"Dream and Shoot
for the Stars. The future of our young state lies in your hands."
- Late Sh. L. S. Adhikari (1934-2004)
Antecedents
The first communities of Garhwalis and Kumaonis were established
in the US and Canada along with the large scale immigration
of other Indians after 1965 and 1967 respectively. These communities
were initially small and identified along regional lines.
In the early 1990s, with the advent of a mass-based Uttarakhand
movement back in India, P.D.S. Negi of Erie, Pennsylvania
began creating the list of Uttarakhandies in USA and Canada. His efforts culminated in the first
gathering of Uttarakhandis in 1997 in Erie and a convention
in Toronto the following year.
Founding of the Association
As formation of "Uttaranchal" as a separate state in the
Indian Union became more certain, the Uttaranchal
Association of North America (UANA) was established in
Fairfax, Virginia in December 1998 as a non-profit, tax
exempt organization.
Late Shri Lal Singh Adhikari was instrumental in establishing
UANA and served as the founding President of the association.
He guided the association through its formative years and
continued to selflessly work on behalf of UANA till his passing
away in January 2004.
UANA organizes cultural and social activities to maintain
Uttarakhand culture and to share the talents of Uttarakhandi
people in performing arts, such as classical and folk dances,
classical and light vocal, and instrumental music and drama.
Many programs are festive activities symbolizing Uttarakhandi
culture. The Association is capitalizing on the wealth of
talent among the younger generation to retain our Indian culture
with an Uttarakhandi flavor.
Memorial
Late Shri Lal Singh Adhikari by Ajay Rawat, Ex-President of
UANA.
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