Hundreds of Indian Americans celebrated a milestone anniversary for India Monday in downtown Aurora.

As part of the celebration of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence in 1947, Indian Americans took part in a raising of the Indian flag at One Aurora Plaza.

It is the seventh flag-raising celebration the city has held, and Monday’s was the first for what has become the city’s fastest-growing ethnic community.

“America and India have so much in common,” said Ald. Shweta Baid, 10th Ward, herself a history-maker by being the first Indian American elected to the Aurora City Council, and one of the first such elected officials in Illinois.

“America is the oldest democracy and India is the biggest,” she said. “Both are the greatest democracies in the world.”

It was a day of honors for the Indian community, which has distinguished itself for decades in the city, particularly since the opening of the SVS Balaji Temple in Aurora in 1985, officials said.

Recognition of Indian contribution and culture was the point of establishing the Indian American Community Outreach Board in the city by former Mayor Tom Weisner.

Clayton Muhammad, Aurora’s chief communication and equity officer, pointed out that getting the community more involved in Aurora was one of Weisner’s goals when he established the board in 2013.

“I believe he would be exceptionally proud of the growth of the involvement of this community,” Muhammad said.

Much of that involvement was recognized Monday, from middle school students who achieved national recognition, to people establishing key firsts in the city, to people intimately involved with making Aurora a better, more prosperous place.

“Every Indian is making their mark,” said Sandeep Londhe, co-chairman on the Indian American Community Outreach Board. “I’m proud to be a member of this community.”

The middle school students are Nidhi Sagaram, Samil Sharma and Viraj Vyas, members of the Granger Middle School eighth-grade team which won the national eCybermission competition held in Washington, D.C., by the U.S. Army. Their team advisor was Aruna Rao.

The team members were part of 65 middle school students from across the country that went to the competition, which recognizes real-life applications of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. The Granger team studied the impact of different soil additives on increasing the magnesium content in food crops, and determined a cost-effective, eco-friendly solution.

City officials also recognized two former Aurora high school students who are achieving now as college students.

Vedanth Ganesh, now a sophomore at Indiana University, is president of Hindu Yuva at the Bloomington campus, and is host of his own podcast, “For the Culture, with Vedanth Ganesh.”

Akshat Maheshwari was accepted to the U.S. Naval Academy, where less than 10% of the 16,000 who applied were taken last year. He is majoring in robotics and plans to continue to serve his country, Muhammad said.

The city also awarded its first Light and Excellence Awards to six members of the Indian American community, including Baid, not only for her work as a City Council member, but for her work as an educator, and her business work as sole proprietor for several businesses and a consultant to others.

Another person recognized for her status as being first was Khavita Athanakar, the first Indian American Associate Circuit Court judge in DuPage County’s 18th Circuit.

She has been recognized for her work combating the opioid crisis as the presiding judge in the F.O.C.U.S. courtroom.

The city recognized Harish Anathapadmanabahn, a downtown business owner who, as one of the founders of JH Real Estate Partners, owns 13 mixed-use, commercial buildings in downtown Aurora, redeveloping more than 130,000 square feet.

He also founded APS Data Technologies, and an affiliate, APS Training Academy.

Also recognized was Sharon Mani Garcia, assistant dean for communications, humanities and arts at Waubonsee Community College, who holds a master’s degree in psychology in education, and several other degrees.

Recognized as well was Dr. Siddhesh Shavede, the national director of Hindu Swayamsevak Sang, known as Sangh, which aims to coordinate the Hindu American community to practice, preserve and advance ideals of Hindu Dharma, officials said.

The city also awarded the Light and Excellence Award to Sri Begur Nagendra Rao, who has served as priest at the Balaji Temple for the past 25 years. With eight years of education in Hindu philosophy, tradition and religious rights, as well as eight years in Sanskrit scriptures and literature, he speaks six languages, according to officials.

Muhammad said Rao has “willingly answered the call” from the city of Aurora whenever there was a need, whether in person or on Zoom during the pandemic.

slord@tribpub.com