Ramesh D. Kalicharran (Queens)
Present name:169th Street
Location:Between Highland Avenue and Homelawn Street
Honoree: Ramesh D. Kalicharran (1949-2017) owned real estate and travel companies in Queens. He was an activist in his community, supporting many causes including representation in Queens of the Indo-Caribbean holidays of Diwali and Phagwah. He founded the Gyaan Bhakti Satsangh Mandir; convened a meeting of Hindu Priests from which was born the USA Pandits' Parishad; and was a founding member of the Indo-Caribbean Federation which hosts the annual Indian Arrival Day celebrations. He was a founding member of the Indo-Caribbean Council, promoting the rights and welfare of Indo-Caribbeans in the United States and the Caribbean. In the mid-1980s, he launched an Indo-Caribbean radio program called "Sangeet Mala" (1520AM). He was one of the founders of the Phagwah Parade,the biggest Indo-Caribbean event of its kind. He was also a founder of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO), representing 23 million Indians living outside India, and was its Caribbean Regional Coordinator. He received many awards from US and Caribbean officials including the President of Guyana. (Lancman)
LL:2019/24