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Celebrating India’s Independence Day

Aug 17, 2008 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,
India celebrated her 61st independence from Mother England on Friday. India’s independence, August 15 1947, has had a historical significance for people of Indian origin in Guyana and the Caribbean.

The desire for India to become a free nation propelled Indians in the Caribbean to identify with the “Quit India” movement and the struggle to free India of British rule since the early part of the 20th century.

Later, the freedom of India would pave the way for the freedom of Caribbean colonies where Indians were bonded in contracted servitude from 1838 to 1917. The Caribbean colonies began obtaining their independence in the 1960s.

From then to now, Caribbean countries have been the beneficiaries of India’s generosity in huge amounts of aid to all of them. Guyana, in particular, is among the largest recipients of aid from India.

In conversations, many older people reminisce about their singing the Indian National Anthem, participating in India’s flag raising ceremonies, and attending religious services in Guyana in observance of India’s independence.

They refer to the flag hoisting ceremonies as “swaraj,” a concept initiated by the Indian Congress of Mahatma Gandhi.

It was not unusual for school children to sing the Indian National Anthem instead of “Old Glory,” and to say “Jai Hind” instead of “Long Live the Queen.”

Today, Indo-Guyanese still celebrate India’s independence in Queens, especially at the temples, with patriotic songs and participation in the huge parade on Madison Avenue.

They are bedecked in paraphernalia symbolizing India and the tri-colour flag.
Vishnu Bisram

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