Dharmatma Saran
| Dharmatma Saran | |
|---|---|
| Born |
January 14 Munger, Bihar, India |
| Residence | New York City, New York, USA[1] |
| Education |
Master's degree in International relations Law degree |
| Alma mater |
Patna University[1] Magadh University |
| Occupation | Chairman and founder of India Festival Committee[2] |
| Years active | 1974–present |
| Home town | Queens, New York, USA[1] |
| Spouse(s) | Neelam Saran (m. 1979) |
| Children | 2 |
| Website | Official Website |
Dharmata Saran is an Indian American businessperson, entrepreneur and the founder of India Festival Committee based in New York, which organizes Miss India Worldwide, a beauty pageant for women of Indian origin living in different countries, Miss India USA, Mrs. India USA, Miss Teen India USA, Miss India New York, Mrs. India New York and Miss Teen India New York pageants for American women having origins in India.
Personal life and career
Saran was born in Munger, a twin city and a Municipal Corporation situated in the Indian state of Bihar. He completed his Master's degree in International relations from the Patna University in 1967 and then completed Law degree from Magadh University. After completing his education he moved to the United States in 1971.[1]
In 1974 he established India Festival Committee, a non-profit, voluntary organization for conducting fashion events in the United States. In 1980, through this organization he organized two beauty pageants named, Miss India USA, a beauty pageant for Indian American girls and Miss India New York, beauty pageant for Indian American girls from New York.[3][4]
In 1990, he organized the first international beauty pageant named Miss India Worldwide for the girls of Indian diaspora residing in different countries. The first ever Miss India Worldwide was Simi Chaddha, Miss India USA 1990. The India Festival Committee also organizes Miss Teen India USA, Mrs. India USA, Miss Teen India New York and Mrs. India New York pageants. In 1979, he got married to Neelam and the couple has two daughters, Neema married to Dr. Neil Sinha and Ankeeta married to Abhishek Joshi. In 1992, he judged Femina Miss India 1992 pageant. He is responsible for starting Indian pageants in various parts of the world to compete in Miss India Worldwide pageant.[2][3][4][5]
In 2013, he was honoured by the California State Legislature for his contribution to the Indian American community and Indian diaspora in various parts of the world.[6]
References
- 1 2 3 4 "Dharmatma Saran". bihareebabu.com. Retrieved 1 Feb 2016.
- 1 2 "Mr. Dharmatma Saran". zoominfo.com. Retrieved 1 Feb 2016.
- 1 2 "All About the Pageant". worldwidepageants.com. Retrieved 1 Feb 2016.
- 1 2 "Crowning secrets of Indian Beauty Queens". books.google.co.in. Retrieved 1 Feb 2016.
- ↑ EVENTFAQS Bureau (22 September 2015). "IFC-India Festival Committee & EV Events organise 24th annual Miss India Worldwide in Mumbai". eventfaqs.com. Retrieved 1 Feb 2016.
- ↑ "California Legislature Honours Dharmatma Saran, Chairman, Miss India Worldwide". worldwidepageants.com. Retrieved 1 Feb 2016.