U.S. President Barack Obama has honoured Indian-American activist Vijaya Lakshmi Emani posthumously with the Presidential Citizens Medal for her courage in overcoming and speaking out against domestic abuse in the Indian-American community, according to an IANS report from Washington.
“Breaking long-held taboos, Vijaya Emani lent her voice to protect Indian-American women from domestic violence,” Mr. Obama said while presenting the nation's second-highest civilian honour to Emani's daughters -- Sujata and Nirmala -- in the East Room of the White House.
“She was a trailblazer who shared her personal story to help other battered women overcome abusive relationships,” Mr. Obama said of Emani, who was killed on January 15, 2009 at the age of 51 when she was hit by a truck in Ohio.
Vijaya Emani was born at Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh to Indu Rani and G. Venkataramana Reddy and she was a meritorious student at every level of her education. She made her way to the United States in 1986 after graduating in engineering from Osmania University in 1980 and later received her M.S. degree in Computer Science from Cleveland State University.
With her marriage ending in divorce, she overcame personal struggles to bring up her daughters with the help of her mother. Vijaya came to the forefront of the Indian community, first working with the Northeast Ohio Telugu Association, then with the Federation of Indian Community Associations and with Greater Cleveland Asian Community later.
She initiated single-parent support groups and opened discussion about immigrant domestic violence. An advocate of women's empowerment and community involvement, Vijaya rose to be a civic leader to one of the largest minorities in the city of Cleveland. She worked to help set up the India Cultural Garden in 2002 and installation of Gandhiji's statue in 2006.
The news of Vijaya Emani receiving the award from Mr. Obama aroused keen interest in the elite sections of Kurnool town, Several citizen activists launched a search to trace her roots. The former Mayor S. Raghurami Reddy, social activist K. C. Kalkura and collector of antique objects Venkateshwar Reddy were in the forefront among them.
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