Latchman BudaiTreasurer
102nd Precinct Community Council
Richmond Hill
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT: Latchman Budai takes pride in contributing to the community. In addition to being treasurer of the 102nd Precinct Community Council, Budai is also a member of Community Board 9; the Queensborough General Assembly; Queens Criminal Court clergy roundtable; police liaison for The Federation of Hindu Mandirs; festival committee member for the Hindu parade; and founder and former past president of the Maha Lakshmi Mandir, one of the largest Hindu temples in Richmond Hill.
Budai, who moved to the U.S. from Guyana in 1972, figured that if he was living here he would have to be a part of the community. “Serving the community is about the best thing anyone can do,” he said.
PERSONAL: Budai lives in Richmond Hill with his wife Sarojini and two dogs. The couple has two sons: a 31-year old promoter and part club owner and a 35-year old with a Bachelors Degree in Computer Engineering from New York Institute of Technology.
BIGGEST CHALLENGE: In racially-diverse Richmond Hill, trying to get the local community to understand the basics of what’s needed for each of them to live cordially. “If you don’t understand the laws within the different city, state, and federal agencies, you tend to do stuff and then you get penalized heavily which gets you disheartened.” Budai said. “Trying to get sensitivity programs and things like that is one reason I am involved with the police and other agencies. I can get literature and have meetings and I can relay back to the community the things they should and shouldn’t do.”
PROUDEST MOMENT: Budai said it was becoming an U.S. citizen in 1981. “It was the happiest moment knowing that you are living somewhere where you are part and parcel of everything that goes on.”
INSPIRATION: Budai gets inspiration from what he has learned religiously. “If you only do for your own benefit, it’s a form of selfishness. You should do for the benefit for others. When you do that, then you get the satisfaction of what life really is.”
