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India Development Service marks 50 years with gala celebration

Nobel Laureate Dr. Abhijit Banerjee delivered the keynote address, offering insights on global poverty and the impact of grassroots organizations like IDS in fostering sustainable change.

Representatives from two partner NGOs based in India, who have long collaborated with IDS, attended the event. / Courtesy Photo

India Development Service (IDS), a nonprofit organization based in Chicago, celebrated its 50th anniversary with a gala event in Oakbrook, Illinois, on Oct.20, 2024. The evening featured speeches, cultural performances, and reflections on the organization’s five decades of work supporting sustainable development projects in India.

Nobel Laureate Dr. Abhijit Banerjee delivered the keynote address, offering insights on global poverty and the impact of grassroots organizations like IDS in fostering sustainable change. Dr. Banerjee, co-recipient of the 2019 Nobel Prize in Economic Sciences, emphasized the importance of collaboration with local communities. “Organizations such as IDS play a crucial role in creating long-term development solutions by working closely with the people they serve,” he remarked.

Nobel Laureate Dr. Abhijit Banerjee delivered the keynote address. / Courtesy Photo

S. R. Hiremath, one of the founding members of IDS, spoke about the organization's journey since its inception in 1974. Reflecting on its beginnings, Hiremath credited the passion and commitment of the IDS team for sustaining it over the past five decades.

Representatives from two partner NGOs based in India, who have long collaborated with IDS, attended the event and shared stories of how their work with IDS has empowered rural communities across the country. Their accounts highlighted the transformative impact of grassroots initiatives in fostering development at the local level.

The event  included a cultural program, with performances by local artists Raju Bankpaur and Shree Mahonty. Attendees were entertained to a mix of Bollywood and Hollywood songs during dinner and participated in a quiz on India.

The gala, hosted by Jerome McDonnell, former presenter of WBEZ’s Worldview, served as a celebration of IDS’s legacy and its ongoing efforts to improve lives in India.

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