Swadesh Chatterjee
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Swadesh Chatterjee (born 1947) is an American leader and activist dedicated to fostering a better relationship among American and Indian people, politicians and businesses. In recognition of his contributions, the
President of India The president of India ( IAST: ) is the head of state of the Republic of India. The president is the nominal head of the executive, the first citizen of the country, as well as the commander-in-chief of the Indian Armed Forces. Droupadi Murmu ...
conferred on him the Padma Bhushan award in 2001. He was the first Indian American to receive this award in the public affairs category. Chatterjee was inducted as a member of India's Prime Minister's Global Advisory Council of
Overseas Indians Overseas Indians (International Alphabet of Sanskrit Transliteration, IAST: ), officially Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) are Indian people, Indians who live outside of the Republic of India. According to the ...
in January 2009. Chatterjee was chairman and co-founder of the U.S.-India Friendship Council, a coalition of prominent Indian American individuals and associations that lobbied U.S. Senators and House members that was instrumental in the passage of the US-India Civilian Nuclear Deal. The historic bill was signed into law by
President George W. Bush George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 43rd president of the United States from 2001 to 2009. A member of the Republican Party, Bush family, and son of the 41st president George H. W. Bush, he ...
on Wednesday, October 8, 2008. In 1998, Chatterjee was elected the President of the Indian American Forum for Political Education (IAFPE), a nationwide organization whose goals are to boost political participation by members of the Indian American Community and to improve the relationship between the United States and India. Under his leadership, IAFPE played a key role in
President Clinton William Jefferson Clinton ( né Blythe III; born August 19, 1946) is an American politician who served as the 42nd president of the United States from 1993 to 2001. He previously served as governor of Arkansas from 1979 to 1981 and again ...
’s March 2000 visit to India. He and others from the Indian American community briefed the White House before the visit. He was part of the Indian American delegation that accompanied the president during the visit. Chatterjee is credited with transforming Senator Jesse Helms, then chairman of the powerful
U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee The United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is a standing committee of the U.S. Senate charged with leading foreign-policy legislation and debate in the Senate. It is generally responsible for overseeing and funding foreign aid pro ...
, from an India-basher to a friend and an ally. It is believed that this transformation laid the foundation of future successes in improving the U.S.-India relationship. A long-time
North Carolina North Carolina () is a state in the Southeastern region of the United States. The state is the 28th largest and 9th-most populous of the United States. It is bordered by Virginia to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Georgia and So ...
resident, Chatterjee is a businessman and entrepreneur. He is president and CEO of Swadesh Chatterjee and Associates, and was earlier president of Brandt Instruments. He served on the N.C. Joining our Businesses and Schools (JOBS) Commission under the leadership of
Walter Dalton Walter H. Dalton (born May 21, 1949) is an American attorney and politician who served as the 33rd Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina. A member of the United States Democratic Party, Democratic Party, he served six terms in the state senate bef ...
, a former Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina (2009-2013). Chatterjee is a co-founder of TiE Carolinas, a group of successful business people whose primary goal is to develop and assist fledgling entrepreneurs. He served a two-year term (2003-2004) as President of the group. Chatterjee serves on the board of directors for The Center for International Understanding Council of North Carolina and on the Advisory Board for International and Area studies in the
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill A university () is an institution of higher (or tertiary) education and research which awards academic degrees in several academic disciplines. Universities typically offer both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. In the United States ...
. Chatterjee was the first recipient of the Community Leader of Year award by the ethnic newspaper,
India Abroad ''India Abroad'' is a weekly newspaper published from New York City, which focuses on Indian news meant for an Indian American, Indian diaspora and expatriate audience. The publication is known for its annual award ceremony for the "India Abroad P ...
(2006).This man bridges gaps across continents, ''Rediff India Abroad'', March 23, 2007 (http://specials.rediff.com/news/2007/mar/23indiad1.htm) Chatterjee has a B.Sc.Degree in Physics from Calcutta University, a B.E. in Instrumentation and Electronic Engineering from Jadavpur University, and an M.B.A. from
North Carolina State University North Carolina State University (NC State) is a public land-grant research university in Raleigh, North Carolina. Founded in 1887 and part of the University of North Carolina system, it is the largest university in the Carolinas. The universit ...
. He and his wife Manjusri Chatterjee, a practicing Physician, reside in Cary, North Carolina.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Chatterjee, Swadesh Living people University of Calcutta alumni American politicians of Indian descent Recipients of the Padma Bhushan in public affairs 1947 births