History was created on Sunday, August 12, when all major community organisations came together to host joint Independence Day celebrations at the Mahatma Gandhi Centre.
More than two thousand people attended the flag hoisting ceremony followed by a range of performances showcasing culture and heritage of different states and regions of India to mark the historic occasion.
The High Commissioner of India, Sanjiv Kohli, hoisted the national tricolour amidst the gracious presence of New Zealand’s Finance Minister Grant Robertson, Trade Minister David Parker, and Minister for Ethnic Communities, Jenny Salesa, Employment Minister Willy Jackson along with a battery of Members of Parliament from the Labour and the National Party, which included Michael Wood, Priyanca Radha Krishnan, Deborah Russell, Kanwaljit Singh Bakshi and Dr Parmjeet Parmar, and the leaders and the members of the Indian community.
The flag hoisting was followed by the singing of the national anthem and loud cheers of Bharat Mata Ki Jai.
Emotions bursting the seams
The fact that the Mahatma Gandhi Centre was bursting its seams at the event was a reflection of the long-held aspirations of Auckland’s Indian community of coming together and hoisting one joint Independence Day celebrations.
It would not be an exaggeration to assert that it was not just the venue that was busting the seams rather the leaders of the community organisations, members of the organising committee, performers, and above all, the members of the community who came out in huge numbers to give their full support to the idea of celebrating India’s Independence Day together collectively, were busting with overflowing emotions.
“We have been waiting for this day since forever,” several members of the community in the audience, especially seniors told the Indian Weekender.
“I have been living in New Zealand with my family since about 17 years and have always wanted to see one big collective celebration,” said a senior member of the community who only wanted to be known as Mr Chadha, with visibly moist eyes.
These emotions and sentiments were duly reciprocated by leaders of several community organisations who have been hosting India’s Independence Day separately for many years under the banners of their own respective organisations.
Acknowledging the Indian community in NZ
Along with overflowing emotions around the historic coming together of all major community organisations for one joint Independence Day celebrations, the other overflowing sentiment was of acknowledging the value of the Indian community in NZ society and the collective urge for the betterment of the Indo-Kiwi relationship.
This was aptly reflected in the speeches by the dignitaries, including the top level Ministers from the New Zealand government, Leader of the Opposition NZ parliament, and the High Commissioner of India.
Speaking to the Indian Weekender, Finance Minister Grant Robertson said, “From the point of the government our relationship with the Indian community in New Zealand is vitally important.
“We want to show the respect to the history, but also want to the history of the future of relationship where we build our country’s prosperity, security, and ensure that every single member of the community can prosper.
“We want to recognise that contribution that our Indian community has done and we celebrate the India Independence Day together.”
National Party Leader and the Leader of the Opposition in NZ Parliament, Simon Bridges told the Indian Weekender, “We all are here to celebrate India’s Independence Day, which is a great source of learning for the entire world.
“We are here also to celebrate the NZ-India relationship and in particular the Indian diaspora here in New Zealand.
“We are grateful and acknowledge their contribution to the NZ society.”
The High Commissioner of India, Mr Kohli reciprocated the sentiments of this urge for the betterment of Indo-Kiwi relationship and the role of the Indian community in NZ toward achievement of this cherished goal.
“We truly value our long-standing relations and partnership with NZ and I hope that we will continue to strengthen those relationships in years to come,” Mr Kohli said.
Further acknowledging the spirit of multiculturalism of NZ society evident in welcoming Indian diaspora with an open heart, Mr Kohli said, “As we celebrate India’s Independence Day today, we also celebrate NZ’s strengths and the warm welcome that NZ has given to our diaspora.”
Cultural performances galore
Another remarkable feature of this mega joint celebration was bringing together performances from almost all regional and cultural regions from India simultaneously together at one platform – a rarity, given the limited and specific focus on other similar cultural programs, and which obviously was viewer’s delight.
The audience duly appreciated the efforts put behind organising such mega event and delivering notable performances by staying till the very end of the show to encourage the performers.
“It’s a blueprint for the future”
One of the members of the organising committee, while talking to the Indian Weekender about the success of the event, enthusiastically encapsulated the sentiments in the most befitting manner, “It’s a blueprint for the future.”
“This has been a great event which brought together a number of Indian organisation, performing groups together under one banner. The unity in diversity is what we saw today in our Indian diaspora.
“I think we have got a very good model going forward.
“Every year we should at least once a year come together to celebrate our cultural heritage under one banner.”