CHICAGO: A joint effort by Global Indians for Bharat Vikas (GIBV) and Overseas Friends of BJP with huge backing from enlightened members of Indian community organized a ‘Walk for Unity’ in Chicago on the occasion of the 65th Republic Day of India. It met with success despite inclement and very unfriendly weather.
The walk commenced from North Shore banquet Devon Ave, Chicago at 12-30 pm with over 200 people attending to show solidarity of Non Resident Indians (NRIs) with the Gujarat Government’s initiative to build the world’s tallest statue in India – the Statue of Unity to commemorate India’s unity in diversity and invaluable contributions of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel towards nation building.
It was brutally cold in Chicago as well as in two other places, Atlanta and Arkansas that held a similar event
The walk starting from Northshore Banquet Hall got the entire half a mile walk reverberating with shouts of ‘Bharatmata Ki Jai’. People from Chicago and neighboring Wisconsin participated in the walk. NRIs belonging to Jammu & Kashmir, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu came in reflecting huge unity of the country in its tremendous diversity.
The program commenced with Kalpesh Desai, GIBV’s Chicago Coordinator, welcoming everyone and introducing Global Indian for Bharat Vikas (GIBV).
He encouraged all to register as GIBV volunteers to come together with focus to actively participate to help fulfill the expectations of millions in India. Jenish Bulsara, a high school student, sang the national anthem of USA and everyone rose and joined to sing national anthems of USA and India.
A special video of Statue of Unity was shown on the occasion. Everyone was excited to hear about this project in Gujarat to honor Sardar Patel for his successful efforts to unite the country right after independence in 1947.
Dr Indrajit Patel talked about the silver coin made to raise funds for Statue of Unity. As all know, there is a drive for collecting funds for this statue by Sardar Patel Seva Foundation whose President is Dr. Bharat Barai, a well known oncologist and community activist from Indiana and vice president is Dr Indrajit Patel. Other leading community leaders like Naren Patel of Medstar Laboratories and Mafatbhai Patel of Patel Brothers contributed silver to create silver coins. These coins with carving of Sardar Patel and Mahatma Gandhi are being sold to raise funds for the Statue.
Ajay Jain, Member of VHP’s National Executive Council, conducted the rest of the program by introducing Vandana Jhingan of Midwest TV Asia, who encouraged women to participate in the political process and make meaningful contribution. Then Riddhi Raval encouraged youth women to get involved.
Vice President of OFBJP, Amar Upadhyaya briefed about the activities and history of OFBJP in North America.
Then he introduced Bob Dold’s representative to share his views about India-USA relations and common interests. Philipe Milline who represented Congressman Bob Dold, appealed to the Indian community to build strong India-US ties. Amar Upadhyay appealed to all to work towards accomplishing the mission of 272+ seats in Indian Parliament to make Bharat a corruption and Congress Mukt country.
Nirav Patel, co-convener of Global Indians for Bharat Vikas, also appealed to the audience to register with the organization and extend support for its mission. Hundreds of overseas Indians in Chicago have already registered with GIBV to become a part of mission 272+. Similar sentiments were echoed by other dignitaries, including Nimesh Jani, Prasad Yalamanchi and Jitendra Diganvker.
Naren Patel of Medstar specifically appreciated the patriotic efforts of Narendra Modi to end corruption in India and pitched for wide support from for BJP and Narendra Modi. “Unity among diversity is the need of the day.
People worldwide have realized that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with Shri Narendra Modi as the leader has the potential to fulfill the expectations of millions and perhaps he is the only hope for India today. Each one of us can be a potent force in reshaping future of Bharat if we all come together and work with a plan and single minded focus,” said Naren Patel.
Sohan Joshi, who is the president of National Federation of Indian Americans was also present at the occasion. The celebrations concluded with the chants of Vande Mataram. After that, Jitendra Bulsara sang a Hindi patriotic song “Ab Tumhare Havale Vatan Saathio” of film Hakikat sung by Mohammed Rafi and everyone was immersed in the patriotic emotions. Jitendra Diganvker, Co-coordinator of GIBV mid-west, explained the importance of opposing Article H.R 417 proposed in the US Congress.
Prasad Yalamanchi, veteran community leader of Chicago area, underlined the importance of actively involving in the political process in India and USA and highlighted the risks of not doing it. He urged everyone to lobby the congressman/woman of their area against Article H.R. 417.
At the end, everyone enjoyed delicious Indian food before departing.
Global Indians for Bharat Vikas (gibv.org) aims for corruption free and Congress Mukt Bharat. This is a USA based forum for NRIs around the globe. This forum is open to all who want and hope for a change in India’s fortunes and seek wider support from all groups of Indians irrespective of one’s political ideology.
India is at a crossroads today. Only till recently the whole world was looking to India as the next world economic power which has a functional democracy. However, after the initial euphoria India today is far from gaining the economic progress it deserved and is sliding down very fast.
Asian Media USA and Surendra Ullal
