67th Republic Day of India FICA is an organization dedicated to serving the needs of the Asian Indian Community in Northeast Ohio. From its humble beginnings as a student association in 1962, it has grown to be the voice of a diaspora of over 20,000 and on the increase. FICA helps Asian Indian families assimilate into the mosaic of greater Cleveland. FICA hosts an annual event to celebrate Republic Day. The event, dinner and performances took place on Saturday January 23, 2016 with the theme of Solidarity in Diversity.

FICA is an organization dedicated to serving the needs of the Asian Indian Community in Northeast Ohio. From its humble beginnings as a student association in 1962, it has grown to be the voice of a diaspora of over 20,000 and on the increase. FICA helps Asian Indian families assimilate into the mosaic of greater Cleveland.

FICA hosts an annual event to celebrate Republic Day. The event, dinner and performances took place on Saturday January 23, 2016 with the theme of Solidarity in Diversity.

Lots of photos and videos from Republic Day

Patriotic Indian Songs by Bharat Kumar at Republic Day

Bharat Kumar sang patriotic Indian songs at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.


2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Award for Resiliency at Republic Day

Sujata Lakhe Barnard, president of FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio, introduced the FICA Resiliency Award at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration.  She presented the award to two young ladies.



2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Sudarshan Sathe at 2016 Republic Day

Sudarshan Sathe spoke about the Mahatma Gandhi Campus in Cleveland at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.



2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Sanjay Garg update on Shiksha Daan at Republic Day

Shiksha Daan Chair Sanjay Garg gave a progress report on this project that gives the gift of education at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.


2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Asim Datta receives FICA Award at Republic Day

Sujata Lakhe Barnard, president of FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio, introduced past-president Mona Alag at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration.

She presented (and accepted it because Asim was not present) the award for Advancing FICA’s Objectives to past-president Asim Datta.



2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Mona Alag and Project Seva at 2016 Republic Day

Project Seva Board Chair Mona Alag told about the good works of Project Seva at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio. http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/asian-indians/asian-indians.htm

Joe Cimperman at 2016 Republic Day

Cleveland City Councilman Joe Cimperman spoke at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.

2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Bharatnatyam by Ratipriya Suresh

Ratipriya Suresh performed a traditional Bharatnatyam dance at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.   http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/asian-indians/asian-indians.htm

Giant puppets tell the story of India - Bharat

Giant puppets from the Cleveland Museum of Art told the story of Bharat, the original name of India.  This was at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.   http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/asian-indians/asian-indians.htm

Sujata Lakhe Barnard at 67th India Republic Day

MC Sangita Bafna introduced Sujata Lakhe Barnard, president of FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration. Sujata recognized special guests and thanked the many FICA volunteers and sponsors.



2016 Republic Day of India Celebration

Chittaranjan Jain at 67th India Republic Day

MC Sangita Bafna introduced Dr. Chittaranjan Jain, president of the Board of Trustees of FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration. Dr. Jain spoke about the history and significance of Republic Day of Inia, the world’s largest democracy.  http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/asian-indians/asian-indians.htm

Solidarity in Diversity at Republic Day

MC Sangita Bafna spoke about the evening’s theme ‘Solidarity in Diversity’ at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.  She also highlighted some of FICA’s progress since starting in 1976. http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/asian-indians/asian-indians.htm

US National Anthem by Indian children at Republic Day

Indian-American children from the Cleveland community sang the national anthems of India and the US at the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.  The theme was ‘Solidarity in Diversity’. This is the US National Anthem.  MC Sangita Bafna then introduced the children. http://www.clevelandpeople.com/groups/asian-indians/asian-indians.htm

Indian National Anthem by children at Republic Day

MC Sangita Bafna welcomed the crowd to the 67th Republic Day of India celebration put on by FICA, Federation of India Community Associations of North East Ohio.

She then called up children from the community to sing the national anthems of India and the US.  The theme was ‘Solidarity in Diversity’.


This is the Indian National Anthem.

More about Indians in Cleveland

Cleveland TV Tales Volume 2

Cleveland TV Tales Volume 2  by Mike Olszewski and Janice Olszewski is the follow-up to the popular 2014 book Cleveland TV Tales: Stories from the Golden Age of Local Television

If you are a Clevelander, you probably have heard of Mike Olszewski who has been in Cleveland radio and TV for years. He is also the curator and archivist of the Ohio Broadcast Archive and Museum.

If you are not a Clevelander, you will recognize some very famous names (Dorothy Fuldheim, Mayor Carl Stokes, Al Roker, Ernie Anderson, etc.) that are featured in stories.

And if you are interested in this era (1970's-90's) of TV you will find trends (big hair, happy news, 'Exchanges', etc.) that port well to any major TV market. But the most fun will be for someone from Northeast Ohio who lived through these times and recognizes the names.

As a Clevelander, I recognized most of the people and knew some of the stories but the book filled in a lot of interesting gaps. For example, the tragic case of the Joel Rose suicide, the progression of characters from Ernie Anderson's Ghoulardi (The Ghoul, Son of Ghoul - even SuperHost), the last years of Dorothy Fuldheim, Al Roker's time in Cleveland and so on.

I never knew that weatherman Mark Koontz was the victim of such pranks or that Ralph Tarsitano and Bill McKay interviewed Danny Greene just hours before his car was blown up.

Stories like that keep you turning the pages.

Reviewed by Dan Hanson

The Making of Major League

Juuuuust a bit inside.

Jobu.

Wild Thing.

Anyone who has seen the movie Major League will instantly recognize these, and dozens of other, phrases and characters from the classic baseball movie featuring the underdog Cleveland Indians.

People from Cleveland and Milwaukee (where much was filmed) are naturally fans but to many, this is the quintessential baseball movie.

Author Jonathan Knight created the ultimate in depth look at the movie and how it was made and then the follow-up films and reactions. The book includes inside information from writer/director David Ward and producer Chris Chesser as well as all the stars (Tom Berenger, Bob Ueker, Corbin Bernsen, etc and even a foreword by Charlie Sheen.) Not to mention participants like Sister Mary Assumpta.

There are details that will appeal to film buffs - how it was approached, funded, produced, marketed, etc. Of course baseball fans will enjoy the stories of how the actors were taught proper baseball mechanics making it one of the most realistic baseball movies ever.

The author includes a lot of what he calls "Extras" that include trivia, unknown behind-the-scenes info and other tidbits that fans will eat up.

The book is thorough enough to serve as reference material but loaded with enough stories to make it a fun read.

I was at Cleveland Municipal Stadium for the big crowd filming with the helicopters and in reality it wasn't very memorable. We just sat in the stands. But the memories from the movie, now reinforced by this book, are lasting.

Just try and listen to Wild Thing or Randy Newman's Burn On without a fond memory of Major League.

There's a red moon rising on the Cuyahoga River…


Reviewed by Dan Hanson

Let's Have Another by Dan Coughlin

Let's Have Another is the perfect title for this 3rd collection of short stories from longtime Cleveland sports journalist Dan Coughlin. Many of the stories have some connection to a bar or drinking so 'Let's have another' makes sense.

But just like its predecessor 'Pass the Nuts' the title is a predictor of how you will read the book. Whether salty peanuts or another draft, it's sometimes hard to stop. And that's how reading Coughlin's book is. You read a story, then another, then another. You look at the clock and figure you can squeeze one more in. Then another, then another.

The book is a collection of short stories, in no particular order, so it's like you ran into the author in a bar and listened in on some wild tales. The stories are fascinating - especially for a Cleveland sports fan. Some are funny, some sad and some illuminating.

As a lifetime Cleveland sports fan I thought I knew all the details on Ted Stepien and the Cavs, Mickey McBride, Paul Brown, Otto Graham and the rest of the Cleveland Browns and the Cleveland Indians. But the author gave insights I never knew. How different would things have been if Edward DeBartolo had bought the Tribe?

Some characters return from the first two books, like Junior O'Malley and Dennis Lustig, with fresh tales.

Sports Writers and Characters - Dan Coughlin and Dennis Lustig

Like most Cleveland sports fans I am a Browns, Indians and Cavs guy. Tennis, boxing, cars, horse racing are a distant second in interest but Coughlin tells the stories so well I want to start following the other sports.

Just like the keg in one of his favorite bars, I hope Coughlin isn't tapped out and has another volume or two of these stories ready to go. These 220 pages went way too fast.

Slainte.

Don't miss the official ClevelandSeniors.Com profile of Dan Coughlin from 2011.

Reviewed by Dan Hanson