EVERGREEN COMMUNITY CHAMPION

Inder Singh remains quite likely the only Indian American who has chaired reception committees to officially host serving presidents—one for President Giani Zail Singh of India in 1984, and another two for President George Bush Sr. in 1989 and 1991. He also facilitated another reception held for Prime Minister Indira Gandhi by the Mayor of Los Angeles, Tom Bradley, in 1982. Those apart, he’s been at the forefront organizing numerous events involving high ranking officials, including California governors, US Congressmen and senators, Indian ambassadors and consul generals, ministers, and locally elected functionaries.

He served the GOPIO International as chairman between 2009 and 2016, and president and CEO between 2004 and 2009. GOPIO is an international body that serves the interests of the global Indian diaspora. When Inder Singh took over as president in 2004, the GOPIO had only four chapters, not a high figure considering that it was in existence since 1989 and had been served by different presidents before. By the time he ended his term in 2009, the GOPIO had more than 50 chapters across global cities, more than 12 times what Inder Singh had inherited in 2004. More significantly, his stewardship created scores of more leaders who could take forward diaspora concerns whenever the opportunity presented itself.