By a Staff Writer

– EDISON, N.J.

Flag hoisting ceremonies,parades and cultural pro-grams marked Republic Day

celebrations across the tristate aspeople came out in large numbersto commemorate the day onwhich India's constitutionbecame the primary governingdocument of the country threeyears after India declared inde-pendence.

Hundreds of men, women andchildren gathered at Royal Albert’sPalace in Fords, N.J. on Jan 28 tocelebrate the occasion with songs,dances and firework.

Atma Singh, president of theIndian Congress Party, USA, whowas the chief organizer along withseveral other groups like theIndian Cultural Society, Indo-American Cultural Organizationand Gujarat Pragati Mandal, com-plimented the audience forattending the event and said thatall Indians were assembled onone platform.

“We want to celebrate ourunity in diversity and commit-ment for contributing to India’seconomic growth,” he was quoted

in a press release as saying.Prominent members who

attended the event includedConsul General of India in NewYork Prabhu Dayal, EdisonCouncilman Dr. SudhanshuPrasad and dozens of India’s ex-servicemen led by Col. VeerendraTavathia, who is also the presidentof a non-profit group calledShraddha, an organization devot-ed to help children of IndianArmed Forces.

Ambassador Prabhu Dayalsaid he was impressed by theshow of strength of New Jerseybased Indians whom he congratu-lated for demonstrating love fortheir motherland, the release said.

Dr. Sudhanshu Prasad saidthat it was the duty of Indians set-tled in the U.S. to remember thecourage and sacrifice of India’sfreedom fighters and its leaderswho gave the country a great con-stitution.

“It is our duty to express ourlove for the country where wewere born. We must teach theyounger generation about thestrength of our motherland”, therelease quoted Peter Kothari, pres-ident of Indo-American CulturalOrganization.

“The younger generation ofIndian Americans who were bornand raised in USA knows very lit-tle about India and its constitu-tional structure.”

Harkesh Thakur of IndianCongress Party, USA delivered thevote of thanks, while Ram Gadulawelcomed the guests, the releasesaid.

The four-hour event includedcultural performances by schoolchildren led by Prachi and SuryaMakkar.

Similar events were held inNorth Hempstead, N.Y. and at theHindu Temple in Flushing, N.Y.The Indian American MuslimCouncil also organized celebra-tions at the Elks Lodge inHasbrouck Heights, N.J.

4 February 3, 2012 CITY VIEWS

www.desitalk.com – that’s all you need to know

By Bhargavi Kulkarni

– NEW YORK

Ambassadors, diplomats,local politicians andIndian-American commu-

nity members gathered at theIndian consulate here Jan. 26 tocelebrate India’s 63rd RepublicDay.

Riti Bhalla sang the Indian andAmerican national anthems tokick off the celebration. ConsulGeneral Prabhu Dayal welcomedguests and thanked them forattending in spite of the rainyweather.

He said the love and respectcommunity members feel forAmerica, their adopted land, andIndia, their homeland, becameevident when guests placed theirright hands to their hearts whilethe American national anthemwas being sung and participatedwith enthusiasm during theIndian national anthem.

“Indian-Americans are patriot-ic Americans with India in theirhearts,” Dayal said to loudapplause in the packed-to-capaci-ty ballroom at the consulate.

While introducing the chiefguest Vayalar Ravi, Minister ofOverseas Indian Affairs, Dayallauded him for his efforts in bring-ing the diaspora closer to Indiaand introducing various schemesfor nonresident Indians.

Ravi, in his address, spokeabout India’s progress and howthe Indian-American communitycan act as a bridge between thetwo nations.

Recalling the uncertainties sur-rounding India when it became aRepublic in 1950, Ravi said thecountry has come a long way. “Wehave survived,” he said.

The minister listed variousschemes and incentives offered bythe government to help the mar-ginalized and the poor, amongthem the Mahatma GandhiNational Rural EmploymentGeneration Scheme, which hedescribed as “the largest ruralsocial security program.”

“Our economy is strong,” Ravisaid, adding that India has provento the world that “we are the best.”

Other diplomats and ambassa-dors echoed Ravi’s sentimentsabout India’s progress and saidthat this is India’s time to shine.

“Today is the best time ever inthe history of India,” LalitMansingh, a former ambassador

to the United States, said. He con-ceded that there is a great dividein the country between the richand poor, as if there are twoIndias – the one that is poor andthe one that is thriving by leapsand bounds. But at the same timeone cannot ignore the signs ofeconomic growth and prosperity,he said.

Mansingh said there are fiveimportant reasons to celebrateIndia and its Republic Day – itssuccess as a nation, democracy, itspresence on the world stage, itsrecognition as an economicsuperpower and new relation-ships it has developed with othercountries.

Others who addressed thegathering included RudrawateeNan Gosine-Ramgoolam, consulgeneral of Trinidad & Tobago inNew York; and Phillip H. Scanlan,consul general of Australia in NewYork, who missed Australia Day

celebrations to attend the event;New York Assemblyman DavidWeprin; ConnecticutAssemblyman Dr. PrasadSrinivasan; and Vijay Nambiar,chef de cabinet to United NationsSecretary General Ban-ki Moon.

Nambiar was on Jan. 26appointed special adviser onMyanmar.

In his address, Nambiar said hebelieved India’s rise to promi-nence was not the result of“Indianization of the globe,” asMansingh earlier put it, but “theglobalization of India.”

Ramgoolam and Scanlan con-gratulated the community on theoccasion and talked about grow-ing relations between their coun-tries and India as well as the U.S.Noting that “globalization haspulled us together,” Ramgoolamsaid it is time to change “indepen-dence to interdependence inorder to survive the growing econ-omy.”

On a lighter note, whileacknowledging the growing rela-tions between India and Australia,Scanlan mentioned the ongoingcricket match between the twocountries but chose not to divulgethe score.

Dayal also recognized retiredofficers of the armed forces andthis year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Awardrecipient Dr. Surender Kaushik.

Ashok Ramsaran, a 2010 recip-ient of the award, was also recog-nized.

The evening ended with a din-ner buffet, and Riti and VishalBhalla entertained the guests withpatriotic songs.

Praise for India’s Achievements at NYC Republic Day Celebration

Above, Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs, addresses a

gathering at the Consulate General ofIndia in New York, Jan 26, to celebrate

India’s Republic Day, as Consul GeneralPrabhu Dayal looks on. Right, guests

join Riti Bhalla as she sings the nationalanthems of the U.S. and India.

Ilayas Qureshi

Above, Prabhu Dayal, center, consul general of India in New York, and Atma Singh,third from left, president of the Indian Congress Party, USA, unveil the Indian flag at

an event Jan. 28 to celebrate India’s Republic Day at the Royal Albert’s Palace inFords, N.J. Below, Dayal addresses guests at the event. Below right, community

members participate in a parade held before the event.

New Jersey Indian-American Groups Unite to Celebrate Republic Day