H.R. No. 149
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Raveen Arora of Irving was one of the nominees for
the 2021 Nobel Peace Prize, and this achievement truly merits
special recognition; and
WHEREAS, Established by Alfred Nobel in 1895, the Nobel Peace
Prize is presented each year to a person, persons, or organization
that has worked for the promotion of peace and fraternity between
nations; the first prize was awarded in 1901, and in 2021, there
were 329 candidates from around the globe; and
WHEREAS, Raveen Arora was born in a refugee camp in the Punjab
region of India in 1948, and he grew up poor in the city of Kolkata;
around the age of seven, he met Mother Teresa when she visited his
school, and at age 11, he met Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.; after
earning degrees in accounting, finance, and business management in
India, he worked as a chartered accountant while also serving as an
officer of the Lions Club and giving generously of his time to a
number of charitable organizations, including the Missionaries of
Charity founded by Mother Teresa; and
WHEREAS, In 1981, Mr. Arora moved to Los Angeles and started
a successful financial consultancy, and after retiring in 2002, he
relocated to Tempe, Arizona, where he became involved in many
philanthropic endeavors; he created India Plaza to rejuvenate a
depressed part of the city and showcase a variety of Indian
businesses, and he also served on the boards of numerous
organizations, including United Food Bank, the Tempe Chamber of
Commerce, the Tempe Community Council, Project Humanities at
Arizona State University, and Sister Cities International;
moreover, he spent countless hours distributing bottled water and
meals to the homeless as well as providing financial assistance to
local college students and recently arrived immigrants; he also
traveled to more than 90 countries to deliver humanitarian aid; and
WHEREAS, In 2021, Mr. Arora moved to Irving to be close to his
daughter and his grandchildren, and he continues to serve others
through his Think Human global initiative, a grassroots
organization which he established in 2016 to promote empathy,
diversity, and inclusion; he was nominated for the Nobel Peace
Prize by Satish Lakhotia, the founder of an Indian service
organization, and the nomination has received nearly 70
endorsements; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his life, Raveen Arora has donated much
of his time and energy to carrying out good works in his community
and around the world, and in so doing, he has earned the high esteem
of innumerable people; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby congratulate Raveen Arora
on his nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize and extend to him
sincere best wishes for continued success with his important work;
and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Arora as an expression of high regard by the Texas
House of Representatives.
Johnson of Dallas
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 149 was adopted by the House on
October 18, 2021, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House