OUR TEAM

The Genesis of the Tejasvi Award

Harish Kotecha, the Founder and President of Hindu Charities for America (HC4A), has been recognized with over two dozen awards, both locally and nationally, for his significant philanthropic efforts.

While grateful for the recognition of HC4A’s mission, Mr. Kotecha was long bothered by an overlooked truth: many dedicated Indian Americans in Austin have accomplished equally profound, if not greater, work across various fields. He felt strongly that a formal platform for Indians was lacking and needed to honor these often-unsung contributions.

This vision of creating a dedicated recognition platform quickly took shape:

  • The Idea is Formed: Mr. Kotecha sought to create an award that specifically celebrates the excellence, service, and positive impact of Indian Americans in the greater Austin area.
  • A Shared Vision: He approached Anuradha Naimpally, a cultural pioneer known for bringing Bharat Natyam, the Indian Classical Dance form, to mainstream Austin audiences. She immediately embraced the concept.
  • The Founding Team Expands: The initiative gained further momentum when Naga Valli, a creative songwriter and singer, and Pragya Sen, known for bringing prominent Bollywood artists to Austin, shared the commitment to recognizing community excellence.

Together, this founding team formulated and established the Tejasvi Award, creating a much-needed spotlight for the remarkable talent and service within the Indian American community of Austin.

Get Involved: Review Committee

Shape the Future of the Tejasvi Awards

The success of the Tejasvi Awards depends entirely on the dedicated community members who volunteer their time and expertise. By getting involved, you help us identify, celebrate, and elevate the most impactful leaders in the Austin Indian diaspora.

We are currently seeking nominations for Review Committee Members to guide the inaugural selection process.

Become a Review Committee Member

Review Committee Members are the backbone of the Tejasvi Awards selection process. Your role is crucial: to impartially review nominations, assess their impact against the award criteria, and recommend finalists to the Board of Directors for the final decision.

  • Your Role and Impact
    • Review and Recommend: Evaluate nominations within your assigned category and provide clear recommendations based on merit and impact.
    • Impartiality: Ensure fairness, objectivity, and transparency throughout the entire selection process.
    • Representation: Serve as a voice of excellence for a specific area of community contribution.
  • Committee Structure
    • Each award category (e.g., Arts & Culture, Civic Engagement, Entrepreneurship) will have its own dedicated Review Committee.
    • Committees will consist of a minimum of 3 to 5 members who possess professional expertise or deep knowledge related to that specific award category.
    • The Board of Directors will make the final decision based on the Committee’s well-researched recommendations.
  • Who Should Apply?
    We are seeking individuals who are:
    • Respected leaders or experts within the Austin community.
    • Passionate about celebrating service, excellence, and leadership.
    • Committed to objectivity and maintaining confidentiality during the review process.

Ready to Contribute?

If you are interested in applying to be a Review Committee Member and contributing to the integrity of the Tejasvi Awards, please email: tejasviawards@gmail.com

Nominate

  • Nomination Eligibility: Nomination may be done by self or by a nominator.
  • The Selection Process:
    1. Nomination Committee will review the application in detail.
    2. The committee will vote and provide recommendation to the Board.
    3. The Board will review and make the final decision.