India is turning seventy next week on August 15, when it celebrates its independence from British colonial rule.
This year the Indian government is venturing into the uncharted territory of holding celebrations around the world in close connection with India’s global diaspora.
In this endeavour, one of the major attractions will be the simultaneous lighting of iconic buildings around the world in tricolours of the Indian flag on August 15.
In New Zealand, the historic building of the Auckland War Memorial Museum will do the honours of lighting the Indian tricolour – a fact noted and duly acknowledged by the members of the Indian community.
This will still be news for a major part of the Kiwi-Indian community that Auckland Museum has graciously agreed to lighten up in in the colours of the Indian national flag and host a small fun-filled gathering on the evening of August 15.
It will certainly be a great opportunity for the community to take time out of their busy schedule on a working day and be a part of the celebration of India’s nationhood.
More than anything, it will be an opportunity to celebrate India’s independence in a setting and atmosphere that will be completely different for many generations of members of Kiwi-Indian community.
A large part of the global Indian diaspora has grown and lived with fond memories of hosting the national flag and singing the national anthem, which largely symbolises a rather old-world India.
Today’s India is smart, swanky, with all the attributes and trappings that go with the definition of being young and vibrant.
So it might be time to renew our traditional views about India’s Independence Day celebrations.
The “lighting of freedom” event planned at the Auckland Museum on August 15, aims to do exactly that – liberate your imagination about India and every memory related to India.
It is also a great opportunity to tell the world about changes going on within contemporary India.
Achieving statehood is always a moment to cherish and celebrate for any nation, and different nations around the world celebrate their national days differently.
In fact, the way different nations chose to celebrate their independence day has something to tell about their journey of being a nation.
To give a better perspective, recently the United States of America had celebrated its two hundred forty-first independence day on July 4. This is abundantly reflected in the manner America celebrates achieving its independence and statehood.
The nation-states which have long attained their statehood and hence believed to be more confident and with certitude are seen to move beyond government-centric celebrations affirming their respective national identities to a more relaxed fun-filled environment.
This is a complex social process, but there is a degree of veracity and truthfulness which could be verified by many neutral observers
Regardless of the debate around the manner of Independence Day celebrations, it can be safely submitted that today’s India is a shining light of an increasingly insular world.
Today’s world after Brexit and Trump, where more and more countries are showing a tendency for insularity, shunning everything foreign – be it people, culture, or businesses, India is showing a propensity to reach out and connect with the rest of the world.
This is surely a reflection of India’s growing confidence in its abilities and those of its diasporic communities living around the world, which is more than willing to build winning relationships back home with India.
This is aptly reflected in the comment of Indian High Commissioner to New Zealand Sanjiv Kohli about the flurry of events planned to celebrate the 70th anniversary of India’s Independence Day.
“This Independence Day is also a celebration of being an Indian.
"The pride of representing an ancient civilisation, world’s largest democracy, fastest growing economy and a nation which has contributed so much to maintaining peace and security in various trouble spots around the globe and which has always provided a voice to the hopes and aspirations of the developing countries,” Mr Kohli said.
It is from this reservoir of pride and self-assuredness that the Kiwi-Indian community in New Zealand also draws some strength.