Vijaya Emani Gets U.S. Presidential Citizens Medal

By siliconindia   |   Saturday, 22 October 2011, 00:02 IST
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Bangalore:President Barack Obama has honoured Indian American activist Vijaya Emani posthumously with the Presidential Citizens Medal for "her courage in overcoming and speaking out against domestic abuse" in the Indian-American community.
President Barack Obama
Obama Presenting the nation's second-highest civilian honour to her daughter's, Sujata and Nirmala Emani told that Vijaya Emani lent her voice to protect Indian-American women from domestic violence. Vijaya Lakshmi Emani was born in Kurnool and was known to us as a spitfire, but came from a more modest and quiet beginning. As a young woman in India, she was awarded top merits at every level of her education while maintaining her youthful jovial personality. She graduated in 1980 from Osmania University with a B.S. in Electronics and Communications Engineering and made her way to the United States in 1986. She received her M.S. in Computer Science from Cleveland State University. She overcame personal struggles in a divorce and raised two daughters, Sujata and Nirmala, with the help of her Mother. Vijaya was a dedicated civic leader, striving to promote excellence within the Cleveland community. Vijaya came to the forefront of the Indian Community first working with the Northeast Ohio Telugu Association, then with FICA, and more recently with the Greater Cleveland Asian Community.

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