(Pictures Courtesey - Asad Butt/Jiveman Productions)

The South Asian Bar Association of Greater Boston (SABA GB) held a reception to honor Sunila Thomas-George and Navjeet K. Bal for their appointments as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination and the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue respectively. The event was held on Tuesday, March 4 and was hosted by the law firm of McCarter and English.

 
The star studded reception included many very high profile attendees including Governor Paul Cellucci, Judge Mark Wolf (USDC), Judge Reginald Lindsey (USDC) Judge Sabita Singh, Jim Reynolds (Senior Deputy Commissioner of Revenue) Marilyn Rae Smith (DOR), Derek Davis (Mass Lottery Commission), Malcolm Medley (MCAD Commissioner), Martin Ebel (MCAD Commissioner), US Magistrate Judge Hillman (USDC)
Also present were  representatives from  Mass Association of Hispanic Attorneys (MAHA),Mass Black Lawyers Association (MBLA),Asian American Lawyers of Massachusetts (AALAM) and the Mass Lesbian and Gay Bar Association

President Samia Kirmani welcomed the group and was delighted to see the increase in the attendance at the event. “Our association is very young. In the beginning a few of us lawyers of South Asian Lawyers would just meet and have dinner together. Judge Sabita Singh, who was a lawyer at that time, helped provide a structure to the organization and we are so delighted to see the growth in the organization” said Kirmani.  Natasha Varayani who had worked to pull the event together was particularly pleased that the event attracted so many non-South Asians as well.

Bal and Thomas-George said they were delighted to see the steady increase in the number of South Asian lawyers. “I came to this country when I was eleven and going to law school really helped me learn about this country and its commitment to the rule of law” said Navjeet K. Bal who is the first South Asian to serve as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Revenue.  Sunila Thomas-George who is the first South Asian to serve as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination, described the commission who primary goal is to ensure opportunities for all irrespective of their color, gender, ethnic origin, sexual orientation  etc. “ I thank you for this special honor tonight and I look forward to our journey  ahead ” said Thomas-George. It was indeed special to see South Asians who have chosen public service as a career path, excelled in it and have found themselves in positions of high visibility.  

For more information on SABA , check out their website at http://www.sabagb.org

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