BY A STAFF REPORTER
BUENA PARK,CA - Indian American Heritage Foundation, in association with GOPIO LA, GOPIO Orange County, GOPIO Inland Empire, GOPIO Fullerton, Lions Club of Little India and Rajput Association of America organized an American Independence Day celebration on July at The Yellow Chilli Restaurant, here and also paid tribute to...
BUENA PARK,CA - Indian American Heritage Foundation, in association with GOPIO LA, GOPIO Orange County, GOPIO Inland Empire, GOPIO Fullerton, Lions Club of Little India and Rajput Association of America organized an American Independence Day celebration on July at The Yellow Chilli Restaurant, here and also paid tribute to...
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Indian pioneers and patriots who started the India independence movement in the US in the early 20th century. The celebration attended by almost 200 guests included a seminar which covered various topics.
The seminar started with singing of the national anthems of America and India followed by patriotic songs by Gagandeep Sidhu, Subhash Tolia, and Jagdish Ghai. Anju Garg. Inder Singh, Exec Trustee GOPIO Foundation and principal organizer of the event, in his welcome remarks, talked about Americans’ sacrifices to gain freedom from the British. Many Americans lost their lives, properties, lifelong earnings during this fight. He also talked about the early Indian immigrants’ unimagined hardships, racial violence, bigotry, and discrimination which they faced in the US. Ashok Madan, past president NFIA, spoke of the American war for independence. He said that the Americans did not like taxes imposed on them by the British. The colonies formed the First Continental Congress to persuade the British government to recognize their rights. When this didn’t work, on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted and war was declared. Independence from Britain was won in 1783. The colonies became states and the United States of America was born as a country. Rajinder Dhunna, president Rajput Association of America, spoke about early Indian immigration to the US and settlement problems. He explained how Indian workers faced the wrath of local labor unions and jealousy and bigotry of Americans. At times, they were beaten up and robbed of their belongings.
Kewal Kanda, treasurer GOPIO-Int’l, spoke about the India Independence Movement and explained how the Movement, known as Gadar Movement started in the US to free India from the yolk of British rule. After World War I started in 1914, several thousand overseas Indians left their businesses and jobs and went to India to free their motherland while the British Indian forces were busy fighting the war. The British spies foiled their attempt to throw the British out of India. Many were arrested, 48 were given death sentence, 69 life imprisonment, and several were given varying terms of imprisonment in India and the US. Inder Singh talked about the sacrifices of heroes of the Gadar movement, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Lala Hardyal, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Maulvi Barkatullah and Vishnu Ganesh Pingley. Vasu Pawar, president GOPIO Inland Empire, spoke about the Struggle of Indians for US citizenship. She said early Indian immigrants faced many hardships in finding good paying jobs, had to live in shanty homes, and were not allowed to buy property. Some of them became US Citizens but US Supreme Court ruled that Indians were not white and not eligible for US Citizenship. After a long struggle, a bill was passed in the US Congress in 1946 allowing 100 Indians to become US citizens annually. President Truman invited Sardar JJ Singh and Anup Singh who had been fighting to gain citizenship rights, to the White House on July 2, 1946 to witness the signing off the bill into law.
Dilip Butani, GOPIO Area Coordinator, Southern California, talked about philanthropic contributions of Indian-Americans., such as Dr Mani Bhaumik, Navin Doshi, Bhupesh Parikh, BU Patel and Uka Solanki who are part of the American philanthropic landscape. Inder Singh, made a power point presentation on Indian-Americans who have significantly contributed in the fields of science, sports, education, economy, agriculture, yoga, politics, among others.
Aparna Hande, Co-Chair Health Council – GOPIO-Int’l, gave the vote of thanks and the event concluded with a sumptuous lunch.
The seminar started with singing of the national anthems of America and India followed by patriotic songs by Gagandeep Sidhu, Subhash Tolia, and Jagdish Ghai. Anju Garg. Inder Singh, Exec Trustee GOPIO Foundation and principal organizer of the event, in his welcome remarks, talked about Americans’ sacrifices to gain freedom from the British. Many Americans lost their lives, properties, lifelong earnings during this fight. He also talked about the early Indian immigrants’ unimagined hardships, racial violence, bigotry, and discrimination which they faced in the US. Ashok Madan, past president NFIA, spoke of the American war for independence. He said that the Americans did not like taxes imposed on them by the British. The colonies formed the First Continental Congress to persuade the British government to recognize their rights. When this didn’t work, on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted and war was declared. Independence from Britain was won in 1783. The colonies became states and the United States of America was born as a country. Rajinder Dhunna, president Rajput Association of America, spoke about early Indian immigration to the US and settlement problems. He explained how Indian workers faced the wrath of local labor unions and jealousy and bigotry of Americans. At times, they were beaten up and robbed of their belongings.
Kewal Kanda, treasurer GOPIO-Int’l, spoke about the India Independence Movement and explained how the Movement, known as Gadar Movement started in the US to free India from the yolk of British rule. After World War I started in 1914, several thousand overseas Indians left their businesses and jobs and went to India to free their motherland while the British Indian forces were busy fighting the war. The British spies foiled their attempt to throw the British out of India. Many were arrested, 48 were given death sentence, 69 life imprisonment, and several were given varying terms of imprisonment in India and the US. Inder Singh talked about the sacrifices of heroes of the Gadar movement, Sohan Singh Bhakna, Lala Hardyal, Kartar Singh Sarabha, Maulvi Barkatullah and Vishnu Ganesh Pingley. Vasu Pawar, president GOPIO Inland Empire, spoke about the Struggle of Indians for US citizenship. She said early Indian immigrants faced many hardships in finding good paying jobs, had to live in shanty homes, and were not allowed to buy property. Some of them became US Citizens but US Supreme Court ruled that Indians were not white and not eligible for US Citizenship. After a long struggle, a bill was passed in the US Congress in 1946 allowing 100 Indians to become US citizens annually. President Truman invited Sardar JJ Singh and Anup Singh who had been fighting to gain citizenship rights, to the White House on July 2, 1946 to witness the signing off the bill into law.
Dilip Butani, GOPIO Area Coordinator, Southern California, talked about philanthropic contributions of Indian-Americans., such as Dr Mani Bhaumik, Navin Doshi, Bhupesh Parikh, BU Patel and Uka Solanki who are part of the American philanthropic landscape. Inder Singh, made a power point presentation on Indian-Americans who have significantly contributed in the fields of science, sports, education, economy, agriculture, yoga, politics, among others.
Aparna Hande, Co-Chair Health Council – GOPIO-Int’l, gave the vote of thanks and the event concluded with a sumptuous lunch.
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