Dubai/Abu Dhabi: Indians in the UAE joined their countrymen and women at home in celebrating their 70th Independence Day on August 15.
The anniversary, marking the end of British colonial rule in India in 1947, saw patriotic chants, speeches and stage performances at Indian missions, schools, and associations in the UAE.
Indians are the biggest expat group in the UAE and are known to celebrate their Independence Day with patriotism and fanfare.
T.P. Seetharam, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, hoisted the national flag in Abu Dhabi. He read out the Indian president’s address to the nation that was presented on the eve of Independence Day.
Students from various Indian schools in the capital put up cultural programmes at the embassy auditorium after the flag-hoisting ceremony.
The recognition Indian expatriates receive in the UAE and India’s 70-year-old democracy are major achievements to be highlighted on the occasion, Seetharam told Gulf News on the sidelines of the event.
Indian expatriates in the UAE can be happy about the fact that their contribution to the development of this nation is always generously acknowledged by the UAE leadership, he said. Indians can be proud of having a mature democracy back home, the ambassador added.
“We have seen that the [Indian] parliament can work together, meeting the primary goals of democracy, while passing the GST [Goods and Services Tax] bill [last week]. Our greatest achievement is … we are still a mature democracy while many other countries that started as democracies lost their way,” Seetharam said.
He added that only democracy can accommodate the diversity of India and take it forward as a nation. India has made great progress in many areas although poverty is still a problem. “We are self-sufficient in food grains and a lot of many other items we produce. Still there is a problem of distribution, which we can attend to.”
In Dubai, scores of families and office-goers headed to the Indian consulate early on Monday to enjoy the festivities.
The event began with the hoisting of the Indian flag by Anurag Bhushan, Indian consul general in Dubai. He addressed the crowd, recalling the sacrifices made in the Indian independence struggle and showered praise on his nation and countrymen.
Bhushan also read out excerpts of a speech, presented on the eve of Independence Day, by Indian president Pranab Mukherjee, who had stressed the protection of minorities, women and children in India, among other issues.
On Monday, children in colourful costumes took to the stage with various performances at the packed auditorium. Youths also sang patriotic songs.
Around 700 people from various backgrounds and walks of life thronged the consulate’s auditorium, taking selfies, pictures and videos on their mobile phones while enjoying the show.
Shakthi Velmurugan, 30, said he has been visiting the consulate for five years to mark the occasion. “I like the atmosphere here on Independence Day, it feels like you’re home. I’ve taken time off work to be here, my colleagues have come as well. It’s no problem at all,” he said.
Similar scenes unfolded in Abu Dhabi, where Indian expatriates turned up in large numbers at the Indian embassy to celebrate.
