About Us
IAGB is an Indian-American community organization dedicated to civic, community, social and cultural causes
“IAGB strives to foster a strong Indian-American social, cultural and community presence in New England”
History
Founded in 1962 as a socio-cultural organization, IAGB has played an important role in bringing the area’s Indian communities together.
In its early years, IAGB played a major role in bringing the then small Indian community together to celebrate Indian festivals and special occasions. It must be noted that its annual India Day celebration in Boston has grown into one of the largest ethnic events in the City of Boston, drawing thousands of people of all ethnicities comprising not only Indian Americans, but also the national mainstream.
IAGB is governed by an Executive Committee consisting of professionals, who speak different languages, come from different backgrounds, and are a microcosm of the unity-in- diversity that is India. IAGB thrives because of the dedication and hard work of its volunteer officers and directors and the continued enthusiastic support from the Greater Boston communities. It looks forward to continuing to work in the spirit of its mission for years to come.
Our Team
Nilesh Agrawal (President)
Nilesh agrawal is a senior it project manager and manages the database team globally as dba manager. He has over 20+ years of it experience. He has a master’s degree in computer management (mcm) from pune university. He is an active director of admin in shishu bharati school and an executive committee member in various new england organizations such as hindi manch - baal yuva vibhag, dharma center of america lowell etc. Nilesh is a community leader, involved with various voluntary non-profit organizations. He would like to help in various iagb initiatives such as civic collaboration, giving back to the community etc. He loves music and sports (nfl & cricket). He lives in burlington with his wife and two children.
Deepak Garg (Vice President)
Deepak Garg brings over 25 years of professional experience and currently serves as Vice President Loan Officer at Leader Bank. Within IAGB, he has been an active contributor to several key initiatives, including Sponsorship, Senior Expo, Republic Day, Red Sox India Celebration, and Independence Day. Beyond IAGB, Deepak is deeply committed to civic and community service. He serves on the planning committee for the Asian Community Fund (ACF) Gala and represents the Town of Belmont as a member of both the Warrant Committee and the Capital Budget Committee. He is also the Vice President of the Belmont Pan Asian Coalition and Treasurer of Belmont AAPI Heritage. His prior leadership roles include Executive Director of UIANE and Treasurer for local school organizations, including a four-year tenure with the Foundation for Belmont Education (FBE). Deepak holds dual MBAs in Finance and Marketing, as well as a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering.
Vijay Ejenkar (Treasurer)
Vijay Ejenkar is a Software Tech Performance Engineer working at a leading financial firm and a graduate with an MBA from Osmania University, Hyderabad. A passionate cricket enthusiast and music lover, he has been an active member of the Hindi Manch organization, managing lighting and audio for various events. Vijay also enjoys singing and lives with his wife, two kids, and their dog, bringing the same energy and dedication to his personal and creative pursuits as he does to his professional career.
Ashalata Thotangare (Secretary)
Ashalata Thotangare goes by Asha. She lives in Bedford, MA with her son and husband. She has taught Indian regional language Marathi, at Shishu Bharati-Nashua. She has been part of IAGB for many years in the form of a volunteer and now an active EC team member since 2021. Asha is an IT professional focused on Product Management and Process Improvement. Besides her day job, she has also taught graduate-level IT courses at SNHU University as an Adjunct Faculty. She loves working with students and sharing her knowledge. She loves to cook, read, and sew as a hobby. Asha will never bypass an opportunity to volunteer for charitable work in person or in financial form. Mediation has been her passion. IAGB motivates her to connect with people from all walks of life.
Arpita Das Pathak (Director)
Arpita is an Engineering Sr. Manager by day and lives in Littleton, MA with her husband, 2 kids and a dog. She is the Founder / Creative Director of GuruKool Enrichment Center, Co-Founder of Science Cardinal and also involved with a number of other non-profits in the Greater Boston area. Her interest in serving on the IAGB board stems from the passion for giving back to the community. With a strong dance background in Bharatnatyam, Manipuri, Rabindra Nritya and folk dances, Arpita strongly believes in spreading the rich tradition of culture, dance, music, and art in various forms. By staying rooted to traditions and values, she wants to set an example for future generations to come. Her vision for IAGB is to uphold it as an iconic organization representing the South Asian community as a whole, irrespective of which state/region their roots might be in India.
Jharna Madan (Director)
Jharna Madan is a passionate community leader and cultural ambassador in the Greater Boston area. As a Director of Hindi Manch, she helps preserve Hindi language and culture through music, drama, literature, and youth programs. She is deeply involved in organizing and hosting community events, from concerts and fundraisers to cultural festivals, bringing people together through creativity and collaboration. Professionally, Jharna is a Senior Designer with OfficeWorks, and she also serves as the Boston Bureau Chief for TV Asia, amplifying voices and stories from the South Asian community. An experienced MC and event strategist, she is known for curating inclusive and engaging experiences that celebrate heritage, community, and togetherness.
Lima Das (Director)
Lima Das a.k.a Lima is Kind, compassionate & empathetic to other people’s needs. She is a conscientious person who takes pride in helping others. She always likes to keep herself informed about geopolitics and global news. She loves to cook, listen to the Bollywood music, play chess and loves to do art work. She lives with her husband and two sons.
Manishabrata Bhowmick (Director)
Scientist by training and educational background, Manish is passionate about giving back to community through volunteering in his leisure time. He strives to take ownership and drive for success with commitment. Manish strongly believes that fostering a strong Indian social and cultural presence is essential in New England to give our young generation a solid foundation of Indian history which empower and inspire them to understand, appreciate and enjoy the rich cultural heritage of India and integrate it into American culture. He loves photography and cinematography. He lives in Chelmsford, MA with his wife and daughter.
Prashant Kulkarni (Director)
Prashant has proudly called Boston home for over two decades. A graduate of Boston University, he currently serves as a Cloud & AI Architect at Microsoft Corp. Beyond his professional role, Prashant is also the co-founder of a company focused on advancing clean energy solutions. Deeply committed to community service, Prashant has volunteered with numerous local non-profits and events. He is a director at Shishu Bharati, a school dedicated to preserving Indian languages and culture. His leadership journey includes serving as President of the New England Marathi Mandal (NEMM), where he organized a wide range of cultural and educational programs. He also contributed as a event host and board member of the New England Java User Group, a vibrant developer community with over 5,000 members.
Shital Bhammar (Director)
Shital Bhammar is a dedicated community leader and nonprofit strategist with over 23 years of experience in the nonprofit sector. Her journey began with a goal to unite the Indian community and highlight its culture, values, and bonds. With a career spanning roles in program management, regulatory labeling, and executive leadership, Shital has driven strategic initiatives that have helped secure stronger community connections.Having experienced the challenges of being an early immigrant to the US, Shital is passionate about strengthening community connections through dedicated nonprofits.
Vijayendra Bhargava (Director)
Vijayendra Bhargava is a VP at State Street Bank & Trust, with 16+ years of experience in the finance industry across various domains like risk management, regulatory reporting and data governance. He strongly wishes to ensure that the local Indian community is able to integrate with the mainstream while not losing its rich cultural heritage and identity. Vijayendra wants to be able to contribute to the community as a whole and volunteer where possible for initiatives which bring not just the Indian population together but also attract interest from other communities. Vijayendra has a keen interest in current affairs and politics while also actively playing tennis and pickleball in his spare time.
