Rhode Islanders celebrated India’s 53rd Republic Day at the Coventry Community Center on January 25, 2002, amid plenty of cheer, goodwill, and fundraising for a charitable cause. The event raised over $13,000 for the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, for promoting literacy in remote and inaccessible parts of India. Over 200 Indian Americans and local Americans, of all ages, attended the event, sponsored by the foundation with the support of local Indian American organizations.

“Besides raising funds for the movement, we wanted to pay tribute on India’s Republic Day to the millions of men and women and to the truly great leaders, who spearheaded India’s unique freedom movement,” said Amrut Patel, one of the event organizers. “Without their sacrifices, we would not be who we are or where we are,” he added.

In his opening remarks, Sharad Bhatia, another event organizer, narrated the events leading up to India’s independence on August 15, 1947, including a recitation of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s famous speech on that occasion, “India’s tryst with destiny.” Bhatia said, “India is undeniably on the forward march. We must therefore celebrate this Republic Day with pride, for what has been accomplished in the short span of 55 years and for the great future that beckons just over the horizon.” Few eyes were dry when a 6-minute video film on the extraordinary life of Mahatma Gandhi, with real photographs, was shown to the audience.

Bhatia added that India still faces staggering levels of illiteracy and poverty, which operates as a vicious cycle. “These problems must be addressed, on a war footing, not only to improve the lives of these suffering people, but also for India’s overall economic growth and security.”

Ram Nehra, local coordinator of the foundation, said that though the national literacy rate in India is 65 percent among men and 45 percent among women, the rates in the tribal areas are shockingly as low as 12% and 5%, respectively. Without 100% literacy, the brilliant future that everyone, including President Bush, sees for India would remain but a dream. We want to make that dream a reality, in our lifetime. We, as a nation, have the capacity and the intellect to do that. Now we need only summon the will, the resolve, and the persistence to make it happen,” Nehra said.

After hoisting the Indian flag, the audience stood in attention and sang along when Jana Gana Mana was played by Meera Bhatia, on the violin, and Ushma Shah, on the piano, and when Pooja Patel sang the Star Spangled Banner.

The event included a rich cultural program, encompassing music, dance, and poetry. The crowd was enthralled by a National Integration Song, performed by young Indian Americans, ages 4 to 11, who displayed in costume, music and dance the rich diversity from all corners of India – from Kashmir to Tamilnadu, and from Gujarat to Bengal. Parul and Ravi Chander choreographed the dances; Ravi also provided humorous commentary on the different regions. The mother and daughter team of Shanthi Muthu and Pavitra Muthu gave a fascinating exposition on the various Indian dance forms. Sisters Alisha and Falicia Patel performed Ganesh Vandana with an exquisite Kuchipudi dance.

The crowd was awed by a Kuchipudi dance, called Tarangam, performed on a thalli (steel plate), with intricate and precarious-looking footwork, by Vanisha Patel. Shanthi Muthu presented a high caliber Bharatnatyam of Saraswati Stuti, while Pavitra rounded off the dance program with a delicate and graceful Manipuri dance.

Koyal Ghoshal, a graduate student in pharmacy at the University of Rhode Island, entertained the crowd with two deeply melodious ragas, performed skillfully and with consummate ease on the sitar, to the able accompaniment on the tabla by Anup Shah, who traveled to Rhode Island especially for the event.

Madhu Jhaveri read a thought-provoking poem he had written. Ravi Chander sang a beautiful Jagjit Singh ghazal, while Sharad Bhatia crooned the soulful “Meri Awaz Suno,” penned by Kaifi Azmi in memory of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Harish Patel sang a reverential Sanskrit poem extolling righteousness and patriotism.

In addition to the audio-visual entertainment, various volunteers provided gastronomical delights to the crowd in the form of a scrumptious, full-fledged, home-cooked meal, with Indian desserts.

“This event literally transported me to India,” remarked Ashish Pathak, one of the event organizers. “Even more importantly, this will help reinforce our Indian culture in our children. My son is doing research on Gandhiji for a school project. I think he may have gained more insight today on why Gandhiji had such an unbelievable hold on the people of India.”

Falguni Shah, the able master of ceremonies, commented: “This was a great opportunity to acknowledge the debt we owe to the generations of Indians who sacrificed their everything for our freedom; to instill our culture in our children and have them develop a sense of pride in their ancestry and their heritage; and to raise funds for a very worthwhile cause, i.e., to end the scourge of illiteracy and poverty in India.”

According to Nehra, “The funds raised at the event will pay an entire year’s expenses for running 36 new schools; it costs $365 per year, or just $1 per day, to run a school for 30 to 40 children. This amount will deliver basic literacy skills to approximately 1000 to 1500 children, who would be otherwise condemned to a life of illiteracy and poverty.”

Ishvarbhai Patel, another event organizer remarked, “The needs are so tremendous. All of us, whether living in India or abroad, need to do much, much more. We must scour every village, every tribal area, and make sure that no child is left uneducated and left behind. The children are our future.”

|