The Hindu : Indians abroad celebrate I-Day

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Aug 16, 2002

International

International

Indians abroad celebrate I-Day

Beijing Aug.15. The Indian community and diplomatic missions across the world celebrated the 56th Independence Day with traditional fervour.

The main function in Beijing, was held at the Indian Embassy where the national flag was hoisted by the Consular, Sanjay Bhattacharyya, in the absence of the Ambassador Shivshankar Menon, who is away in Tibet.

In Bangkok, the Tricolour was unfurled by the Indian Ambassador, Leela Ponappa, at the Embassy.

Indians in CIS countries celebrated the 55th anniversary of India's independence with great enthusiasm. The first flag-hoisting ceremony in Russia was held at the Indian Consulate-General's office in Vladivostok, eight hours ahead of Moscow.

In Moscow, hundreds of Indian families gathered at the Embassy for the flag-hoisting by the Ambassador, Krishnan Raghunath. The text of the President's address was circulated among the members of the community at the Indian Consulate in St. Petersburg.

Indians in great numbers turned out for flag-hoisting ceremonies at other diplomatic missions in the capitals of CIS countries, including Tashkent, Kiev, Minsk, Almaty, Dushanbe and Ashgabat.

In the Australian capital, Canberra, a statue of Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled by the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, Peter Hollingworth.

The Indian High Commissioner to Australia, R.S. Rathore, said, ``In this multicultural society of Australia, it is a fitting tribute to the Mahatma, who ardently believed in multiculturalism.''

In Dhaka, the Indian High Commissioner, Manilal Tripathy, hoisted the Tricolour.

PTI

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Indians abroad celebrate I-Day