More than 1000 jubilant NRI crowd including hundreds of children gathered at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Plaza, Irving, the largest Gandhi Memorial in the USA to celebrate “India’s 71st Independence Day”.
Mrs. Shabnam Modgil, MGMNT Board of Director, opened the meeting by paying a rich tribute to Mahatma Gandhi on this important occasion. The patriotic songs sung by the young kids made the event more joyful.
Mr. Rao Kalvala, MGMNT Secretary in his address stated that celebrating this event at Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Plaza today is more relevant and significant as Mahatma Gandhi the “Father of the Nation” played a vital role in attaining Independence through the methods of peace and non-violence. Mr. Kalvala requested all to join the upcoming Annual Gandhi Peace-Walk to be held on October 1st at the same venue.
Dr. Prasad Thotakura, MGMNT Chairman hoisted the Tri-color Indian Flag in the midst of cheering, thundering applause of crowd waiving both Indian and US Flags with a lot of joy and enthusiasm.
Dr. Thotakura saluting the Indian flag said that “we are all very lucky and indebted to this great country USA - where freedom and democracy prevail and allow us to celebrate events like these - the celebration of the 71st Independence Day of India.
We stand here today to pay our rich tribute to Mahatma Gandhi who sacrificed his life to attain freedom to India from the British Rule. Today, we reenergize ourselves by recollecting the great endeavors of all freedom fighters and national leaders like Subhash Chandra Bose, Lala Lajpat Rai, Chandra Sekhar Azad, Bhagat Singh, Jawahar Lal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and many more who surrendered everything in the process.
We all need to realize that hatred, bigotry, outrage, racism will create an enormous gap among the mankind. Only patience, alliance, tolerance and coherence will bring all people together.
Dr. Thotakura also expressed that as responsible, law abiding citizens of this great county USA and brand ambassadors of our great motherland, India we need to recall the principles of Gandhiji and rededicate ourselves for the betterment of both countries.
Ex-Servicemen Commander Gavi Kumar from Indian Navy and Major Raj Deep from Indian Army graced the occasion as special guests. Commander Gavi Kumar in his address appreciated the patriotism shown by the NRI’s especially the kids.
The MGMNT Team inaugurated the two "Park Benches" at this event and thanked Khanduri Family, Kanthibhai Desai Family for donating two park benches. MGMNT Team Mr. MVL Prasad, Mr. Manhar Meghani, Mr. Taiyab Kundawala, Mr. Piyush Patel, Mr.B.N., Mrs. Benazir Arfi, Mr. Rehman , Mr. Suri Thyagarajan, Mr. Jack Godhwani participated in making the event successful. MGMNT Team distributed Indian and US Flags, snacks to the crowd on this occasion.
Mr. Salman Farshori, MGMNT Co-chair, in his closing remarks thanked all attendees and volunteers for making the event successful.
