India Post News Service
CHICAGO: Indian Consulate in Chicago celebrated Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas on January 9 at the Consulate premises located in downtown Chicago. The event was attended by about 100 members of the community as well as friends of India.
Consul D.B.Bhatti welcomed the guests and participants of the event after which followed screening of a documentary titled “Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas -2017”. The documentary depicted the direct engagement of Government of India leaders at the highest level with the Indian community all across the world.
Consul General Neeta Bhushan delivered the keynote address. She highlighted the efforts being made by Government of India to reach out to the Indian community settled abroad. She also highlighted some of the ongoing flagship programs of the government aimed at strengthening engagement with the diaspora and as to how the Consulate in Chicago is implementing them. Consul General also felicitated Dr. Bharat Barai and Dr. Niranjan Shah, recipients of Pravasi Bharatiya Samman from Chicago area.
Dr Bharat Barai also addressed the gathering and discussed as to how the Indian community can complement the efforts of the Government of India for the welfare of the community and for further strengthening our partnership with the US.
#4A section of the audience with CG addressing the meet
Mohammed Yusuf, father of. Mohammed Akbar who became victim of gun violence in Chicago on December 6, 2017, Ishak Vohra, father of Arshad Vohra, a 19 year Indian student who was shot dead in a robbery attempt on December 28 and Muzaffer Hussain, son of Bakar Sayyed who was also shot in the same incident were also present during the event. They spoke very highly of the quick efforts made by the Consulate in reaching out to the victims of the violence and their family members as also the help extended to them by the Consulate during critical times.
The Consulate also celebrated the Vishava Hindi Diwas immediately after the Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas. Some prominent Hindi poets of Chicago area such as Ms. Gurbachan Kaur “Neelam” regaled the audience reciting her poems in Hindi. Ms. Sudaksha Kapur also recited Hindi poems on this occasion. Their stance highlighted the sentiments of migrant Indians.
Ramesh Soparawala
