39Th FIA India Day Parade Fails to Attract Crowds
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# 1 Indian American Weekly: Since 2006 VOL 13 ISSUE 33 ● NEW YORK / DALLAS ● AUG 23 - 29 , 2019 ● ENQUIRIES: 646-247-9458 www.theindianpanorama.news Indian Consulate 39th FIA India Day Parade at New York Celebrates 73rd Fails to Attract Crowds Independent sources contest Organizers' claims of attendance of 100,000 Independence I.S. SALUJA NEW YORK CITY (TIP): Another Day of India India Day Parade. The 39th edition of FIA India Day Parade , on August 18 India's Rich Cultural marched through a stretch of a dozen Diversity Showcased streets on Madison Avenue in New York City to almost empty sides of the Avenue. One wondered where the enthusiastic viewers of parade had hid themselves. It was a great disappointment for many who are in love with India and have been great admirers of the parade. One expected a larger number to turn up in view of some recent heartwarming developments in India. Well, it is a question which the organizers should seriously look into. With the younger generation not being very enthusiastic about the annual Dignitaries at the Review Stand . L to R: FIA President Alok Kumar, Anu Singh, Bollywood display of India's pride in the event, celebrity Hina Khan, Grand Marshal Suniel Shetty, Bollywood actor Gulshan Grover . Also seen contd on Page 3 behind Gulshan Grover is the Past President Srujal Parikh Photo / Jay Mandal - on assignment ‘Seriously looking’ to Court sends Chidambaram to CBI end birthright custody till Aug 26 in INX Media case citizenship, says In 10 years, role reversal for Shah, Chidambaram; Shah was arrested President Trump Consul General of India Sandeep by CBI when Chidambaram was the Home Minister Chakravorty unfurls the Indian National Flag NEW DELHI / NEW BIDISHA ROY YORK (TIP): After the NEW YORK (TIP): Indian high drama that followed Consulate in New York celebrated former Finance and Home India's 73rd Independence Day with Minister of India P unfurling of Indian National Flag and Chidambaram on August a colorful presentation of India's 21 and a night rich cultural diversity on Thursday, Chidambaram spent in President Donald Trump File photo August 15th. Breaking with the CBI custody, a Delhi court practice in previous years when the on Thursday, August 22, celebration was held indoors, the sent him to CBI custody WASHINGTON (TIP): US Consulate held the ceremony outside till August 26in the INX President Donald Trump on the Chancery building on the 64th Media case. Wednesday, August 21, said he is Street between Fifth & Madison The CBI produced "seriously looking" at ending the Avenues. An open invitation was Chidambaram before the right of citizenship for America-born issued via local media, social media Role reversal. The hounded Shah of 2010 is now the hounder of court and sought his five- children of non-citizens. "We are Chidambaram platforms and through the day custodial looking at birthright citizenship very contd on Page 2 interrogation saying there was a need to unearth a larger conspiracy. seriously. It's frankly ridiculous," contd on Page 32 contd on Page 32 THE INDIAN PANORAMA 2 NY/NJ/CT TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 Indian Consulate at New York Celebrates 73rd Independence Day of India An impressive Bharat Natyam performance by Nandini Consul General extends greetings Chakravorty CONTD FROM PAGE 1 other, President Ramnath Kovind in his speech Consulate's website inviting all NRIs/PIOs and highlighted 'the magic and uniqueness of India.' friends of India to attend the event. A large number of "I would like to turn to how we Indians should see members of Indian diaspora and friends ofIndia one another - how we should have the same numbering around 500 attended the event. expectations from and regard for fellow citizens as we Eminent Indian cinema actor Anupam Kher and a would expect them to have from and for us. Through the large number of elected officials including millennia and through the centuries, India has rarely Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, State Senator Kevin been a judgmental society. Rather, it has had an easy- Thomas, Assemblyman David Weprin and Manhattan going, live-and-let-live organizing principle. We respect Borough President Gale Brewer also attended the event. each other's identity - whether born of region, language There was strong representation of the diplomatic or faith; or even the absence of faith. India's history and corps, including many Consul Generals and destiny, India's legacy and future, are a function of representatives of other Consulates. coexistence and conciliation, of reform and Ambassador Sandeep Chakravorty, Consul General, reconciliation - of expanding our hearts and embracing unfurled the national flag and the national anthem was the ideas of others." A captivating group dance sung. Consul General then read out the address of the The President also paid special tribute to 'Father of President of India. our Nation, Mahatma Gandhi, the guiding light of our Elaborating how state and society, government and successful effort to liberate our nation and of our citizen, should see each other and cooperate with each continuing effort to reform our society of all inequities' and 'One of the greatest, wisest and the most influential Indians of all time - Guru Nanak Devji.' Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Senator Kevin Thomas, Bollywood actor Anupam Kher, Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer and New York State Assemblyman David Weprin spoke on the occasion. Paying rich tributes to Mahatma Gandhi, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney said: "Mahatma Gandhi's historic Satyagraha movement of nonviolent resistance inspired a nation and the world. His example energizes us to devote ourselves to the service of others and inspired civil rights movements Bhangra performance by Krishna Arts & Manhattan Andaaz Bhangra troupe. Photographs / Courtesy Consulate General around the globe, from Martin Luther King Jr.'s of India, New York movement for racial equality to Nelson Mandela's fight against apartheid. Gandhi's achievements and legacy origin senator from New York. Gale Brewer said, "Indian Rep Carolyn Maloney announced she had introduced a bill to award Mahatma Gandhi the "Congressional Gold Medal deserve our attention and recognition, which I why I Americans are very very special to New York City." introduced H.R. 1127 to award Mahatma Gandhi the The celebrations included a festival of Indian dance Congressional Gold Medal", said Maloney who in and a large number of cultural presentations including February 2019, Introduced H.R. 1127 to posthumously poetry and singing of patriotic songs. Amongst them award Gandhi a Congressional Gold Medal for is were Bharatanatyam by Ms. Nandini Chakravorty, Ms. contributions to India and peaceable movements Malini Sreenivasan & Sophia Salingaros, patriotic around the world." dance and music by Children's group 'Sreeshti' of Anupam Kher lauded Indian Americans for their NewJersey, national and patriotic songs by Bengali vital role to keep the tradition alive."It's amazing to see Kids of Princeton Area, poetry and music by students so many people with tri-colors on the streets of New of Bhartiya Vidya Bhavan, Manipuri Dance and Pung York. We have arrived here. I feel Indians outside India Cholamby troupe led by Padma Shri Darshana are much more Indians than Indians in India. You keep Navnitlal Jhaveri & Group, Odissi by Bani Ray with the tradition alive. Each one of you is true ambassador songs by RaiKishori Mitra, and Bhangra by Krishna of our country", he said amidst thundering applause. Arts & Manhattan Andaaz.Deepak Dave, executive It's such a privilege standing in front of all of you director of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, New York recited today. It brings me a lot of joy to celebrate the a poem of late Atal Behari Vajpayee. A view of the gathering Independence Day", said Kevin Thomas, the first Indian (With inputs from the Consulate General of India) THE INDIAN PANORAMA TUESDAY, AUGUST 23, 2019 NY/NJ/CT 3 39th FIA India Day Parade Fails to Attract Crowds CONTD FROM PAGE 1 it becomes a worrisome matter if the adults and seniors, too, show their indifference to the Parade . The organizers, I learn, have claimed the presence of 100,000, a claim which has been contested by a number of independent sources. But for the numbers, the FIA Parade this year had all the frills which have been there with previous Air India Float showing Maharaja in a new outfit of a soldier. The empty spaces on the Madison Avenue tell the story of poor attendance at the parade. A Full -Throated Shout for India. L to R: Former FIA President Photo / Jay Mandal - on assignment Yashpal Soi, The Indian Panorama publisher Prof. Indrajit Saluja, Consul General Sandeep Chakravorty, Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, Democratic District president Dr. Neeta Jain, FIA Chairman Ramesh Patel, TV Asia Chairman Padma Shri parades. We had Bollywood celebrities Suniel Dr. H R Shah Photo / Jay Mandal - on assignment Shetty as Grand Marshal, and Hina Khan and Gulshan Grover as the other Bollywood celebrities. There were beautifully decorated floats and lovely performers on many, and much cheering on the floats. There were quite a few bands to fill the air with martial music and hearts with thrills. There were Indian tricolor flags in the hands of many on the floats and those marching in the parade. But, sorry, there were very few cheering and enthusiastically flag waving and slogan shouting Time for a selfie. Ladies take a selfie with the Bollywood Bad viewers on Madison avenue . Man Gulshan Grover. Photo / Jay Mandal - on assignment The FIA should be grateful to a number of politicians and officials who not only came but spent growing stature of India in the US and the world. time marching in the parade and speaking with Besides, a huge support this year came from Adam people.