials, renowned academicians, researchers, industry leaders and officials from the local administration were also present at the occasion. Prominent among those who attended the event were David j Byrd, Former National Director for US Department of Commerce, Minority Business Development Agency, Dr Sukhpal Singh Dhanoa, White House Correspondent, Satnam Singh Sandhu, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha (India) and Convener of Indian Minorities Federation, David Pillai, Chairman, Transworld Educare Pvt Ltd, Professor Ken Cherian, Dr John Daniel, Senior Pastor, Southern Asian Seventh-Day Adventist Church, Dr Cheryl Harris Kisunzu, Provost of Washington Adventist University, US Administration officials and leaders from different walks of life from Indian Minority diaspora in United States of America.

During the summit, a research paper highlighting the ‘Transformation of Minorities in the Past Decade in India’ was presented by the Provost of Washington Adventist University, Dr Cheryl Harris Kisunzu, which was attended by officials, faculty members and students of the university.

Later, two high-level panel discussions on ‘Leadership Inclusivity Bridging Communities through policies and Governance’ and ‘Transforming lives through Education empowering Minority communities’ were held that dwelt on the complex issues surrounding minority welfare, leadership, education and inclusive governance.

Praising the strong camaraderie shared between President Elect Donald Trump and PM Modi, top US Administration officials & members of Indian diaspora said Indo-US bilateral ties under Trump and PM Modi are all set to soar to greater heights serving not just the mutual interests of both the nations but will also usher in an era of global peace, progress, and prosperity for all.

Hailing PM Modi for ensuring unprecedented empowerment of minority communities in India in the last decade, minority Indian diaspora leaders said, “Modi Mantra of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas has not only ensured socio-economic empowered of minority communities in India but also made them an equal partner in the nation’s growth story. A slew of welfare schemes coupled with educational reforms have ushered in an era of equal empowerment of all minority communities in last one decade. India under the leadership of PM Modi has replaced politics of appeasement with inclusive development without discrimination against any community.”

Dr Cheryl Harris Kisunzu, Provost of Washington Adventist University while presenting the research paper on ‘Transformation of Minorities in the Past Decade in India’ said, “India under the leadership of PM Modi has seen unprecedented educational reforms that has transformed the lives of minorities in the last one decade. PM Modi has ensured financial empowerment of Minorities through initiatives like PM Jan Dhan Yojana and PM Mudra Yojana. As a result thousands of minority-owned businesses have thrived from 2014 to 2024.”

“With CAA, Modi government is providing asylum to thousands of persecuted minorities from neighboring countries. Through historic move such as abolition of Triple Talaq, Modi government ensured that fast divorce was made unlawful for the Muslim population. Moreover, there were 1.5 million graduates among minorities in 2014 and it rose to 2.2 million graduates in 2024. The number of Start-Ups by minorities have increased from 10,000 in 2014 to 40,000 in 2024.”

A Memorandum of Understanding was also signed between Chandigarh University, India and Washington Adventist University, US for establishing programs of exchange and collaboration in areas of interest for mutual benefit of both institutions.

Satnam Singh Sandhu, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha and Convener of Indian Minorities Federation said, “The world is looking at Modi 3.0 and Trump 2.0 with great hopes as both the leaders have shared their pledge to work together for establishing global peace and ending wars.”

Praising PM Modi for empowerment of Minorities in India, Sandhu said, “India’s economic growth can be seen from the fact that more than 250 million people have come out of poverty during the last 10 years in India.”

   

Photo Credit:- Everett Wiles, Washington Adventist University