Ashok Mago, a prominent voice of the Indian-American community, was presented the “Excellence in Global Friendship Award,” in recognition of his “outstanding contribution in promoting Indian culture in the United States and U.S.-India relations,” by Unity International Foundation, a non-profit organisation.
Mr. Mago played a key role in drumming up support for the India-U.S. civil nuclear agreement in the U.S. Congress and was also instrumental in the creation of the Senate India Caucus, led by Senator John Cornyn of Texas.
On the occasion Mr. Mago was felicitated by the Governor of Sikkim, Mr. B.P Singh, and other dignitaries present at the function included former Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Lalit Mansingh, former Indian Union Minister and Governor Bhishma Narain Singh, Vice President of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, Shahid Madi and the Ambassadors of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Bahrain, Bulgaria, Burundi, Tajikistan and the Arab League.
R.N. Anil, Secretary-General of UIF, said that his organisation had decided to honour Mr. Mago who had “vigorously pursued the cause of India in the U.S.”
He added that history was replete with names of great men and women, who worked relentlessly to espouse the cause of unity, even if did not belong to any one nation. Mr. Mago belonged to that select group, he added.
Mr. Singh further lauded Mr. Mago’s role in bringing India and U.S. closer in recent years and said that he hoped that others would follow his lead and “bring the country of their birth and their adopted homeland closer.”
