Contributions of overseas Indians celebrated
India’s Ambassador to Guyana Venkatachalam Mahalingam (left) and Indian Action Committee (IAC) Executive Member Neaz Subhan, sit among the audience at Pravasi Bharatiya Devas held at the India Cultural Centre
India’s Ambassador to Guyana Venkatachalam Mahalingam (left) and Indian Action Committee (IAC) Executive Member Neaz Subhan, sit among the audience at Pravasi Bharatiya Devas held at the India Cultural Centre

SEVERAL cultural groups and members of the private sector earlier this week joined the Indian High Commission in Georgetown to celebrate Pravasi Bharatiya Devas or Non-Resident Indian Day.

It was the third celebration in Guyana since the event was inaugurated by the Government of India in 2003 to recognise the contributions of Indians in the diaspora to the development of the Mother Land.
Celebrated on January 9 every year, the genesis of Pravasi Bharatiya Devas is linked to the first well known Pravasi, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi.

Gandhi had on the same day returned to India from then apartheid South Africa to lead the struggle to free India from British rule, a feat he achieved through non-violence and civil disobedience, winning the admiration of many the world over.

During his struggles as a freedom fighter in South Africa, he earned the title mahatma. Mahatma is a Sanskrit word and when translated to English means “great soul”.
The mini event held at the Indian Cultural Centre, Bel Air, New Haven, Georgetown, was in keeping with the thrust of the Indian Government to reach out to overseas Indians, including those in Guyana.

Indians first came here in 1838, and today, with 39 per cent of Guyana’s population of 747,000 being Indians, they are the largest ethnic group in Guyana.
India and Guyana have enjoyed fruitful and cordial relations ever since Guyana became an Independent nation in 1966; and this year’s Pravasi Bharatiya Devas was held at the same time of the inaugural Persons of Indian (PIO) Parliamentarians Conference in India’s capital New Delhi.

Some 134 elected representatives from 24 countries, including Guyana, participated in the conference.
“We are happy to say that the Guyanese delegation of 23 members consisting of 20 MPs and three mayors was the largest delegation in the conference, Indian Ambassador to Guyana Venkatachalam Mahalingam told the Indian Cultural Centre gathering.

The conference was addressed by both Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj.
Prime Minister Modi reminded the delegates that the event was aimed at reconnecting the Indian diaspora with their ancestral land and spirit.

PRAISE
He praised the delegates for preserving Indian culture and at the same time excelling in sports, the arts and cinema on the global platform and contributing to the welfare of their respective countries.

The prime minister also extended a welcoming hand to the leaders of Indian origin to join hands with India and be part of the “irreversible change” that is sweeping India.
External Affairs Minister Swaraj for her part congratulated the PIO parliamentarians for achieving political leadership in their respective countries.

At the Indian Cultural Centre, Ambassador Mahalingam told the gathering that Indo-Guyanese, who are now third or fourth-generation here, along with their African brothers and sisters, have made great contributions to Guyana.

“They converted the marshy water-logged country into a fertile land,” he said, while pointing out that the Indians managed to preserve their Indian culture in various forms through religious practices, music, costumes and food habits, even though they lost linguistic and family contacts from their ancestral land, primarily due to the enormous distance between the two nations.

Indian Action Committee (IAC) Executive Member Neaz Subhan also spoke at the event. He delivered an informative presentation titled “Continuation of Indian Cultural Moorings – Guyana’s Experience” that was well received by the audience.

The lively occasion which also featured dances and a video presentation of the PIO parliamentarians and mayors conference, concluded with a quiz competition in which prizes were given out to the various winners.

Last year, the High Commission participated in the Indian Indentureship Centenary Celebration by joining various organisations, including the Guyana-Indian Indentureship Abolition Association.

Recently, it has also commissioned a research on Madrasis in Guyana to get more details about their indentureship origin and cultural practices, among other aspects of their lives. These aside, the High Commission is planning to organise cooking classes to popularise authentic Indian foods.

SHARE THIS ARTICLE :
Facebook
Twitter
WhatsApp

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

All our printed editions are available online
emblem3
Subscribe to the Guyana Chronicle.
Sign up to receive news and updates.
We respect your privacy.