Indianapolis NRI Sikh honored as the 2007 Asian American Alliance's Volunteer of the Year

Indianapolis, Indiana, April 28, 2007
Kanwal Prakash Singh

NRI Maninder Singh Walia was honored as the 2007 Asian American Alliance's Volunteer of the Year at the annual Asian-Pacific American Heritage Month Celebration on April 28th in Indianapolis, Indiana USA.

The winner of the Asian American Alliance 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award goes to an individual whose community involvement and civic leadership are unparalleled. Today, I’m privileged to be here to share with you just a few notable accomplishments of this remarkable individual.

In addition to working countless hours as a reliable volunteer for the Alliance, and the serving as a point of contact to the Sikh community, this volunteer has managed to find the time to lend his servant-leadership style to many other community organizations.

• He is actively involved in several areas of the Sikh Educational & Cultural Society of Indianapolis, serving as a Trustee.
• He works as a member of Mayor Bart Peterson’s Natural Helper Program to assist recent immigrants in Greater Indianapolis.
Sikhs with Mayor at 9-11Community Fair


• He is involved in several inter-faith, multicultural activities and events each year, including the Interfaith Peace Service at Carmelite Monastery, the Interfaith Thanksgiving Prayer Service at St. Peter & Paul, the Tibetan Cultural Center, the CICF Forum on Sikh Americans, as well as several other worthwhile organizations and events.

• He also serves as a volunteer and host for visitors of other faiths to the Sikh Temple.
• And, he serves as a Judge at the International Dance Competition sponsored by the Punjabi Cultural Society of Chicago.
And today’s award winner’s influence goes far beyond the city of Indianapolis. He has an established network among the Sikh communities in Cincinnati, Chicago, Washington, D.C, and Los Angeles.

He is proactive in educating Hoosiers about Sikh beliefs, values, traditions, and culture. And his passion is to serve as a bridge between the Sikh faith and others in order to deepen mutual understanding.

His very life – and lifestyle – embodies the Sikh term SEVA – which means “selfless service”. It is the highest form of the worship according to the Sikh faith and tradition and the term that perhaps best describes the Asian American Alliance 2007 Volunteer of the Year Award winner, Mr. Maninder Walia.