ALKHOBAR: Indian Independence Day was celebrated across the Eastern Province with traditional fervor and gaiety on Saturday. At the International Indian School in Dammam, members of the Indian community joined parents and teachers for a flag-hoisting ceremony. IISD Managing Committee Chairman Asghar Khan highlighted the contribution of the freedom fighters in India’s Independence struggle and exhorted the younger generation to follow the ideals taught and lived by the freedom fighters. IISD Registrar G. Tewari read out President Pratibha Patil’s message.
In a well-attended I-Day celebration, the India Fraternity Forum, Dammam (IFF), organized a seminar entitled, “Be the sentinel of freedom.” IFF Acting President Zafarullah Khan welcomed the gathering and briefly introduced IFF activities. In his independence message IFF General Secretary Perwez Ahmed said: “India is a secular country and we cannot achieve real freedom if we fail to provide equal rights to all citizen of India.”
A large number of Indians hailing from India’s various states attended the event. “IFF is a social and welfare organization having members from each nook and corner of India. IFF assists Indians irrespective of color, state or language in humanitarian and legal matters in coordination with Indian Embassy,” said Khan.
At Sunshine International School in Alkhobar, Independence Day was celebrated with pomp and grandeur, in a well-attended function at the school premises.
SIS, Managing Committee Chairman Johnson Keeppallil presided over the function and hoisted the national flag. Guest of Honor Abdul Majeed offered facilitations to the function and highlighted the challenges faced by Indian citizens in various spheres of life. He spoke on the need of emboldening the students and youth to make India a strong and committed nation.
John Thomas, managing committee member, International Indian School, Dammam, spoke on patriotism and how the leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru inspired the common man to rise against the British oppression.
Joseph Kalathiparambil, SIS managing committee member addressed the gathering and hailed our culture, traditions, and adaptability in working in multi-cultural environment. He appealed to the community members, especially student’s community to uphold the values of freedom and the Indian cultural heritage.
Menon PGS, academic controller and administrator of Sunshine School, welcomed the guests and briefed on the essence of Freedom, Liberty and fraternity and the constitutional rights enjoyed by each and every Indian national.”
Saffron in the Tricolor evokes a spirit of nationalism, courage, sacrifice, white denotes peace, purity and truth, green symbolizes faith and fertility,” explained Menon. “We are a strong expatriate community spread over the Middle East and other parts of the world and we are ambassadors of our great culture.”
