The Jeddah-based Indian Cultural Society (ICS) celebrated the 68th anniversary of India’s Independence Day last weekend at the consulate premises in Jeddah.

ICS patron Dilshad Shamsi provided a glimpse of Indian history, highlighting the contribution of Muslims in the freedom struggle.

He congratulated ICS President Arif Quraishi for being honored recently with an award titled “Great Indian Lover and Patriot” presented to him by Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana Mohammed Mahmood Ali.

Special guest Dr. M.S. Karimuddin, a well-known pediatrician and educationist, in his speech, commended Quraishi for his dedicated service to society, highlighting the annual old textbooks campaign initiated by Quraishi in which books are collected and donated to the International Indian School Jeddah (IISJ) students. He highlighted the need for expanding the Indian school to accommodate the rising number of children of Indian expatriates in Jeddah.

Mohammad Raghib Qureshi, head of chancery and consul for education, said the ICS was organizing Indian independence and republic day functions for the last 38 years.

He recalled the famous conversation between Rakesh Sharma, the first Indian to travel to space, and the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in which Gandhi asked him how India looked from the space and he replied, ‘Saare jahan se achcha’ (Better than the whole world).

Quraishi paid tribute to the martyrs whose struggle resulted in India’s independence. He said former Indian Ambassador Talmiz Ahmad first lent him support to organize national day functions and since then all consuls general have always cooperated with him in his effort to celebrate the patriotic days.

The cultural program began with patriotic songs sung by local singers. What followed was a musical extravaganza comprising Bollywood songs from the melodious white and black era of the 50s to the more contemporary latest hits.

The singers included S. Waheedy (Jimmy), Ahmed Siddiqui, Maqbool Pervaiz, Yunus, Asha, Nadeem Khan, Wasim Mukaddam and Faris Waheedy.

The program was compered by Asim Zeeshan and ended with the recitation of the Indian national anthem.