Dubai: The Indian missions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai ushered in the 71st Indian Independence Day with the traditional hoisting of the Indian tricolor to the notes of the Indian national anthem.
In Abu Dhabi, Navdeep Singh Suri, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, appreciated the attendance of the many blue-collar workers in the ceremony.
He told the workers that the embassy’s doors are always open to them. The envoy asked them to take advantage of the ‘Open House’ policy of the embassy that helps Indian nationals to meet any senior official of the embassy without appointment between 9am and 12 noon on all working days.
Suri highlighted the proactive role taken by the embassy, expatriate Indian associations and Pravasi Bharatiya Sahayata Kendra [formerly IWRC, the embassy’s support centre] to reach out to eligible Indian nationals for availing of ongoing visa amnesty offered by the UAE government to regularise their stay or leave the country without penalties.
He also invited Indian, Emirati and other foreign youth to participate in the Know India Quiz which will not only help them familiarise with and understand India but also provide a chance to win fully paid fortnight-long trips to India to attend the Republic Day Parade at the famous Raj Path in New Delhi and several other cities.
The ambassador urged schools to participate in larger numbers in the Ambassador Cup Soccer tournament for schoolgirls in January 2019.
The ceremony was followed by a rich cultural performance by Troilee Dutta and Soumen Hazra on sarod and tabla, respectively, folk songs by the Bhutte Manganiar, and patriotic songs and dance performance by the Indian Ladies’ Association.
Ambassador Suri along with Counsellor M. Rajamurugan and First Secretary Pooja Vernekar visited Al Shahama amnesty centre to express their solidarity with the fellow Indian workers there
In Dubai, hundreds of patriotic Indian expatriates braved the heat and humidity to attend the flag-hoisting ceremony led by Sumathi Vasudev, the acting Counsel-General of India.
Later, in her address to the audience, Vasudev said India stood at a very crucial juncture of history. “We are on the cusp of achieving our long-awaited goals such as complete electrification of villages, homes for the underprivileged, end to open defecation, cooking gas in every home ... it’s a pivotal movement for India.”
Holding up the instance of grass-roots progress made, she particularly pointed out to the Gram Samaj Abhiyan which has focused on villages to bring them services like insurance, immunisation, banking, electrification and clean energy all to their doorstep.
She also reminded the audience that India would be observing the 150 birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on October 2. “Gandhiji stood for ideals of non-violence, equality and cleanliness.”
She reminded people of the relevance of these ideals of modern India too.
The celebrations included multicultural performances with patriotic songs and traditional and folk dances.
