USA
Inaugurations of first-ever and largest US Indian Community Service Center, the National India Hub, in Schaumburg, Illinois, on June 15, 2024. Marking a significant milestone, the opening ceremony also coincided with the inauguration of a Yoga Fest, graced by His Holiness Acharya Dr. Lokesh Muni, Founder of Ahimsa Vishwa Bharati. This community, cultural, and recreational center aims to unite and empower the community, fostering a sense of optimism and progress.
Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, Consul General of Chicago Indian Somnath Ghosh, and Former Secretary of the Ministry of External Affairs of India, Ambassador Dr. Ausaf Sayeed, inaugurated the National India Hub. They praised the center’s leadership and expressed hopes for it to become a “Model Community Center” in the US.
Harish Kolasani, Founder and Chairman of the National India Hub, passionately shared the center’s mission and vision in an exclusive interview. He emphasized that this iconic center, the world’s largest Indian community center, houses over 60 service organizations dedicated to serving the community without boundaries. This achievement has already made it eligible for a Guinness World Record for having the highest number of service organizations under one roof.
The National India Hub, a 110,000 sq. ft. Class-A building, offers a wide range of services. These include preventive healthcare, mental health support, aid for domestic abuse survivors, support for sexual assault victims, free CPR training, personality development, assistance for international students, business networking opportunities, diverse educational programs for children, skill development programs for adults, vibrant cultural activities, art classes, and beautiful and affordable halls for community and private events. Additionally, recreational activities for seniors and youth are available. These initiatives are powered by 590 dedicated volunteers, making the Hub a beacon of community empowerment.
Health-related activities at the Hub include mental and heart health-targeted programs, blood drives, basic health screenings, and community bystander CPR programs to enhance outcomes in out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Monthly mega-job fairs are also provided at the center. Soon, help desks representing the Indian and US governments will be available. Programs tailored to senior citizens and youth, including indoor games, are a special feature of the Hub.
Dr. Vemuri Murthy, a renowned Indo-US Cardiac Resuscitation Expert, is the Founder of the Community Health and CPR Training Center at the National India Hub. He stated, “Bystander CPR programs for communities and high school students will be offered during weekends at the Training Center, with state-of-the-art resuscitation equipment involving a dedicated team of CPR instructors and volunteers.” The Chicago Medical Society is a partner of the CPR Training Center. Consul General Somnath Ghosh and Dr. Ausaf Sayeed received the center’s first two CPR Training Certificates during an exclusive “Celebrity CPR Training Program” conducted at the Training Center.
During the inauguration, Harish Kolasani expressed heartfelt gratitude to the dignitaries and the 200+ attendees. He highlighted that the National India Hub has not taken any donations or grants from government or private organizations since 2010, proving the credibility of its leadership. He proudly acknowledged the support of 340 student volunteers and over 250 adult volunteers who came together to make this challenging project a resounding success. Kolasani emphasized the crucial role of the community in the Hub’s success and earnestly requested the continued support of community members and governmental and non-governmental organizations to help the center become a ‘Model Community Service Center in the United States.’
