NCAIA Celebrates 20th Anniversary, Honors Jesse Singh with Lifetime Achievement Award 

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The National Council of Asian Indian Associations (NCAIA) celebrated its 20th Anniversary Gala on June 6 at the Clarion Hotel in Hanover, Maryland, commemorating two decades of “unity, service, and empowerment.”

Welcoming attendees, NCAIA President Anjana Bordoloi reflected on the organization’s journey and accomplishments over the past two decades.

“Tonight is more than a celebration of an organization, it is a celebration of vision, a journey, and a community that has flourished through dedication, service, and unity over the past two decades,” Bordoloi said.

She noted that since its founding in 2006, NCAIA has worked to unite the diverse Indian American community while preserving cultural heritage, promoting civic participation, encouraging leadership, and building partnerships that strengthen the community’s collective voice.

Founder and Chairman of Sikhs of America, USA, Jesse Singh urged community members to remain united and focused on contributing to the nation’s future. He said the South Asian diaspora has become increasingly rooted in the United States and should continue building a lasting legacy for generations to come.

“One of the things that I’m seeing nowadays is there’s a little backlash on South Asian communities,” Singh said, emphasizing that the response should be unity rather than confrontation.

“We have to overcome by uniting and not by becoming aggressive,” he added.

Singh also cautioned against allowing success to turn into arrogance.

“We should be proud, but we should not get egoistic,” he said, encouraging the community to continue contributing to the country. “We should be doubling our efforts to contribute more to this great nation.”

He also commended Maryland Comptroller Brooke Lierman for her efforts during challenging economic conditions, thanking her for “steering the state in these difficult times.”

In her remarks, Lierman highlighted the contributions of Maryland’s Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to the state’s economy and social fabric.

“You may know me as the tax collector. I like to call myself the tax refunder,” she joked, explaining her role in overseeing state finances and helping strengthen communities across Maryland.

Lierman noted that more than 420,000 AAPI residents call Maryland home and contribute across a broad range of professions, including education, healthcare, technology, and business.

“Your economic impact is extraordinary,” she said.

According to Lierman, Maryland is home to more than 14,000 Asian-owned businesses employing over 118,000 residents. Together, those firms generate more than half of the revenue produced by minority-owned businesses in the state.

“That is not a footnote, friends, that is a foundation,” she said.

She added that the AAPI community plays a critical role in shaping Maryland’s identity as one of the nation’s most diverse states.

“That diversity is not just something that we celebrate at dinners like this one,” Lierman said. “It expands our economic impact, it drives innovation, it deepens our communities, and it makes our state stronger. Diversity is not a policy, it is life…”

During the gala, Lierman presented Singh with NCAIA’s Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his leadership in founding Sikhs of America and advancing civic advocacy, policy engagement, and cultural awareness nationwide.

She noted that under Singh’s leadership, the organization has expanded its presence on Capitol Hill, championed religious freedom, and helped amplify the voices and experiences of Sikh Americans.

“So, today we are proud to recognize Jesse Singh…” she said, describing him as a “bridge between communities.”

NCAIA Founder Nagender Madhavaram reflected on the organization’s origins and growth over the past 20 years.

“Twenty years is not just a number,” he said. “It is a journey.”

He described the milestone as a testament to the community’s commitment, service, and unity, and evidence of what can be achieved when people come together with “discipline, dignity, and purpose.”

Madhavaram said NCAIA was established in 2005 with the goal of representing the Indian American community through professionalism, cultural pride, civic responsibility, and unity.

“We wanted to create an organization that would represent the Indian American community with professionalism, cultural pride, civic responsibility, and unity,” he said.

Recalling the inspiration behind the organization, Madhavaram said discussions during an Indian Independence Day celebration in the Washington metropolitan area in August 2005 highlighted the need for a stronger platform to represent Indian culture and values. He also requested Singh to join as a founding member of NCAIA.

Representing the Embassy of India, Second Secretary (Visa) Rajiv Ahuja conveyed greetings on behalf of India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Kwatra. He emphasized the importance of the Indian diaspora in strengthening India-US relations.

The Embassy genuinely values this partnership, Ahuja said, describing members of the diaspora as the “living link” and “anchor” of the bilateral relationship.

He noted that the United States is home to the largest Indian diaspora in the world and that the community continues to play a vital role in deepening ties between the two countries.

The event also featured the presentation of a Governor’s Citation to Bordoloi by Gurpreet Takhar, chair of the Governor’s Commission on South Asian American Affairs, fellow commissioners, and Christina Poy from the Maryland Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives. Citations from US Senator from Maryland Chris Van Hollen, and Councilmember At-Large on the Montgomery County Council, Laurie-Anne Sayles were also presented.

Ashwin Hazarika served as master of ceremonies, and the evening included several cultural performances from local groups.