THE High Commission of India and the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre marked India’s 79th year of Independence and 80th Independence Day celebration on Saturday, with a ceremony that saw booth formal tributes and cultural presentations celebrating the country’s heritage and struggle towards freedom.
Speaking at the observance, Chargé d’Affaires and Acting High Commissioner of India Manoj Kumar said the occasion was one of national pride, and an opportunity to pay homage to those who fought for India’s independence, while also celebrating the long-standing relationship between India and Guyana.
“Today, as we celebrate India’s Independence Day, we also cherish India-Guyana relations,” Kumar said.
India gained independence from British rule on August 15, 1947, following a long struggle involving people from across the country.

Kumar said the struggle was marked by “robust optimism”, which has continued to propel India’s progress since independence.
He also cited a message from President Irfaan Ali to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in which the Guyanese Head of State hailed the “courage, sacrifice, and determination” of the Indian people, noting that their struggle had inspired oppressed and colonised people around the world.
The occasion also featured excerpts from an address delivered by Indian President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of Independence Day, in which she reflected on the meaning of freedom and India’s development since 1947.
“Every citizen became an architect of the destiny of independent India,” Murmu said.
Looking ahead, she said India is working towards building a “Viksit Bharat”, or developed India, by the centenary of independence in 2047.
“Guided by the spirit of Antyodaya, it is our resolve to ensure that the fruits of development reach every individual,” Murmu said.
The President highlighted a range of social and economic achievements, including the lifting people out of poverty and the expansion of financial inclusion.
India’s infrastructure and digital transformation were also highlighted, with Murmu pointing to the expansion of highways, waterways, railways and airways.
“India has developed the world’s largest and best digital infrastructure,” she said, noting that digital payments have become common even in small rural shops and among street vendors.
“More than half of the world’s real-time digital transactions take place in India alone,” she added.
The observance also featured a series of cultural presentations celebrating India’s heritage and patriotism.
The programme included patriotic group songs by vocal students of the Swami Vivekananda Cultural Centre, a children’s dance to “Jai Ho,” patriotic, a steel pan performance by the St. Stanislaus Steel Pan Orchestra, a patriotic solo dance by Priyanshu and a patriotic play on national unity and patriotism directed by Dr. Ashish Kumar Mishra.
The programme also featured a women’s empowerment dance by the Surbhi Group and a presentation by Abhishek Khichi and his students showcasing India’s four regions through dance, culminating in a patriotic performance of “Lehra Do” dedicated to the Indian Tricolour.
Kumar, in closing, extended Independence Day greetings to members of the Indian diaspora in Guyana and across the Caribbean.