In 2001 , Shah worked with the Vishwa Hindu Parishad ( VHP ) of America , a Hindu organization , as the National Coordinator during the 2001 Gujarat earthquake . Later that year she co-founded the non-religious , non-profit Indicorps which recruits young people of Indian origin from all over the world to volunteer in India working for Indian NGOs . Indicorps volunteers have worked in the areas of education , health and sanitation , rural development , tsunami relief , and microfinance . She gave the key note address for the Ekal Vidyala Foundation of USA in 2004 , talking about her work with Indicorps . When she was appointed to the President Obama 's transition team , RSS and VHP leaders issued a statement calling her a " proud member of the VHP , the daughter of Ramesh Shah , a very senior VHP leader . " After her appointment to Obama 's team , Shah disassociated herself from the VHP and condemned its role in the 2002 Gujarat riots
2001 Gujarat earthquake
2001 Gujarat earthquake
Sonal Shah (economist)