Indians in Connecticut Celebrate 61 Years of Independence

     India had fought hard for its independence, and Shah had family connections to the struggle. His older brother, who was then 30 years old, participated in Gandhi’s non-violent demonstrations, and he lost a friend to tear gas and bullets police fired into the crowd at one of those demonstrations.

In Connecticut, India Independence Day was celebrated at an Aug. 17th event in Danbury during a 40-minute flag-raising ceremony at the Danbury City Hall.

     The India Association of Greater Hartford (IAOGH), an umbrella organization that brings together many Indian cultural groups, held its celebrations at the State Capitol in Hartford, also on the 17th.

Harish Pandya of Newington has been involved with IAOGH for more than 20 years, but his enthusiasm for the August celebration, like Shah’s memories, has not diminished.

     Pandya, like many people from many places, has his feet firmly planted in two countries and has no trouble loving and appreciating both.

“My roots are my heritage. You cannot exist without your roots. Your culture, food, religion, language, family. But America is a perfect country where you can keep your identity, practice your religion, speak your language and still live like an American. It’s a true democracy,” said the retired liquor storeowner who came to the U.S. in 1968 to obtain an education and a better life.

     Whenever 29-year-old Krishna Vardhan Cheeti, an IT consultant in East Hartford, hears of August 15th, his mind turns to sacrifice.

“My grandfather was a freedom fighter, one of the men who took part in the non-violent freedom struggle pioneered by Mahatma Gandhi. Even in those days my grandfather educated himself and became a teacher, rising to the level of headmaster at a government-run high school before retiring. He is a self-respecting individual and a role model in our family, especially to his grandkids," he said.

For Vardhan, Independence Day also brings thoughts of the freedom and education now available in India. “A free and independent country gives us opportunities to...become all that we are created to be, to work hard to earn a living and to support our family and others who need help. Freedom alone does not produce a capable individual; education plays an equal role.”

     When India became the largest independent democracy in the world, “its leaders needed to focus on its roots and the direction it would go. Instead they became caught up in world affairs and tried to take sides,” said Shah, 58, who came to the U.S. from Mumbai in 1983 to continue his studies and settle down.

 “That slowed the progress of democracy itself and a lot of the population continued to be illiterate.” Since the demise of the Soviet Union in 1991, India has realized that its strength – like that of China – lies in its large population and has made great strides, he said.

Susan R.A. Honeyman is a regular contributor to CT Indian Life. She resides in New Haven.

source:  CTindianLife.com