First of all the National Executive Committee would like to extend to all of you and yours their greetings and offer very best wishes for the year 2001 and beyond.

Many of you called to express your satisfaction and appreciation when you received the copy of your last Newsletter. Thank you for the encouragement.

Prime Minister's Invitation for the Republic Day: Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpai invited a delegation of Indian Americans to New Delhi to join in the celebrations of the Republic Day. About 25 people from different walks of life and representing various organizations, including AIA National President Dr. Piyush C. Agrawal, participated. This delegation, on a good will mission, under the leadership of Dr. Mukund Mody (Founder of Overseas Friends of BJP) was also invited by the governments ofGujarat and Uttar Pradesh. The delegation was guest ofGujarat Government from January 22 through 24, guest of Government of India on January 25 and 26, and guest of Uttar Pradesh Government from January'27 through 29, 2001. During this period the delegation had the pleasure of having meetings/bnmches/lunches/teas/dinners with Governor Sundar Singh Bhandari and Chief Minister Keshu Bhai Patel of Gujarat, Governor Dr. Vishnukant Shastri and Chief Minister Raj Nath Singh of UP and at the center with the Prime Minister Vajpai, Home Minister Advani, External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh and Union Minister of State Dr. Kathiria. The delegation also had the pleasure of meeting with BJP General Secretary Narendra Modi, VHP President Ashok Singhal, Chairman Dr L. M. Singhvi and Member Secretary J. C. Sharma of High Level Committee on Indian Diaspora, and several other officials of Governments of Gujarat, UP and India. Meetings took place at Ahmedabad, Gandhi Nagar, Narmada Dam, Baroda, New Delhi, Allahabad and Lucknow. The mission was of goodwill in nature and the intention was to explore ways of serving the motherland in a most befitting manner.

FROM ALL ACCOUNTS, IT WAS A GREAT VISIT AND A VERY SUCCESSFUL MISSION, EXCEPT, the earthquake tragedy hit in Gujarat on January 26th.

The Association of Indians in America (AIA) through this newsletter is launching a fundraising drive to help the people of Gujarat. AIA would sincerely appreciate your cooperation in raising funds for this worthy cause Contributions can be made to: AIA: Gujarat Relief Fund and mailed to c/o Dr. Piyush C. Aerawal 1625 Eagle Bend, Weston, FL 33327 or c/o Dr. Narinder M. Kukar, 68-15 Central Avenue, Glendale NY 11385. You can safely assure the contributors that 100% of the funds from this account would be sent to the Gujarat cause.