Ankur Bipinchandra Vaidya serves as Chairman of the Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) for New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, and the Northeast. Founded in 1970, FIA is among the oldest and largest grassroots Indian-American umbrella organizations in the United States, representing a community of more than one million Indian Americans.
Mr. Vaidya’s involvement with FIA began in 2008 as a volunteer, and over more than fifteen years he has taken on progressively greater leadership roles. He was elected President of FIA in 2013 and re-elected in 2014, guiding the organization through a period of institutional growth and expanded community programming before joining its Board and later assuming the Chairmanship in 2020.
Under his leadership, FIA has received national and international recognition, including the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman in 2021 and formal acknowledgment in the United States Congressional Record in 2022. During the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, FIA coordinated a major humanitarian relief effort, delivering more than $55 million in medical supplies to India in partnership with the City of New York, NITI Aayog, and the Red Cross.
FIA hosts more than twenty community programs annually under Mr. Vaidya’s direction, including the India Day Parade in Manhattan — recognized as the largest Indian cultural celebration outside India, with the 45th annual edition set for 2027 — as well as the annual Dance Pe Chance youth dance competition, International Women’s Day observances, and the Diwali Soup Kitchen initiative, which has provided over 50,000 meals to underserved communities. During his tenure, the India Day Parade has also earned three Guinness World Records, including the largest gathering of national flags and the largest damaru ensemble.
Beyond his work with FIA, Mr. Vaidya is a founding member of the South Asian American Coalition (SACO) and an active supporter of organizations including AAHOA, AIANA, ICS of Union, and SAARC. He also serves on the National Finance Committee for Senator Cory Booker, reflecting his broader engagement in civic and diplomatic affairs.
