On November 7, at a quiet and elegant function, community leader and popular radio show host Mr. Harish Dang was honored with the Vision in America Award. The award is part of International Channel’s We the People campaign. The Vision in America Award (VIA) symbolizes an immigrant's vision of America, the vision it takes to complete the naturalization process, and the roads immigrants have taken to achieve their successes.

Presenting the award to Harish Dang Ms.Laura Pesce, Director, Affiliate Sales & Marketing of The International Channel said "We the people is an important commitment by the International channel nework to support the diversity of the multicultural communities that make up the tapestry that is the United states." adding that the award recognized the amazing journeys and attributes that modern day immigrants add to this country.

The 2003 VIA award recipients joined 39 honorees from the International Channel’s twp previous We the People Campaigns. All honorees received a $500 donation to the community organization of the recipient’s choice. Mr. Dang gave the donation to the Asian American Support and Resource Agency (AASRA). As a touching and commendable gesture, he matched the $500 and gave a personal check to SAHELI, another premier area organization that provides help and support to the needy in the community.

It was a testimony to the love and respect Harish and Binita Dang enjoy in the community that the room in The Masala Art Restaurant in Needham brimmed with friends and family. They had all gathered to celebrate Mr. Dang’s award ceremony. Most present at the lunch meeting opined that they could not think of any other individual who deserved the honor more than Mr. Harish Dang.

Mr. Dang, in turn thanked his wife and sons for supporting and helping him with his main passion in life- namely Sounds of India, his Radio show. He also expressed gratitude to all the attendees for gracing the occasion. “Binita and I wish to recognize the tremendous work organizations such as AASRA and SAHELI are doing for the community” Said Mr. Dang.

I met the Dangs later that week at their home in Lexington, MA.

The warmth in the Dang household makes me forget the winter chill outside and as I am led into their bright family room, Binita and Harish greet me with their trademark warm hospitality. A huge wooden screen that also serves as a collage of photos, features numerous pictures of their children, it is evident that theirs is a close knit, loving family. Their sons Amit and Neil help host the shows and are as involved with Sounds of India as their parents.

A beloved presence in the New England Indian Community, both Harish and Binita enjoy tremendous good will and support among the entire community. Sounds of India is a radio show that has permeated almost every Indian household in the NE area, and is a part of almost every New England Indian American’s Sunday Morning routine.

Sounds of India has for years, personalized events, made them more intimate, more real, engaging us emotionally and bringing us closer together as a community. “ Since we started in 1974 with a half hour show, we have never looked back. At that time we were filling a niche – we were the only entertainment program in the area apart from an occasional screening of a Hindi film.

These 27 years have seen the community grow by leaps and bounds and we have tried to keep up with it. As you know our Sunday morning program runs from 11 to 1 Pm. We have now begun to broadcast it again at night, from 10 Pm until Midnight. The response has been tremendous but we still want our listeners to contact us and tell us what they think of the program.” Said Mr. Dang.

“We were fortunate to enjoy the love and support of our listeners all these years and in turn, Binita and I have aired announcements pertaining to community events on "Sounds of India" free of charge. Various community organizations and non-profit groups use this medium to promote events and raise funds, as well as communicate their opinions and concerns. Hundreds have used "Sounds of India" as a forum to spread the word about their activities geared to serving the community.” He added.
The Dangs were also the first to organize Star shows in the Boston area. They have been Instrumental in bringing to Boston, Bollywood singing sensations like Udit Narayan, Kavitha Krishnamurthy, Kumar Shanu and Alka Yagnik among other superstars. By day, Mr. Dang works as a Senior Vice President at Solomon Smith Barney and Binita works with the Meals on Wheels program in Arlington.

“This trend will continue” Said Binita as I was preparing to leave “ and we will strive to bring better things to the community through Sounds of India.”
SOI and the voices behind it remain a constant and enduring force in our lives.

For an earlier article about Harish Dang in lokvani, please visit http://www.lokvani.com/lokvani/article.php?article_id=212

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