The FICA celebration of India Independence Day continued at the Rockefeller Park Greenhouse. Asim Datta is president of the Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio (FICA). He gave some of the history of the creation of India and Pakistan and explained the difference between India Independence Day and Republic Day. He then explained some of the many activities of FICA including their community service projects such as Project Seva and Shiksha Daan.
The ceremony began with the untying of the flags of India and the United States by Om Julka and Paramjit Singh.
The US National Anthem was performed by Koel Das Gupta. Koel Das Gupta
Michael Sreshta played the Indian Anthem, Jana Gana Mana Adhinayak, on saxophone. Michael Sreshta
Lt. Colonel Om Julka has been called the doyen of the Indian Diaspora in Cleveland, Ohio. He is perhaps the oldest living Asian Indian in Cleveland, having immigrated here in 1978. He was an eye witness to many of the events leading up to and after India's independence. Om Julka told some remembrances of Independence Day August 15, 1947.
 Lt. Colonel Om Julka
Jack Schron is the President of Jergens, Inc. and has traveled to their offices in India many times. He is also the District 6 representative of the Cuyahoga County Council. Schron is also a Colonel and said he was honored to be on stage with Om Julka. Schron said that 'The Indian people are special in my heart.'  Jack Schron
Next there were two dances in the Bharata Natyam style from students of the Nritya Gitanjali School of Dance and Music.
See more photos and videos of the Bharata Natyam performances
Ken Kovach is a board member of FICA, the Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio. He recited the poem "Where the mind is without fear" from Indian Nobel Laureate Rabindra Nath Tagore.
 Ken Kovach reciting a Tagore poem
Smitha and Reshmi performed a traditional folk song from the Indian state of Kerala at the Federation of India Community Associations of Northeast Ohio (FICA) celebration of the 67th anniversary of India's Independence. The significance of music in the culture of Kerala, God's Own Country, can be established just by the fact that in Malayalam language, musical poetry was developed long before prose. This song describes a small village and its beauty.
Smitha and Reshmi
Continuation of 2014 Independence Day of India in Cleveland
Independence Day 2014 - India Cultural Garden
Page 2 - Independence Day 2014 - Rockefeller Greenhouse (this page)
Page 3 - Independence Day 2014 - More from the Greenhouse
Page 4 - Bharata Natyam style dancers from students of Nritya Gitanjali School
Page 5 - Faces in the crowd at Independence Day 2014
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