Indians in Juba celebrate 73rd Republic Day
The Indian Embassy yesterday celebrated the 73rd Republic Day of India at its premises in Juba.
Ambassador Vishnu Kumar Sharma unfurled the National Flag and read out excerpts from the President of India’s address to the nation.
The function was organised with the restricted presence of Indian nationals observing the COVID-19 pandemic related restrictions.
The event also marked the completion of India’s 75 years of independence, which is being celebrated as “Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav” (AKAM)- the great festival of freedom in India and across the world.
In the spirit of the festival, the government of India and its missions abroad have organised several events in collaboration with the Indians abroad to cherish the memories of India’s great leaders and unsung heroes of the freedom struggle, rich culture and heritage of India. The others are the achievements of India and Indians during its journey of 75 years as an independent nation.
In his address to the gathering, Amb Sharma described the visit of Vellamvelly Muraleedharan, the Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs of India, to South Sudan in October 2021 as historic. He asserted that the visit had strengthened bilateral relations.
He announced that an artificial limbs fitment (Jaipur foot) camp would be organised this year for the benefit of around 500 amputees in collaboration with the Juba Military Referral Hospital.
In his speech, he also informed the Indian nationals that the approval by President Salva Kiir to allocate plots of land for a temple and cremation ground for the Indian community was in process with Central Equatoria State authorities.
Amb. Sharma thanked the Indian community for their support and asked them to even more enthusiastically take part in all the events the embassy was organising, especially in connection with AKAM, while assuring them of all possible assistance from the embassy in their hour of need.
The envoy praised the Indian contingent in UNMISS for its assistance in capacity building and philanthropic activities in South Sudan, as well as the Indian police personnel in UNPOL for their outstanding service under difficult conditions.
He conveyed his sincere appreciation and thanks to Indians working in religious congregations such as the Daughters of Mary Immaculate and Don Bosco. He described their selfless service to humanity in South Sudan as noble and helpful towards the cause of peace and development in the youngest nation in the world.
During the celebrations, videos on Indian tourism were played. The participants also got an opportunity to refresh their history even as snippets of India’s unsung heroes of its great struggle for independence from colonial rule as well as those on the significance of India’s Republic Day were being screened.
