PRESS RELEASE
U.S. BASED INDIAN TYCOON SHALABH KUMAR PLEDGES ONE MILLION USD TO MODI’S U.S. VISIT CELEBRATIONS
Funds to be Provided on the Condition That the rules laid out by the Consul General of India, New York, are Met
New York, NY (July 17, 2014) – Tycoon and avid Narendra Modi supporter Shalabh “Shalli” Kumar, has offered to provide one million USD towards celebratory efforts to mark the new Indian Prime Minister’s first visit to the U.S. this September. The visit comes after Mr. Kumar’s tireless efforts to see Modi’s U.S. Visa ban lifted. The entrepreneur, previously billed by the Hindustan Times as “Modi’s top backer in US” last year flew Leadership of Congress to India to meet with Modi, a trip that has been viewed as a boost to Modi’s popularity in India resulting in Mr. Modi’s landslide victory in the May 2014 elections, which in turn led to President Obama extending an invitation to Modi to visit New York and the White House in late September, 2014.

Chicago based Kumar, who has built a reputation as one of today’s leading inventors and entrepreneurs, has promised the generous monetary gift, should the guidelines outlined by Mr. Dnyaneshwar M. Mulay, Consul General of India, New York, be met. The guidelines were laid out during a private meeting on Friday, between Mr. Shalabh Kumar, Mr. Anil Monga and Mr. Mulay, at the Indian Consulate in New York. Amongst the guidelines is the removal of any and all prominence within the community and especially community leaders during celebrations, a problem that has long dominated Indian American socio-political activities. Adding to this, Mr. Mulay requested that there should be no speeches, no seating at the dias, no names to be published, no handshakes and no photographs at his public welcome ceremony other than Shri. Modi’s. Mr. Mulay had reasoned that removal of the prominence element during the celebrations would remove all the infighting and competition in order to become members of the organizing committee. In addition to the dismissal of prominence, another regulation he laid out was that all Indian races, religions, and ethnic backgrounds should be included in the organizing committee, including Indian Americans of all age groups from all over the U.S.

Looking to make this a historic and memorable event, Mr. Kumar has also offered to provide many innovative ideas for the celebrations. In 2011, Kumar made headlines after the extravagant $10 million wedding of his son Vikram Aditya Kumar, to Pooja Chitgopekar, Miss India 2007. The lavish affair included the arrival of the “baraat” (groom’s party) in military helicopters and a Bollywood style dance party, with a performance by the King of Bhangra Daler Mehndi, world renowned music band RDB and Bhangra dance act Signature.

Looking to showcase the Indian community’s unity and ability to come together for a greater good while giving Americans a taste of India, Mr. Kumar is ready and willing to donate his own money and time to ensure the upcoming welcoming events for Modi are memorable. “We should have such a show that Modi’s arrival in the U.S. will be long remembered by all Americans” says Kumar.

Shalabh Kumar is known for the invention of the first microprocessor based McDonald’s French Fry Computer and the invention of PLS technology used as an integral part of the electronic brains of robots employed all over the world for automated manufacturing. He was named as the citizen of the year in 1982 for creating hundreds of new jobs and providing outstanding service to the community. Through his National Indian American Public Policy Institute (NIAPPI), and the newly formed NIAPPI Business Council consisting of the top Indian American business leaders who are interested in investing in India in excess of $10 Billion dollars, Kumar hopes to assist in the efforts to increase trade between India and the U.S., and help organize the Indian-American community in order to become more community-spirited and less fragmented, and less prominence and recognition driven.

Hastakshep