Indian expats celebrate Independence Day
Ghazanfar Ali Khan & K.S. Ramkumar | Arab News
RIYADH/JEDDAH: Indian expatriates across Saudi Arabia joined their compatriots in India and other overseas places on Saturday to celebrate their country’s 63rd Independence Day with great enthusiasm.
In Riyadh, Ambassador M.O.H. Farook unfurled the national flag and read Indian President Pratibha Patil’s message, while in Jeddah acting Consul General B.S. Mubarak raised the national flag and read the president’s address. Students of International Indian Schools in Riyadh and Jeddah presented patriotic songs at the two ceremonies.
Farook highlighted the progressively growing Saudi-India relations with special reference to the issues confronting the globe on which the two countries shared identical views. He stressed the need to make India a stronger and stable nation, while tackling the issues concerning security. Rajeev Shahare, deputy chief of the Indian mission, and diplomats were among those present. The ambassador hosted a reception at the IISR Girls Section.
Consulate officers and staff, and members of the community were present at the ceremony held at the consulate in Jeddah. At the ceremony held at IISJ, its Managing Committee Chairman Salah Kardan, accompanied by MC member Saeed S. Sayed and Principal M. Ayub Shaikh, unfurled the national flag.
Patil said in her message that she was confident that the nation would move forward to become an exemplary democracy, an economic power and a progressive society. “If we have to progress, communal harmony is important,” she said. “Peaceful coexistence is inherent in our culture. Terrorism, which targets innocent people, is the very antithesis of peaceful coexistence. It is condemnable because it is against the tenets of every religion and faith. It must be defeated in the interest of the collective goal of humankind to build peaceful societies and a peaceful world. We need to work together toward this end as humankind shares a common destiny,” the president added.
Echoing the president’s sentiments, both Farook and Mubarak called on the community to face challenges and work toward ensuring a comprehensive, integrated system of social justice and security.
Indian expats celebrate Independence Day