Lokvani is delighted to present the first set of community unsung heroes to be honored at the 3rd Annual Lokvani Community and Youth Night to be held on Dec. 7, 2019 at Ambrosia Banquet Hall in Foxborough, MA. Chandrakant (Chandu) Shah, Ravi Kumar and Dr. Vijaykumar Harohalli are being recognized for their tireless support of community work. We humbly salute their work. In addition to honoring the heroes, the evening features great entertainment, a lovely feast and DJ dancing. Buy your tickets for the heroes night. Come celebrate the holidays with us!

Chandu Shah is a poet having written two books of poetry, play righter for at least 7 plays, actor and a film maker for 6 films. He is also a successful entrepreneur in Aerospace Defense Industry. Mr. Shah was named the 2007 State of Massachusetts Minority Small Business Person of the year and has been awarded the prestigious ‘Chan. Chi. Mehta Award’ (2003) by Bharatiya Vidya Bin Mumbai for his contribution to Gujarati Theatre.

Ravi Kumar

In a community like Mandaara, New England Kannada Koota (NEKK) where there is year-round activities and events aimed at cultural presentations, showcasing talents, networking, kids and youth engagement, charity and service projects - it takes an army of volunteers who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure the success of these events.

Ravi Kumar is one such selfless volunteer who never misses a chance to help our community. He is a very dependable person and the executive committee doesn't have to think twice when he is at the helm of logistics and arrangements. Very few people would like to miss out on watching programs and instead work on the logistics on the event day. Ravi Kumar is always willing to lead such efforts. In spite of being a very busy professional, Ravi's calm demeanor and his smile instills confidence in the organizers that they can run the event smoothly.

Ravi is a highly capable leader and organizer. He has also been instrumental in coordinating the food arrangements on numerous occasions that includes cooking outdoors for hundreds of people. His service and support are the key to the success of many of our events and programs. Many other organizations in the community also benefit tremendously from Ravi's service, organizing ability, and his culinary skills.

In addition, Ravi has been instrumental in streamlining, planning, organizing and leading the whole theertha prasada (prasada food offered in the cleanliest form and offered to God) for NE SRS Brundavan Mutt (NESRSB). Process efficiency at its best. All his devotion and seva has now equipped NESRSB to be able to serve theertha prasada in a very short period of time even if the number of devotees exceed 250-300 on any given day. Big kudos to Ravi and may Sri Hari Vayu Gurugalu bless him always.

Dr. Vijaykumar Harohalli

Dr. Vijaykumar Harohalli has been part of the Chinmaya Mission Boston for the past 30 years, right from the inception of the program.  He has been a strong supporter of the Mission.  Well versed in Sanskrit and the Vedanta philosophy, he has taught Balavihar, high-schoolers and adults.  He has served on the Chinmaya Mission's Board of Trustees as its treasurer for many years. 

As part of the youth group and teaching Sanskrit classes, Vijaykumar has written and directed many plays based on popular themes. He leads the prasad team in cooking for 400 people every Sunday. His quiet, relaxed attitude exudes strength which is passed on to others and drives them to reach their goal.  His calm demeanor automatically makes people respect him and they look up to him due to his honesty in work, his sincerity, and his timeliness in any situation. 

Besides, he is a phenomenal anesthesiologist always sought after by his peers; he also heads the Anesthesia department at the Lowell General Hospital.