Indian-Americans honour Kansas survivor
Monday, 27/03/2017
http://epaper.dailypostindia.com/Details.aspx?id=175144&boxid=65011&uid=&dat=2017-03-27
They raise US $ 1,00,000 FOR IAN GRILLOT, ‘A TRUE AMERICAN HERO’.
Houston : A 24-year-old American, who took a bullet for an Indian, has been honoured as ‘A True American Hero’ by the Indian-American community in Houston which raised US $100,000 to help him buy a house in his hometown Kansas. Ian Grillot, who was injured when he tried to intervene in the shooting by a Navy veteran targeting Indians at a bar in Olathe, Kansas last month, was honoured as ‘A True American Hero’ at the 14th annual gala of India House Houston here. Srinivas Kuchibhotla, 32, was killed and his colleague Alok Madasani was critically injured in the shooting.
“On behalf of the Indian-American community in Houston, India House recognised this selfless act beyond the call of duty and has extended the community’s gratitude to Ian Grillot by helping him to buy a house,” said a statement posted on the India House Houston Facebook page. India House raised US $100,000 as part of an initiative supported by the Consul General of India in Houston, Dr Anupam Ray to help Ian buy a house in his hometown, it said. India House is a community centre built by Americans of Indian origin in the Greater Houston area. Speaking on the occasion, Ian said: “I don’t know if I could’ve lived with myself if I wouldn’t have stopped or attempted to stop the shooter because that would’ve been completely devastating.”
“I do now have a very powerful message and if I can help empower people and spread hope and love, then why not? I am honoured to be at the India House that serves so many families from so many communities in the Houston area,” he said. India’s Ambassador to US Navtej Sarna handed over the cheque of US $100,000 to Ian.
