Federation of Indian Associations: FIA Celebrates a Phenomenal Year of Impact with Dazzling Diwali Celebration and Annual Board Meeting, Welcoming Team 2027

Chicago, IL: The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) is Chicagoland’s premier and largest Indian American 501(c ) organization, hosted a high-energy, unforgettable dual celebration of Diwali and its Annual Board Meeting at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Burr Ridge, IL. Infused with Bollywood glamour, vibrant community spirit, and deep camaraderie, the evening marked a monumental transition of leadership and a powerful celebration of a historic year

A Grand Opening & Review of Stellar Achievements

The meeting officially commenced at 4:15 PM, by General Secretary Kamlesh Kapoor. With the permission of the leadership, GS Ms. Kapoor opened the session, outlined the meeting’s objectives, and invited Founder Chairman Sunil Shah to the stage. He was followed by current Presidents Altaf Bukhari and Richa Chand, past presidents Anu Malhotra, Hitesh Gandhi, Vinita Gulabani, and Pratibha Jairth, alongside FIA First Lady Rita Shah.

Left to Right: Ajanta Talukdar (FIA Incoming President), Sonia Luther (FIA Incoming President)

Chairman Sunil Shah opened the Diwali celebration with festive greetings, celebrating 2026 as one of FIA's most phenomenal and impactful years as the largest Indian organization in Chicagoland. He expressed deep gratitude to current presidents Altaf Bukhari and Richa Chand for their exceptional leadership and contributions throughout the year. Following his remarks, Chairman Sunil Ji invited General Secretary Kamlesh Kapoor to present a comprehensive summary of the organization's major accomplishments, standout events, and celebrity guests hosted over the past year.

President’s Remarks and New Members Introductions

•Chairman Sunil Shah invited the members who joined in October 2026 to the stage and introduced them to the audience with a brief overview of their background sand interests.

•Joint Treasurer Payal Shah presented the finance numbers during the year and encouraged teams to become life-time members.

Left to Right: Altaf Bukhari (President), Anu Malhotra (Past President), Richa Chand (President), Sonia Luther (FIA Incoming President), Ajanta Talukdar (FIA Incoming President), Rita Shah (FIA First Lady), Sunil Shah (FIA Founder Chairman

•Followed this, FIA Chairman Mr. Shah invited current Presidents Altaf Bukhari and Richa Chand to share their message with the team, followed by remarks from the past presidents: Anu Malhotra, Vinita Gulabani, Pratibha Jairath, Hitesh Gandhi

along with FIA First Lady Rita Shah who all addressed the team with pride and encouragement.

Leadership Transition & Historic Team 2027 Induction

A major highlight of the evening was the official leadership transition. Chairman Sunil Shah surprised and inspired attendees by announcing two dynamic female leaders as incoming Presidents for 2027:

• Sonia Luther

• Ajanta Talukdar

This historic announcement powerfully reinforced FIA's unwavering commitment to women empowerment and visionary community growth. The newly inducted incoming presidents delivered inspiring speeches followed by official felicitation. Highlights, Glamour, and Special Recognitions FIA Founder Chairman Sunil Shah then invited Advisory Board members Brij Sharma, Keerthi Ravoori, Pinky Thakkar, Dinesh Thakkar, Shrujal Patel, Dr. Arun Narang, Prdeep Shukla and Vipan Wadhera to the stage. Their remarks were a delightful blend of inspiration, wisdom, and humor, enriched personal reflections on FIA’s enduring contributions to the community. Their stories highlighted the organization's meaningful impact and the lasting connections it has fostered over the past more than a decade. Adding to the evening's unique charm, a special robot dance performance captivated the entire crowd as a major attraction. The celebration also featured the recognition of lifetime members, presentation of trophies to outstanding pillars of support, October and November birthday cake-cutting celebrations, official group photos, and spectacular musical performances by FIA singers and leaders. Closing and Outlook As FIA closes out a landmark year under stellar leadership, the organization remains deeply committed to community service, cultural preservation, and building enduring relationships. With Team 2027 at the helm, FIA is poised to soar even higher, uniting hearts and proudly celebrating Indian heritage in the United States!

Left to Right: Sonia Luther (FIA Incoming President), Richa Chand (President), Sunil Shah (Founder Chairman), Altaf Bukhari (President), Ajanta Talukdar (Incoming President)