Indian diaspora in UK takes part in Independence Day celebrations

BHUBANESWAR: Members of the Indian diaspora participated in the 79th Independence Day celebrations at India House in London, organised by the Indian High Commission on Friday. Indian high commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, unfurled the national flag and read out excerpts from President Droupadi Murmu's address to the nation. Minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale also attended the event.Sukant Sahu, general secretary of Odisha Society of the United Kingdom, said the Independence Day function reminds participants of the struggle to free India from British rule. "Like many Indians, I also brought my son for the celebrations so that he learns about the history of our motherland though he is a British citizen by birth," he said. During the three-hour-long celebrations, Athawale and Doraiswami felicitated special guests. They included Sukhjinder Kaur Lochab, granddaughter of Kartar Singh Sarabha, Ghadar Party revolutionary who gave his life for the country, Ananya Prasad, the first Indian woman to row solo and unsupported across the Atlantic Ocean, and Yogesh Alekari, who has travelled across Europe and Africa on a motorbike."After crossing 16 countries and riding 23,000 km, I've completed 30% of my world journey and reached London - where I was felicitated for the second time by the Indian high commissioner to the UK," Alekari wrote in an Instagram post. The programme included cultural performances by master Advait Iyer, who performed 'Maa Tujhe Salaam' solo on the violin, Kathak performance by Richa Srivastava and Kirtirupa, and Bharatanatyam dance by Guru Geetha Sridhar and her disciples. The celebrations were attended by 400 to 500 Indians.