Indian consulate in Toronto celebrates 71st Indian Independence Day

Nearly 500 gathered people -- old, young and children – dressed in traditional as well as in formal attires from different walks of life like from media, industry, business  celebrated the occasion as Ontario Games’ players cheered and applauded the flag hoisting ceremony conducted by Bhatia and his wife.

Bhatia in his speech attributed the independence of India to the sacrifices of great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ramprasad Bismil, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar-- known as the Father of Indian Constitution -- and countless others who gave their lives in the freedom movement.

Gandhiji’s philosophies in the nation building on honesty and truthfulness should be inculcated in every citizen of India, said Bhatia.

"He said Gandhji was not alone in his nationwide struggle for freedom for reform but also people like Ambedkar played a big role.

"Patel instilled in the people the spirit of nationality, integrity and discipline," he said adding that millions of people joined him in the struggle for India’s freedom.

He said Netaji Subhas Bose had told the people of India that he will give them freedom and under his leadership millions of people joined to fight for the freedom of India.

Nehru emphasized “green heritage and traditions so dear to us could co-exist with technology to modernise our society.”

Bhatia continued that the people of India and abroad should not forget the teachings of the great leaders, many of whom who had given their lives for India’s independence.

"We need to draw inspiration from these great leaders to ensure the prevalence of gentler and happier societies where people from different walks of life understand each other and live in peace and harmony without regardless of caste religion or status in life," he said.

Bhatia in his message to people of India said that the inequality amongst people should be eradicated for the nation to progress.

Bringing up the topic of girls’ education in India, he said that the advocacy of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padao’ meaning that girls should be saved and educated should be adopted completely so that there is not a single uneducated girl in the whole nation.

Bhatia in his speech encouraged each rich Indian family to pay the fees of another girl of a poor family. It is the duty of all Indians to think of other peoples’ needs, besides their own. Bhatia in his message said that “India would be a fully literate society in a few years.”

Internet should be wide-spread, but should be used judicially, said Bhatia in his message, to further the cause of education.

He said it should be the duty of each and every citizen to follow the policies formed by the government. Indian Government is fighting to eradicate poverty from the nation and has adopted many practical ways of reducing the gap between the rich and the poor, he said and added the “need of a strong partnership between the government and the citizens, between the individual and society, between the family and the public”.

Bhatia added that 17 months back when he joined his office he had started several initiatives like provision of emergency services on the same day even on holidays, open house on every Friday where any body can come without any prior appointment and  added that the number of complaints from people had reduced significantly.

(Reporting by Asha Bajaj)