The Chakra Award
It is an award given to an individual or a group by the Society for channeling one's energy to achieve distinction in the chosen field of endeavor and to contribute to the betterment of humankind in general, India and United States in particular.
The first Chakra Award saluted the pioneers of India Origin posthumously, honoring Paramahansa Yogananda, Congressman Dalip Singh Saund and Harry Singh of San Diego. Ambassador Prabhakar Menon was the Chief guest.
The second Chakra Award was a salute to Indian Entrepreneurs. Dr. Amar Bose, Chairman, Bose Corporation and Professor at M.I.T, Arjun Waney, Chairman, Beeba's Creations, Dr. John Kapoor, Chairman, E.J. Financial Enterprises were the recipients of the awards. Lalit Thapar, Chairman, Thapar Group was the chief guest, and Ambassador Sati Lambah was the guest of honor.
The Third Chakra Award saluted Maestros Pandit Ravi Shankar and Zubin Mehta. Dr. Jonas Salk was the chief guest and Francoise Gilot-Salk was the guest of honor.
On October 5, 2006, Nobel Laureate Professor Amartya Sen was honored with the Fourth Chakra Award in the Great Hall, University of California, San Diego. Dr. Irwin Jacobs, Chairman, Qualcomm presented the award. Congressman Bob Filner, San Diego City Council President Scott Peters and Dr. Sanjay Jha felicitated Dr. Sen. It was a very memorable occasion. The Chakra, 10 inches in diameter, is a replica of Konarak Wheel and was made of pure silver with gold overlay.
2006 - 4th Chakra Award
Nobel Laureate Amartya Sen
Chief Guest - Dr. Irwin Jacobs, Chairman, Qualcomm
Guest of Honor - Congressman Bob Filner
1992 - 3rd Chakra Award
Pandit Ravi Shankar, Sitar Maestro
Zubin Mehta, Conductor, New York Philharmonic
Chief Guest - Dr. Jonas Salk, Discoverer of Polio Vacine and Founder, Salk Institute
Guest of Honor - Francoise Gilot-Salk, Painter, Author, Poet
1991 - 2nd Chakra Award
Dr. Amar Bose, Professor, MIT and Chairman, Bose Corporation
Arjun Waney, Chairman, Beeba's Creations
Dr. John Kapoor, President, E.J. Financial Enterprises
Chief Guest - Lalit Thapar, Chairman, Thapar Group, India
Guest of Honor - Sati Lambah, Ambassador of India
1990 - 1st Chakra Award
Paramahansa Yogananda, Founder of Self Realization Fellowship
Congressman Dalip Singh Saund, 1st Congressman of Asian Decent
Harry Singh Sr., Tomato "King" of United States
Chief Guest - Prabhakar Menon, Ambassador and Representative of India at U.N.
Guest of Honor - Prabhakar Narwekar, Director, Deputy Managing Director, IMF