In a rare honor, George Abraham, the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) Vice Chair, received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Rahul Gandhi at an IOC reception on June 3 in Queens, New York. The award recognized Abraham’s dedication and hard work for the IOC for over 30 years. His wife, Lona Abraham was at his side.
Abraham co-founded the Congress organization in America over a quarter of a century ago. IOC Global Chair Sam Pitroda announced the honor at the reception for Rahul Gandhi. He invited Gandhi to present the plaque that lauded Abraham’s vision and commitment to the organization. The presentation was greeted with thunderous applause by an audience of 300-plus party supporters.
It was a proud moment for Abraham, who started his association with the Congress Party during his school days. He worked in ‘All Kerala Balajana Sakhyam’ (a youth organization) and became the state treasurer. Later he worked in the Kerala Students Union (KSU) before moving to the U.S. George Abraham retired as a Chief Technology Officer at the United Nations.
In 1988, the ‘Indian Overseas Congress’ was launched when the former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy visited the U.S. Its first planning meeting was held at George Abraham’s house in New York. In the late 1990s, along with others from Kerala, he founded an organization to support the Congress party. It grew into the INOC. Sonia Gandhi, the former AICC President, inaugurated the organization on her visit to the U.S. in 2001.
Abraham retains his Indian citizenship despite living for over 55 years in the U.S. He is a committed Congress Party member who continues to support Congress leaders visiting the U.S.