FIA Chicago Celebrates America’s 250th and India’s 80th Independence Milestones in a Historic Celebration of Freedom and Unity

Chicago, IL - August 18, 2026  The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) – Chicago hosted a historic celebration at the Renaissance Convention Center in Schaumburg, commemorating America’s 250th anniversary and India’s 80th Independence Day. Under the leadership of Founder and Chairman Sunil Shah and Presidents Altaf Bukhari and Richa Chand, the milestone event brought together more than 800 attendees throughout the day in a vibrant expression of freedom, friendship, culture and community pride.

The celebration reflected the unique spirit of the Indian American community—honoring its deep connection to India’s heritage while proudly embracing the United States as home. The program blended patriotic moments, cultural presentations, community recognition, business engagement and live entertainment, creating a memorable occasion celebrating two nations and two historic milestones together.

The daylong celebration was presented in two distinct segments, beginning with the Business Expo. The afternoon program opened with a spirited patriotic parade featuring members of the FIA team proudly waving Indian and American flags as they marched from the entrance to the main stage. Founder and Chairman Sunil Shah, joined by Presidents Altaf Bukhari and Richa Chand and the FIA leadership team, led the ceremonial flag hoisting, followed by the national anthems of the United States and India.

Another major attraction of the Business Expo was a thought-provoking conference on Artificial Intelligence, facilitated by FIA Director and Naperville-based business owner Rajesh Narayan. The panel featured NASA intern Neelay Ranjan, California-based businessman and PhoenixAI.tech Co-founder Rajesh Rasalkar, FIA General Secretary Kamlesh Kapoor, and FIA Director Vijay Gupta. The discussion highlighted the rapidly evolving role of artificial intelligence and its growing influence on business, innovation and society.

As a special tribute to India, “FIA’s Got Talent” showcased the diverse talents of FIA members and brought an entertaining community spirit to the afternoon. The segment concluded with the Fashion Show, led by FIA Vice President Ajanta Talukdar, in which FIA members walked the stage representing the vibrant traditions, attire and cultural diversity of India’s states.

A moving patriotic presentation by FIA’s talented singers Avni Singh, Jitendra Bulsara and Shivam Vishwanathan, accompanied by the FIA team, filled the ballroom with patriotism and emotion while paying tribute to the freedom fighters whose sacrifices made independence possible. Cultural performances continued to add color and energy throughout the evening, with presentations by Shirlzar Dance Academy.

The venue décor: FIA Past President Vinita Gulabani, FIA Director Ravi Tokala, and his team were instrumental in creating the beautiful décor, which reflected the colors and spirit of both nations.

The celebration was graced by Consul General Somnath Ghosh, Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Chief Guest Darshan Singh Dhaliwal, Guest of Honor Dr. Parag Doshi, State Senator Laura Murphy, future Congresswoman Mellisa Bean; Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly; Mayor William Mcleod, State Representative Michelle Mussman, Aurora Alderwoman Shweta Baid along with FIA Advisory Board member Keerthi Ravoori, and FIA First Lady Rita Shah. Their presence underscored the important role of the Indian American community in the civic, cultural and public life of Chicagoland.

FIA’s past presidents Anu Malhotra, Pratibha Jairath, Vinita Gulabani, Hitesh Gandhi and Dr. Kamal Patel also shared reflections on FIA’s remarkable growth and community journey over the years. Presidents Altaf Bukhari and Richa Chand emphasized the forward-looking meaning of the occasion: “Our Independence Day is not just about remembering the past; it’s about celebrating the bonds we build today for a stronger tomorrow.” Vice Chairman Neil Khot further reinforced the evening’s message with remarks centered on patriotism, community service and giving back.

A Celebration Powered by Community

A major highlight of the evening was FIA’s recognition of sponsors, supporters and community contributors whose service and generosity have strengthened the organization and its mission. Banquet Chairman Ajeet Singh, Event Chairman Murugesh Kasilingam and Event Co-Chairman Vinoz Chanamolu provided important leadership in planning and executing the celebration.

Special appreciation was extended to Vishal Thakkar for providing hotel accommodations and sponsorship, as well as FIA Advisory board members honored were Pinky and Dinesh Thakkar, Dr. Harjinder Khaira, Happy Singh, Manish Gandhi, Orochem President Dr. Anil & Dr. Asha Oroskar, Anil Loomba of HMSI, Dr. Bhupinder Beri, Brij Sharma of PowerVolt, Yogi Bhardwaj, Shargio Patel, Syed Hussaini with Standard Home care and Dr. Arun Narang. FIA also recognized the collective efforts of its Advisory Board, Executive Board, directors, volunteers, sponsors, vendors and performers.

The landmark celebration was the culmination of approximately five months of extensive planning and teamwork. Neither heavy rain nor unfavorable weather could dampen the spirit of the FIA team. With remarkable tenacity, teamwork and dedication, the FIA Rockstars rose above every challenge and delivered one of the organization’s most memorable celebrations—turning a rain-soaked day into a historic milestone honoring America’s 250th anniversary and India’s 80th Independence Day.

FIA General Secretary Kamlesh Kapoor played a key role in coordinating invitations, registration, table seating, event supplies and event flyers. Vice President of Sponsorship Dr. Radhika Chimata made significant contributions through sponsorship efforts, vendor coordination and overall event planning, while Shivam Vishwanathan provided valuable technology and digital support, including the design and preparation of the FIA Souvenir Book. Their efforts, together with Joint Secretary Dinesh Kapoor, FIA Director Dharmender Gill and the entire FIA leadership and volunteer team, helped ensure the smooth and successful celebration of this milestone event. Desi Junction provided valuable support with program execution and emceeing, while Shree Caterers delighted guests with an excellent selection of food.

The entertainment program added another dimension to the festivities, featuring renowned Bollywood artists Shibani Kashyap, Kashish Rajput and Razin, along with a special Garba performance by Tirath and a great FIA Singer Supriya Nair. Together with the cultural performers, FIA talent and fashion-show participants, the artists kept the audience engaged and energized throughout the celebration.

Throughout the event, FIA emphasized that the occasion represented far more than the commemoration of two anniversaries. It was a celebration of shared democratic values, cultural heritage, community service and the enduring bonds connecting the Indian American community with both India and the United States.

Founder and Chairman Sunil Shah summarized the spirit of the historic gathering by describing the celebration as “a statement of who we are, what we cherish, and how beautifully we blend our heritage with the community we call home.”

The evening celebration opened with a patriotic message from Jassi Parmar of Desi Junction, who emceed the program alongside Bhairavi. Founder and Chairman Sunil Shah was invited to welcome the gathering and captured the spirit of the occasion with his message: “When music and patriotism meet, magic happens. Tonight, entire Chicagoland will witness that magic.” His remarks were followed by welcome addresses from Presidents Richa Chand and Altaf Bukhari.

FIA expressed its heartfelt gratitude to everyone who contributed to the success of this landmark celebration and reaffirmed its commitment to continuing meaningful programs that celebrate heritage, encourage community service and bring people together.

“Two nations. Two historic milestones. One beautiful celebration of freedom, friendship and unity.”

About the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) – Chicago

The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) – Chicago is a community organization dedicated to bringing people together through cultural celebrations, community service and civic engagement. Through its programs, initiatives and partnerships, FIA celebrates Indian heritage while strengthening connections within the broader American community and promoting friendship, unity and service.