New York mayor honors Indian American author Anu Sehgal
Indian-born entrepreneur honored for promoting South Asian cultural literacy in the US
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has honored Indian-born entrepreneur and author Anu Sehgal for promoting South Asian cultural literacy in the US.
Sehgal, founder and president of The Culture Tree, was honored last week at the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Reception 2023 in New York, which was attended by 800 prominent members of the diaspora and Asian communities.
Read: Indian American community is very important for New York City: Eric Adams (November 2, 2022)
“We’re applauding you for your effort to foster cross-cultural exchange while uniting our vibrant South Asian community together, we look forward to the many ways you have helped the AAPI New Yorkers and you will continue to make a positive difference,” Adams said.
The Mayor said he was pleased to recognise the accomplishments of Sehgal, “a proud Indian American who has strengthened New York for nearly two decades.”
“Coming here today under this big tent is telling us that our city is a big tent,” said Adams. “We all must stand together during some of the most difficult times. If we are united, if we stand together, our resiliency is amazing.”
“And we are there again, many of our new arrivals who are coming to our country to pursue the same thing many of us all have pursued and that’s the American dream. We must be there for them,” he said.
“The American dream is real, the American dream is alive and the city that represents that American dream is a place that we all know and that is New York City,” said Adams.
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The Meerut-born author has lived in America for over two decades, having moved to New York from Delhi in 1995, after her graduation.
Sehgal says after moving to the US, she was starved for authentic Indian experiences and community, and once she became a parent, the lack of quality and authentic Indian programs and classes became even more evident to her.
As an active parent, Sehgal says that an awareness of one’s heritage, culture and language is key for children to become self-aware and confident individuals.
“As a cultural educator, I am looking forward to providing children with authentic, immersive and inspiring experiences. Through classes and events, we can offer cross-cultural exposure that can help shape knowledgeable, open-minded and respectful individuals,” Sehgal says.
Read: New York City Mayor Honors India-Born Writer Anu Sehgal For Promoting Cultural Knowledge (May 25, 2023)
She founded The Culture Tree in 2016 with the aim of providing South Asian children with the opportunity to learn about and be proud of their South Asian Culture.
Also present at the reception were Council member Shekar Krishnan, Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi, the first Indian American to be a deputy mayor, and commissioner Rohit Aggarwala.
