Although India’s Independence Day celebrations were held throughout New Zealand organised by the Indian High Commission and Non-Governmental and Not-for-Profit associations, we received reports from just two entities. While we acknowledge the variety of events held in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton and possibly in other smaller centres, we request organisers of events to send us advance information and reports with pictures after the events in order that our readers in New Zealand and overseas can be kept informed of the activities of the extended Indian community.
Bhartiya Samaj
Independence Day celebrations organised by Bhartiya Samaj Charitable Trust with the cooperation of several Indian associations on Sunday, August 10 at Aotea Centre in Auckland’s Central Business District was memorable.
More than 2000 people attended the event which began with a flag-hoisting ceremony at the Aotea Square followed by speeches, patriotic songs and a cultural programme.
Impressive line-up
Among the dignitaries who attended the celebrations were Ethnic Affairs Minister Judith Collins, Labour MP Phil Goff, New Zealand First Leader and MP Winston Peters, India’s High Commissioner Ravi Thapar, Auckland Mayor Len Brown, National MP Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi, Candidates in the forthcoming election Priyanca Radhakrishnan, Sunny Kaushal (Labour), Dr Parmjeet Parmar (National), Anne Degia-Pala, Mahesh Bindra (NZ First), Members of Parliament, Auckland City Councillors, Local Board Members and community leaders.
The organisations that supported the event included the New Zealand Indian Central Association, Auckland Indian Association, Waitakere Indian Association, The South Trust, Radio Humm FM and Roopa Aur Aap Charitable Trust.
GOPIO North Shore
The Editor of this newspaper was the Guest Speaker at the India Independence Day celebrations organised by the North Shore Chapter of the Global Organisation of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) on August 17 at Commerce Club in Remuera.
“India is a unique country on earth – diversity is its virtue. Here is a land that is in eternal celebration of its varied tongues, cultures and fortunes. You must see such diversity in positive light. There is no other geographical entity that keeps diverse people together. There is place for every faith, religion, belief, culture, political thought and opinion. The fact that you were born on this soil makes you a blessed soul,” he said, quoting Chakravarthy Rajagopalachari (Rajaji), the first and last Governor-General of Independent India, to whose hands the British transferred the sovereignty of the Indian Nation at that historic moment on August 15, 1947.
Costly liberty
“It is ironical that the battle for independence was won through a bloodless revolution, thanks to the benevolent leadership of Mahatma Gandhi whose path of Ahimsa (this word is now in the Oxford and other dictionaries) but the efforts to safeguard it have not been entirely peaceful. But the path to freedom has never been smooth anywhere in the world, for liberty comes at a price that is often paid by the people through generations,” he said.
The Editor said that India is not only the largest democracy but also the most vibrant in the world. This is a nation that has marked its grandeur in the pages of history. Its past, comprising rule by emperors and kings, has been one of glory and trailblazing, with such excellence of governance that democracy took new meaning and purpose in polity.
“Its present, full of challenges, twists and turns, may make you sad, leading you to wonder whether all those years of struggle for independence were worthwhile. Its future would answer that question: No nation stands still; it should move on towards its destiny, sometimes on a rough path. So long as there is the will of the people, there is prudence and equity in law, there would be hope.
Democracy good
“Those who chide India as a country that is characterised by chaos should look around some of the other regions of the world, where political intransigence of one man led to catastrophes of unmentionable proportions.
“You only have to remember Hitler’s Germany and Idi Amin’s Uganda and perceive Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe; or even Saddam Hussain’s Iraq and what the Americans have made of it in recent years.
“You will then come to the inescapable conclusion that a somewhat disorderly democracy is better than no democracy at all.”
Earlier, Chapter President Rohini Jagmohan outlined the history of the Indian freedom struggle and role played by GOPIO in serving the Indian Diaspora worldwide. Secretary Navin Kumar was the Master of Ceremonies.
The programme included a ‘Peacock Dance’ in Bharata Natyam style by Krishna Mudaliar and vocal and instrumental music by Bigyan Jagmohan Krishna Murthi on the guitar.
