The Indian High Commission in Wellington today marked the 76th Independence Day with the tricolour being hoisted by Head of Chancery and acting Charge d’ Affaires Mukesh Ghiya, followed by the national anthem.
The dignitaries, who included former governor-general of New Zealand Anand Satyanand and top officials of the New Zealand Police, and guests then took their seats in the high commission auditorium to witness an hour-long cultural programme.
Ghiya set the ball rolling by reading Indian President Droupadi Murmu’s address to the nation delivered on Independence eve.
The presidential address referred to August 14 as “Partition Horrors Remembrance Day.” In her address, the President said there were many “International leaders and experts who were sceptical about the success of the democratic form of government in India.” The sceptics thought democracy would not work in India because of poverty and illiteracy. But the sceptics were proved wrong, the President said in her address.
From the outset, India adopted universal adult franchise, the President noted in her address to the nation.
India’s ancient saints and seers had preached equality which leaders like Mahatma Gandhi championed in the freedom movement, the President said.
Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav was launched on March 2021 with the re- enactment of the Dandi March, the watershed event which put the Indian freedom struggle on the world map. The resolve to build Atmanirbhar Bharat was a part of the Mahotsav. “This grand festival is going ahead with the Har Ghar Tiranga Abhiyan,” the presidential address said.
The High Commission’s Ghiya quoted the President as saying that the next milestone in the nation’s journey was the Amrit Kaal, which brought it 25 years short off celebrating the centenary of India’s Independence.
“ By the year 2047, we will have fully realised the dreams of our freedom fighters. We will have given a concrete shape to the vision of those, who led by Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar, drafted the Constitution. We are already on course to build an Atmanirbhar Bharat, an India that would have realised its true potential,” the President was quoted as saying.
The President in her address highlighted India’s vaccination drive, “the biggest in human history,” to combat Covid-19, far surpassing the performance of many developed countries
The President saluted the hard work and sacrifice of workers and farmers for India’s economic growth. She credited the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana for providing homes for the poor, and the Jal Jeevan Mission for installing a tap water connection in every household.
The President closed her address by reposing confidence in the country’s youth, its farmers and its women. The President invoked the great nationalist Kannada language poet Kuvempu before acknowledging the role of the Indian diaspora “who continue to make their motherland proud.”
Ghiya then awarded medals to the winners from Wellington of the online quiz, launched in 2015 to motivate overseas Indians to raise their awareness of India. The two winners from Wellington were Simran Sandhu, who works in the Ministry of Primary Industries and Ishant Ghulyani, a staff member of the Indian High Commission.
This was followed by a cultural programme of dance and music, which included poetry recitation by the High Commission’s Second Secretary ( Culture) Durga Dass.
Superintendent of Police Rakesh Naidoo wished all a happy 76th Anniversary of Indian Independence on behalf of the New Zealand Police. Ex -Governor General Satyanand said: “Today is a real milestone because it (Independence Day celebration) is occurring within the premises of the new Indian High Commission.”
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