East-West Times…Information you desire

     They began with a marching band, parading with banners of 36 different associations of Indian Americans of Greater Tampa Bay depicting their solid unity in celebration of “Indianness”, followed by flag hoisting and national anthems.  They reminisced their forefathers, the sacrifices and the pain involved right from the First War of Independence in 1857 when Rani Laxmi Bai on horseback with sword in hand and infant baby in her back pouch, trotting in the dark nights through the vast land of  India uniting the whole country.  There was a pin-drop “moment of silence “for a solemn reminder of these sacrifices which brought us the precious freedom we enjoy today.  A short but most fitting memoir of a movie depicting the Freedom Movement of struggle brought a sentimental mood for everyone in the audience.  Sweets, foods and Faluda were distributed.

     Event Chair, Dr. Ram Ramcharran, orchestrated the event successfully integrating the whole federation with volunteers from every association while Lakshmi Sastry read out the proclamations from the Mayor of the city of Tampa, Florida and from US President George W. Bush along with First Lady Laura Bush bestowing best wishes and the message from our ambassador Mr. Ronen Sen.

     Dr. Sanku Rao, the current president of AAPI was the Chief Guest who stated in his keynote address the need to improve the conditions including healthcare in India and reiterated the efforts and sacrifices made by our forefathers which ought to propel us for doing greater tasks of service to the needy here as well as in our motherland.  Another inspirational speaker, in fact a prominent author, Amaresh Misra, visiting from India, spoke eloquently regarding the exploitations by the East India Company in a great multi-religious harmonious society which existed in India.

     Bela Sharma did a superb job of coordinating the cultural program with eleven local items in which children and adults in costumes danced and rejoiced the audience. But the most heartwarming part of the show occurred when Shri Ramana Maharishi Academy of Blind teenagers did an enthralling performance with artistic presentations such as doing a dance item on a thali with a pitcher of water on their head and a most scintillating Bhangra item.  This program was  organized and sponsored by Dr. Renuka Ramappa of Srigandha Kannada Koota while the Federation of Indian Associations raised about $2000 and donated it to the Maharishi school for their great cause of supporting these very capable yet visually impaired persons all the way from India.

     As has been customary annually, Board of Regents of FIA presented the award ceremony including the most Outstanding Professional of the Year Award given to Dr. Yogi Goswami for his excellent contributions to the field of Energy; Community Service Award was given to Ram Jakhotia for his ever ready help for the cause of Indians. Several Outstanding Students & Debaters were recognized among the younger generation and this appreciation included for the efforts which their parents did in promoting good culture and habits from the start.  All in all, this was noted as one of the best  organized and attended, with meaningful  participation from a large mosaic of the entire Indian American community which is steadily gearing toward better, improving collaboration of all and display or share our culture with mainstream of America.