The Professional Edge
By Sapna Kumar
Now we join Jeopardy, already in progress...
New clubs for $1,000, Alex. The answer: NetIP L.A.
The question: What new club for young Indian Americans offers fun,
professional contacts, philanthropy and cultural education all rolled into one?
The Network of Indian American
Professionals (NetIP) Los Angeles is a new networking club for Indian-American
professionals or recent college graduates 21 and older. The group formed in July when the
Society of Young Indian Professionals (SYIP) and the Society of Indian Americans (SIA)
joined forces.
"After a year (on our own), we realized the focus of the two groups
was the same, so we decided to make the whole community stronger by bringing both groups
together," said Sanjit Singh, NetIP L.A. co-social events chair.
The group is modeled after the first NetIP club, formed in Chicago in
1989, that is on its way to becoming a nonprofit organization. Though there are several
NetIP branches in major U.S. cities like Houston, Dallas and Phoenix, they all operate
independently of each other.
NetIP L.A. President Niru Savdharia said it is important for young
Indians to band together. "We need a new generation of leaders for Indians living in
America," she explained. "We have to start developing our ties now. Many of the
NetIP L.A. board members are former officers of SYIP or SIA."
"We're drawing upon two years of successes and not-so-much
successes," Singh said. "(As a result), the leader-ship is top notch."
"All of us are in different professions and this is a chance for us
to learn to work together and bring our own professional experience to the club,"
added Dushyant Bala, NetIP L.A. secretary.
Following is a little about what the group is all about.
Professional Networking
"We had Indian events in college (that were solely for fun), but
slowly we've been maturing and started pursuing things that are of more benefit to us at
this level of our lives," Singh said.
To address the professional side of life, NetIP L.A. plans to have
business mixers, seminars and speakers. "The club offers a good platform to meet
business professionals and young people of the same origin on a regular basis," said
Tejas Mehta, NetIP L.A. treasurer.
The group also is planning to put together a file of resumes for people
who are either looking for jobs or looking for employees.
Social
"We're trying to offer a variety of activities including camping,
hiking, going to sporting events and luncheons," said Naveen Kanal, co-social events
chair. "We're offering a variety of events so people can get in touch with each other
and meet each other in a relaxed setting. The events are designed to be fun."
Some events in the works include a trip to the USC/UCLA football game at
the Rose Bowl on Nov.19 and a NetIP L.A. golf tournament.
Cultural Awareness
"In college, you have Indian clubs to meet Indians your age,"
said Anisha Dalal, NetIP L.A. vice president. "You get to learn more about your own
culture through other people and their experiences. I think it's important you carry that
outside of college."
Indians don't often encounter many other Indians at work, she explained,
and many times a person's social environment is formed through work. "It's important
we form some sort of cohesive force where we can get together and (participate in) charity
events, even represent our generation in political events," Dalal continued.
"It's important that we network and meet other Indians and share our ideas and
experiences. I think it's important to have that sort of cultural bond,that sort of
cohesiveness in the community."
One way they plan to do this is with a Diwali function in November.
Charitable fundraising
"We really want to give back to the community, not just to the
community here in L.A., but the community in India as well," said Savdharia.
"Even as SYIP, we helped raise money for victims of the India earthquake.
"We have so many different subcultures of Indians. Other minority
groups band together seemingly more than the Indian community. Other communities have been
able to make some of those strides, whether giving scholarships for schools or giving
business loans. We need to establish something for our community."
The group is planning to help give out dinners at a local homeless
shelter during Thanksgiving.
Put it all together...
"We can make things happen," said Lakshman Koka, NetIP L.A.
public relations chair. "We've started focusing on the Indian community, and so far
we don't have any political or religious differences. We're putting that aside for a
common cause.
Kumar a writer is the INDIA IN TOUCH executive editor.
She lives in Chino Hills.
INDIA IN TOUCH OCTOBER 1994
meet the NetiP board
Standing, from left: Naveen Kanal, co social events chair, is a
businessperson with his own delivery company and a small-business consultant; Niru
Savdharia, president, is a law student at Loyola Marymount University; Lakshman Koka,
public relations chair, is a Savin Corp. sales and marketing manager, and co-owner of
Krishna Silks and Sarees; and Dushyant Bala, secretary, is working toward a master's
degree in public administration at USC. Sitting, from left: Sanjit Singh, co-social events
chair, is an Airborne Express sales representative; Anisha Dalal, vice president, is a
high school math teacher; and Tejas Mehta, treasurer, is a CPA with his own business.
Photo by Sapna Kumar