NEW YORK — Eminent personalities from the art, film, fashion, academia, corporate, medical and entertainment fields boarded the Cornucopia Majesty cruise ship at Manhattan’s Pier 81 for the Indo-American Arts Council’s 20th anniversary gala. Dressed in colorful attire, the crème de la crème of New York’s Indian-American society spent the night of May 6 celebrating two decades of South Asian cinema, arts and culture — and the person credited with its success: the council’s executive director Aroon Shivdasani.
Shivdasani had announced her retirement at a press conference a day earlier while giving details of the lineup at the 18th annual New York Indian Film Festival, IAAC’s flagship event.
“In 1998 Indian artists were invisible, unknown and unappreciated in North America,” Shivdasani said, discussing the main reason IAAC was established. “For well over 20 years, we have blazed a trail promoting, showcasing and building an awareness, in North America, of the hitherto invisible arts of India through presentations of Indian film, dance, art, music, theatre, literature and fashion.”
The IAAC was founded by the late Gopal Raju — founder and editor of India Abroad — as well as Talat Ansari, senior partner, Kelly, Drye & Warren, Jonathan Hollander, artistic director, Battery Dance Company and Shivdasani.
Gala guests praised Shivdasani, calling her an indispensable facilitator who brought art, music, dance and cinema to New York audiences for the past 15 years.
Filmmaker Mira Nair called her a “miniature dynamo” who has powered the IAAC for the past 20 years. “A lot of us have loved these 20 years,” she said. Nair’s “Monsoon Wedding” closed the first film festival in May 2000.
Others echoed Nair’s sentiments, including author Salman Rushdie, cookbook author and actress Madhur Jaffrey, Aasif Mandvi, and the Consul General of India in New York Sandeep Chakravorty.
“The IAAC has done invaluable work in creating a showcase for Indian-Americans in many art forms,” Rushdie told India Abroad. “I’m delighted to have been a supporter from the earliest days.”
While no successor has been announced, Shivdasani told India Abroad that her retirement comes “at a right time” to pave the way for a “new young brood of people.” Her initial plans to retire two years ago when she turned 70 didn’t work out, she said, but now the time has come “to let go.”
“My baby is 20 years old now,” she said.
She said she’s brought the IAAC to where it is now, and it’s now a platform waiting to develop under a new leadership. While she’ll always be available for any guidance and support, she said she wants to utilize the time off to travel — Budapest and Pakistan are first on the agenda.
Shivdasani sits on several artistic and social boards, on the advisory boards of several other art and charity organizations, and has been on the juries of the Emmys, beauty contests, grants, art, film, dance and theater contests. She has received outstanding citizen awards as well as honor and appreciation awards from several organizations for her work for artists and the community.
On Jan. 4, she was named one of the top 20 Global Indian Women by The Economic Times.
The May 6 dinner gala also featured live music by the Metrocard Unlimited Jazz Society band, a fashion show and a dance performance by Battery Dance Company, a photo exhibit of IAAC archival images dating to 1998, video footage from 20 years of IAAC.
The cruise ship did not sail out because of mechanical issues but guests danced and enjoyed Manhattan’s skyline in the background, toasting Shivdasani and wishing her the best. |
