Austin (Texas): In a rare international honour, the city of Austin has proclaimed August 23, 2025, as “Dr Ramesh Aravind Day”, celebrating the popular actor, director, author, and motivational speaker for his decades-long contributions to cinema and inspirational leadership.
The announcement came during the Day of Gratitude Gala 2025 at the Austin Central Library Special Events Center. Austin mayor pro-tem Vanessa Fuentes presented the official proclamation, hailing Aravind as a cultural icon who has “inspired millions across generations.”
A special message from Texas governor Greg Abbott, read out by Michele Lau-Torres, Chief Learning Officer of Austin, praised the Gala’s mission of promoting gratitude and kindness. He also called on Texans to embrace compassion and empathy as guiding values for the future.
Delivering the keynote address, Dr Ramesh Aravind moved a multi-generational audience with his reflections on purpose, gratitude, and emotional well-being. “This is one of the most memorable moments of my life. I will cherish it forever,” he said.
The Gala also featured a panel discussion on gratitude-driven leadership, with speakers including Dr Ed Burger, CEO of St David’s Foundation; Doniece Sandoval, CNN Hero; and David Gray, Homeless Strategy Officer for the city. The evening was further enriched by musical performances from Mallory Siegler, Supriya Joshi, and globally acclaimed singer Nagavalli, who also premiered her new song Like Water, co-written with AJ Vallejo.
Organised by The Day of Gratitude, a nonprofit movement founded by MJ Charmani to honour the legacy of Nihal Charmani, the event brought together leaders, changemakers and community members with a shared vision of fostering compassion, healing and human connection.
