Tejinder Singh Bindra
Man of Accomplishment & Distinction

Mr.Tejinder Bindra President of the SIKH Art & Film Foundation & also president of Sikh Organization.

Non resident Indian community in North America has been a model across the globe for their exceptional achievements in technical, educational, social and political fields. One such distinguished family that has come to be recognized for its success and commitment to the larger society in North America is the Bindra family of Long Island, New York led by the Patriarch of the family Ishar Singh Bindra. Tejinder Bindra the youngest son of Ishar Singh Bindra is a scion and public face of this family.

Tejinder, who has come to be known as "TJ to his American friends and "Teji" to his Indian friends was born on sept 17th 1957. From the onset he showed promise of greatness, excelling in public speaking and for his keen interest in community and religious affairs. TJ had his earlier education at Punjab Public School of Nabha, India where he showed great qualities of natural leadership and was the school prefect .He had his college education in Dharamsala in H.Q and subsequently did his MBA in Simla. He was always a favorite in the school and college debates and represented his institution in the intercollegiate and inter university competitions.

This God given gift has stood in good stead in the later years of his public life in his adopted country, the USA. TJ migrated to USA in 1979 and co founded Jeetish Imports Inc along with his distinguished father and brother. The commercial concern rapidly grew and expanded to the national and international conglomerate Jeetish Group of Companies. Initially a garment business, the company has successfully diversified into commodities, apparel, real estate and imports/exports. The business is run on contemporary model and is well respected in the business circles and Government agencies. Not content with his successful career in business, TJ took time out to organize and participate in several local and state level social religious, political, and literary causes. He is one of the founders of the Sikh Forum Gurdwara in Plainview, Long Island and serves on the board of trustees. He was also a cofounder of the Gurdwara in Glen Cove, Long Island.

Mr.Tejinder Bindra receiving an award from the President Stuart Rabinowitz, J.D. of Hofstra University and Dr. Bernard Firestone, Dean of Hofstra University.

The Bindra family made great headlines in the media and became the subject of allround appreciation in the community when they donated a large sum of money to Hofstra University in Long Island to establish the Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Chair, a chair of Sikh Studies, named after the matriarch of the family. Through TJ’s great ability for high level negotiations and organization the dream was realized without much loss of time and the chair became a reality in 1999. The Chair focuses on academic study of the Sikh religion.

Funds from the endowment supports faculty, enrichment of library holdings in Sikh religion, an annual scholarship and conferences. In 2006 Ishar Singh Bindra and the Bindra family in collaboration with the Hofstra University established the Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize, an international prize of $50,000 to be awarded biannually to an individual or organization that promotes harmony and peaceful coexistence among various religions. The winner of the prize will be announced in late 2007 and awarded in early 2008.The Honorary Patrons of this organization includes highly esteemed men such as The Honorable I.K.Gujral, Former Prime Minister of India, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Laureate, and U.S Senators Senator Charles Schumer and Norm Coleman to name a few.

This development in community affairs greatly raised the stature of the NRI Community in the eyes of Long Islanders and educational institutions. T.J has served in many boards. He was in the board of United Way of Long Island. T.J served on the Criminal Justice Council of Nassau County. Recently he was named to the Hofstra University Board of Trustees and in a press release Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Hofstra University quoted" T.J. gives Hofstra's Board of Trustees added depth and expertise not only because of his considerable business and financial expertise but also through his work with various foundations and charities.

President Bill Clinton with Mr.Tejinder Bindra and Mrs. Harinder Bindra at the Presidential Conference hosted by the Hofstra University

T.J is the first Indian and for that matter the first Asian American to be on the board of Hofstra University. T.J is the founder and president of the Sikh Organization of New York and has led two very successful delegations to the New York State Government on behalf of the Sikh- American community. His efforts resulted in Baisakhi, the Khalsa New Year, being recognized as a "Sikh American Day" by the state government, and in the introduction of a New York State Assembly resolution for the freedom of State Police and other State employees to wear turbans. T.J has close and friendly relations with the County and State leadership of both the parties both Democrats and Republicans. He has hosted several fund raisers at his home for the congressional senatorial and county government candidates of both parties. He has thus brought the Indian community in general and the American Sikh community in particular to the lime light with the political leaders and the political parties.

Juxtaposing with the organization for social issues He is also the founder and president of the Sikh Art and Film Foundation. An organization dedicated to promoting Sikh culture and arts. Under his leadership, the Spinning Wheel Sikh Film Festival made its debut in September 2004, and has become a prestigious annual event. His recent achievements include the successful show of Sikh Art Exhibition - "I See No Stranger" at the Rubin Museum of Arts in Manhattan, opened to the public from September 17th 2006 to January 30th 2007. He was the leading force to put together the Exhibition of such magnitude. This exhibition was widely covered by the media. It received rave reviews from New York Times Art Critic Holland Cotter.

In September 22nd 2007 the Sikh Art & Film Foundation hosted the Sikh Heritage Awards Gala at Cipriani Wall Street, where 500 prominent members of the Sikh, Indian and American Community attended the prestigious gala. On sept 23rd the fourth annual spinning wheel film festival was held at the Asia Society. The mayor of New York, Michael Bloomberg, in support of the organization issued a proclamation declaring sept 22nd to sept 28th Sikh heritage week.

Mr. Ishar Singh Bindra with wife, his son Mr. Bindra, daughterin-law Mrs. Bindra, grandaughter Sumeet and Grandson Raj.

T.J has been the recipient of many awards for his many accomplishments and his philanthropic work; Recently in April 2006 he was honored by the Joan and Arnold Saltzman Center of Hofstra University for his philanthropic work. Tom Gulotta, the County Executive issued a special proclamation on TJ’s 40th birthday to the effect that" .. you have emerged as an individual with the ability and dedication to affect a lasting impact on the community concerns with which you are involved... You, as a man of accomplishment and distinction have reached a significant mile stone in your life, as you celebrate your 40th birthday,... And you are to be commended for the full life you continue to lead and for the happiness you bring to all those who are fortunate enough to know you."

-by Anu Sharma