CHICAGO: The Federation of Indian Associations (FIA) Chicago, the pioneer umbrella organization for Indian Americans in Midwest, hosted the 69th India Independence Day Celebrations in Chicago.
It was 33rd consecutive year for FIA to host the event that yearly brings all Indian Americans together under the shades of the tricolor and sharing memories of the gift of freedom from colonial rule.
The three-phased celebrations began with a gala Banquet dinner for Indian community at Meadows Club on Friday evening. Many prominent Indian American community members joined FIA dinner along with local and state officials. Indian Consul General in Chicago Dr Ausaf Sayeed and Bollywood actor Upen Patel were the guests of honor for the banquet. The event was co chaired by Neil and Raj Patel.
FIA senior trustee Iftekhar Shareef and past president Keerthi Kumar Ravoori welcomed the guests and emceed the program. The event was inaugurated with a traditional lamp lighting ceremony by FIA trustees and Indian Consul General.
Iftekhar Shareef announced the program for the evening comprising FIA awards to Indian community members, a Bollywood musical entertainment show, and a raffle for free Qatar Airlines ticket to India for the winner arranged by Evia Travel Chicago. Shareef also recognized the sponsors for FIA celebrations and thanked Air India Chicago for being the grand sponsor of the event.
He invited Air India Midwest Manager Nakul Chand to the podium and introduced him to Indian community as a social person getting Indian Americans closer to fly with Air India. Shareef also thanked other sponsors, namely Wintrust, Medstar, Globetrotters, Sahil, Patel Brothers and National Bankcard for their support. A standing silent homage was paid to late President of India, Dr Abul Kalam and a brief tribute ceremony was held on podium for the local departed Indian community leader Narendra Patel.
FIA president Dr Indrajit Patel and Indian Consul General Dr Ausaf Sayeed congratulated Indian Americans for the 69th India Independence Day anniversary. Dr Sayeed announced that I Day celebrations were also organized by Indian communities in Minneapolis and St. Louis.
“Wherever I go, “he said, “I am impressed meeting Indian Americans as the best doctors in America, IT experts, professionals in education and successful business persons.” You have inherited it from a great democracy in the world and share it with the other great democracy, he remarked.
On Saturday morning there was the FIA led I Day parade on Devon Ave, an Indian community hub in Chicago. The event was inaugurated with unfurling of Indian flag by Indian Consul General along with other dignitaries. The parade started from the corner of Western and Devon Ave and marched towards the California Ave. Indian Americans, men, women and children gathered in good numbers to cheer the parade participants. One side of the Devon Ave had very thin line of crowd while the other side had crowds bursting to gain vintage place.
The Parade turned out to be less glamorous with a patchy crowd and fewer floats than last year. Besides, those marching with the Parade Marshals could also be counted on finger tips. Two FIA stalwarts remarked that the relative lack luster show was because of poor handling at the Committee level.
Very interestingly, a large number of Muslims turned out to attend the Parade while among the Floats it was the deftly decorated American Federation of Christian Associations that was applauded. Sahil float played Indian music while Devon Ka Raja and Hanuman Mandir float had devotional appeal. An interesting sight was Tulsi Patel of Patel Bros with colorful turban on head and his aide offering cold water bottles to everybody for quenching their thirst.
Also, it was nice seeing a veteran FIA Trustee Bhailal Patel fully clad in traditional Indian colorful dress with equally fascinating turban on head being part of the Parade marchers. A veteran schoolteacher from India , Mohanlal Master (75+), was there too, keeping up his decades long tradition to come in Khadi clad dress with Gandhi cap on the head and exhorting all present to say Mahatma Gandhi Ki Jai Bharat Mata ki Jai.
All FIA senior trustees, ICG Dr Ausaf Sayeed, Bollywood actor Upen Patel with Karishma Tanna, Lt. Governor Evelyn Sanguinetti, Cook County president Toni Preckwinkle, Clerk of Cook County Dorothy Brown were among the Grand Marshals in the parade. All the dignitaries were led to the stage and greeted by large number of Indian American community members gathered near the podium. Among the notables present were Smita Shah, Niranjan Shah, Raja Krishnamoorthy, Dr Bharat Barai and others.
A fairly long line of spectacular and colorful floats by different business houses and Indian cultural organizations added to the glory of the colorful I Day Parade. The moving floats reminded of the cultural and ethnic diversity of India.
The Mela was well organized and well attended and the FIA headed by Dr Indrajit Patel needs to be complemented. Dr Patel had earlier told this paper before the Parade that FIA would not want to spend huge tons of money to get film celebrities and the absence of noted film personality was not felt at all by those coming to the Parade. He stood vindicated. Partly it was made up by the presence of TV fame Upen Patel and Karishma Tanna who we besieged by many youngsters.
A.Q. Siddiqui
India Post News Service
