Skip to content Skip to navigation

Independence Day in Kuwait

By editor |

Inquisitiveness, curiosity n proudness filled me as I got ready to attend the 62nd Independence Day at Indian Embassy,Kuwait. As we drove to the Embassy at 6.30am to reach and be part of the flag hoisting at 7.10am ,my mind was filled with different thoughts…thoughts of the many Indenpence Day we celebrated in our motherland Assam under the shadow of Assam Bandh . My one year daughter too wake up early that day as if she understood the importance of this special day. As we approach’d the embassy my husband park’d our car atleast 1km from the embassy as there was no space as hundreds of cars were already parked. As we came near the embassy we were pleasantly surprised to see hundreds of Indians from different walks of life and some like me with infants. People had Indian Flags in their hands. I felt so happy and proud when my infant daughter too took a flag and was waving. Jai Hind, Jai Bharat, Mera Bharat Mahan echoed in the air. The “Borah Drummers”, the members are Guajarati Muslims exhibited their talent and skills. Small school children and Doctors community sang patriotic songs. The Indian Ambassador Ajai Malhotra hosted the national tri-colour flag as we all stood there with proudness. He read out the Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh’s message ,the speech which he gave to millions of Indians from the Red Fort .He also read out the various facilities and schemes that the embassy has taken for thousands of Indian workers. After the cultural programme was over ,the Ambassador met the common people and listen to their grievances if any. Deep feeling of proudness enveloped thousands who gathered there to be part of such a celebration. Mughal Mahal, a famous Indian restaurant gave free breakfast (paratha,chola,sweets) to thousands of people who gathered . Free supplements on Independence Day were distributed by The Times(Kuwait’s premier weekly newspaper) and Arab Times(Kuwait’s national daily).


In a foreign country that too in a Middle East Muslim country like Kuwait we celebrated it so much fun, proudness and most importantly without fear, then why not in our motherland Assam??Can’t we be like rest of India and foreign countries in observing our Independence Day???When will such a day come???These thoughts filled my mind as we drove back home.


I remembered Jawaharlal Nehru’s Independence Day speech…. "Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we will redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to the new, when an age ends and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance.... We end today a period of ill fortune, and India discovers herself again."


Its time for us, all assamese people to defy the Bandh and celebrate it with love, fun and frolic.


by Parimita Barooah Bora, Kuwait

Comments

SKumar's picture

Submitted by SKumar on Mon, 07/09/2009 - 06:37
The Ambassador infact read out the President of India's message and not the Prime Minister's. Anyhow thanks to Parimita for sharing her thoughts. We too feel proud like her to be part of the celebrations of our great nation.
Chintu Nath's picture

Submitted by Chintu Nath on Mon, 07/09/2009 - 14:59
Pom-ba, it was a great coverage for us to know about how NRIs feel about their country and Independence. We Indians are actually, patriotic by birth; it is in our subconscious to feel great and own about our country. No matter where we live in heart we are always INDIANS, and the whole world today recognizes that.We must always endeavor to do better than before wherever we are, and mere that doing only will take our nation even higher and greater. Vande Mataram.
PriyalakshmiB's picture

Submitted by PriyalakshmiB on Thu, 10/09/2009 - 09:28
Woh!such a gathering.

Pages

Add new comment

Other Contents by Author

AFNA sponsors a child meeting at Snehalaya , Guwahati

The Assam Foundation of North America (AFNA) program 'Sponsor a Child' started off with a meeting at Snehalaya Guwahati. Debojit Bora of AFNA talked in detailed about this project. The meeting was attended by 1) Parijat Academy, 2) Asha Darshan-Tamulpur, 3) sSTEP, Society for Social Transformation and Environmental Protection 4) Atma Nirbhar-Ek Challange, Guwahati and 5) SHED , a rehab centers for Mentally Retarded...

Another blow for ULFA: 109 bn leader surrenders in Meghalaya

In yet another big blow for ULFA, one of its hardecore cadres has surrendered before the Meghalaya police on Tuesday night.According to information, Hasmat Ali, alias Jahangir Ali surrendered before the Superintendent of Police in Mendipathar Police station in East Garo Hills District in Meghalaya.Joined the outfit in 2006, the ULFA rebel was involved in many strikes after he completed arms training at Barkaku in Sherpur District in Bangladesh. He was also an expert in explosives devices. He has submitted an AK 81 rifle, two magazines, a hand grenade and 71 live bullets.He is identified a s a resident of Mathia Garopara in Goalpara district, and he is the son of late Abdul Halim.

Situation simmering along Assam-Arunachal border

The simmering situation along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh border in Lakhimpur refuses to die down a day after the Lakhimpur district administration dismantled check post at Moinajuli area set up by the Papumpara district authorities.Thousands of local residents are leaving their homes apprehending incidents of violence in the areas and thus this has forced the authorities to deploy more security forces in the area before the situation spans out of control. But a section of Arunachalese people are still asking the border people within the territory of Assam to vacate the place. Talking to Assam Times, local residents have alleged that section of policemen in Papumpara district are joining...

Rhino body recovered

Body of a rhino was recovered at Chemeri Chapori in Golaghat district on Sunday morning . Local residents say the body was exhumed after the local residents saw a heap of soil on a rhino body. Forest officials later came and exhumed the body from a paddy field. The poachers took away the horn after killing the rhino possibly two or three days ago. They saw three rhinos in the area but the forest officials failed to pushed them back to Kaziranga.

Simmering situation in Golaghat

An uneasy situation is again prevailing in Golaghat town on Sunday evening. A group of youths started assaulting a few businessmen after vandalizing their shops. Policemen had to take resort to lathi-charge to disperse the people who demanded stern action against the youths involved in it.It may be noted that people in large number burnt the effigy of Golaghat Deputy Commissioner alleging his failure to take action against a few youths who harassed a shopkeeper demanding money citing an AATASU function.

OIL beat ASEB, clinche Bordoloi trophy

The Oil India Limited Duliajan had the last laugh in the prestigious 57th Bharat Ratna Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi trophy soccer title in the final match beating the Assam State Electricity Board by 3-0 goals at the Guwahati on Sunday. The first half of the match ended in a goalless draw. But in the second half, the OIL strikers managed to defeat the ASEB by 3-0 goals. The strikers who posted these goals are namely the African footballer Ejakul, Minto Boro and Lalremruata.

Crack in NDFB: Ranjan Daimary to continue as chairman

There is report of vertical split in the National Democratic Front of Bodoland. The chairman of the Bodo rebel outfit DR Nabla has claimed that he will lead the outfit despite the earlier order sacking him from the stint.Quoting Nabala as saying a section of media reports he would the lead the NDFB as it was for the 22 years to ensure national self-determination, independence and sovereignty.The outfit which is blamed for the October serial bombings in Assam, removed its Bangladesh-based president, Nabla, last week and announced its decision to contest next year's parliamentary elections either directly or indirectly.The NDFB general assembly on December 15 replaced its founder president...

13 ULFA cadres to join the pro truce faction

At least thirteen ULFA cadres belonging to the 28th Battalion are set to join the pro truce faction in upper Assam’s Dibrugarh district on Saturday.According to information, these cadres will join the faction at a function being organized at Kakopathar designated camp where top pro truce leaders including Mrinal Hazarika is present.

Major explosion averted in Sivasagar

A major explosion was averted and lives of hundreds of people saved on Friday when an IED was found in a busy market in Sibsagar. According to information, the personnel of 316 Field Regiment Army and police recovered the 5-kg of IED from the Moran market where a large number of people had gathered for shopping in the evening. The Bomb Disposal Squad of Army later safely defused the bomb, they said adding search operations have been launched to nab those who planted the IED.

40 injured as bus set on fire at Bihali in Sonitpur

Over 40 persons have been injured when suspected Birsa Commando force militants set on fire a passenger bus at Bihali in Sonitpur district early in the morning on Saturday.According to initial reports, suspected BCF militants forcibly halted a passenger bus bearing No AS-075848 from Sivasagar on its way to Lakhimpur as it reached Monabari Newline and set on fire by pouring petrol. Over 40 passengers have been injured in the attack. The injured people have been rushed to the hospital. The incident took place half an hour before the area slipped into a 24 hour statewide Assam bandh called by Birsa Command Force.