Indian Achievers’ Forum, unwavering in its commitment to acknowledge and celebrate commendable efforts and endeavors, successfully concluded the 64th edition of the National Summit and Awards for 2023. This annual event serves as a dynamic platform to commend and encourage a diverse array of contributors.
The 64th National Summit and Awards unfolded on August 21st at Le Meridien Hotel, in collaboration with CSR Times. This grand event brought together a distinguished gathering of dignitaries, award recipients, and over 300 delegates.
The summit commenced with an inaugural ceremony, followed by enlightening addresses from eminent personalities. Chief Guest Shri SPS Baghel, Minister of State, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, extended his congratulations to all participants and winners, underscoring CSR's potential to project India onto the global stage. The morning session boasted Guests of Honor including H.E. Mr. Dilshod Akhatov, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Republic of India, Lt. Gen Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd), Member of the National Disaster Management Authority, Government of India, and Maj. Gen. Ravindra Singh of the Indian Army.
The inaugural session featured the commendation of CSR Times award recipients followed by a thought-provoking panel discussion exploring the theme "Achieving SDGs Through CSR in Developing Economies: Role of G20 Nations." The second session turned the spotlight on the Indian Army's CSR initiatives, emphasized through a presentation by Brigadier Vikas Bhardwaj, Brig DAV. Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi, Hon’ble Member of Parliament (RS) and Spokesperson - BJP, addressed the gathering as the Guest of Honor, underscoring the collective responsibility of CSR engagement, extending beyond corporates to every individual.
Furthermore, several remarkable accomplishments of PSUs, Corporates, Corporate Foundations, MSMEs, and individuals received recognition through the Indian Achievers’ Award, honoring their commendable contributions. These individuals and organizations demonstrated unwavering dedication to the cause of nation-building.
One standout achiever is Mr. Manish Ramaswamy, who leads the Vehicle Control Systems team at American Axle & Manufacturing. A first-generation college graduate, his journey is nothing short of extraordinary. With over a decade dedicated to automotive powertrain systems, torque management, and battery control research and development, Mr. Ramaswamy has unquestionably emerged as a prominent figure in this field, inspiring all with his remarkable achievements.
In 2022, Manish assumed the role of Lead Controls Engineer at American Axle & Manufacturing, where he heads the vehicle control systems team, providing crucial technical direction. His expertise has solidified his position as a global authority in vehicle controls. Besides his career, Mr. Ramaswamy is an educator, having served as a Teaching Assistant at The University of Texas at Dallas. His passion for learning is reflected in certifications from prestigious institutions like Stanford University, including a Self-Driving Car Nanodegree and Machine Learning. Mr. Ramaswamy's contributions extend to the controls engineering community, where he serves as a technical reviewer for the IEEE Open Journal of Control Systems, actively advancing the field. His unwavering dedication has garnered him numerous awards and recognitions from Ford and General Motors for his innovative contributions.
In a heartening gesture, the Indian Achievers’ Forum bestowed the International Achievers’ Award for 2023 upon Mr. Manish Ramaswamy for his consistent and exceptional contributions to the safety and advancement of automotive control systems. Mr. Ramaswamy says his vision and mission are to make the world a better place using control systems and AI. With a plethora of experiences and learnings under his belt, he seeks to grow further, so he can continue to drive innovation and make a meaningful impact to the society.
Among the distinguished attendees were Mr. Ratnesh, Executive Director - United Nations Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI), Air Marshal VPS Rana PVSM, VSM (Retd), Mr. S. Ravi Shankar, Executive Committee Member - CSR Times Awards, H.E. Mrs. Daniela Mariana Sezonov-Tane, Ambassador of Romania to India, H.E. Ms. Jacqueline Mukangira, High Commissioner - High Commission of the Republic of Rwanda to India, Dr. László Makk, Deputy Head of Mission, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Hungary, and Shri Shaurya Doval, Founding Member - India Foundation, Dr. Sudipta Narayan Roy, Director, IAF. The gathering witnessed these esteemed guests addressing the summit, inspiring participants with renewed fervor and compassion for social endeavors.
Mr. Harish Chandra, Editor of CSR Times & President, Indian Achievers' Forum, extended his congratulations to all winners and participants, expressing gratitude to the event's partners for their pivotal role in ensuring the event's resounding success. The summit concluded with a resounding vote of thanks, leaving attendees galvanized and determined to sustain their collective efforts in pursuit of national betterment.
