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NORTH AmERIcAN Newsline APRIL 02, 2021 | The Indian Eye 33

honoring India and Indians. “To- nations, creating an army to fight for the freedom of India. It’s jus- Our real homage to the martyrs
day is the Red Letter Day in the the British power. Stating that tifiable to call him a martyr.” is to work towards by preserving
history of India,” the Indian dip- her dad was one of the most hat- Dr. Thomas Abraham, Chair- the ideals of the martyrs.” He
lomat with over three decades of ed by the British, she narrated man of GOPIO International, in led the audience from around
diplomatic services around the about the many coup attempts his remarks gave an introduction the world to salute India and the
world, told the hundreds of com- by the British to assassinate him. to the objectives of the birth of Martyrs in one voice, as they all
munity leaders from around sev- Calling him a Leftist radical, Dr. GOPIO. “Connecting the Dias- called out “Inquilab Zindabad.”
eral continents who joined the Anita Bose Pfaff said, “He had pora with our motherland” and The two hours long celebra-
celebration. “We honor today joined the freedom movement celebrating the major festivals tion was combined with patri-
the legendary freedom fighters, at a very young age. Joined the of India.” GOPIO-Manhattan otic songs sung live by singers
recalling their bravery and love non-violent movement led by has hosted some extraordinary from the USA and Canada.
for our motherland.” Describing Gandhi initially. He was impris- events, especially during the Mohita, a High School Sopho-
today’s celebrations as unique, oned and lost his health in pris- Covid pandemic. more, led the audience with the
Ambassador Jaiswal recalled the on. He risked his life disguising Shivender Sofat, President of American National Anthem.
founding of the Ghadar Party by himself and escaping the prison GOPIO-Manhattan, in his pas- The Indian National Anthem
Lala Har Dayal over a century and joined and led the Inde- sionate address, shared about the was rendered by Leena Damle,
ago. “I humbly bow before their pendence Movement abroad by sacrifices of Freedom Fighters. a graphic designer.
legendary sacrifices, which are aligning with Germany, Soviet “This is part of a series of events Vande Mataram, a patriotic
inspiring us all.” Union and Japan, creating an to pay homage to martyrs of In- song, was sung by Pallavi Ver-
Netaji Subhas Chandra Indian National Army (INA) dia,” he said. “It was planned in ma Belwarior. Ishan Tangirala,
Bose’s Daughter, retired Prof. to fight the British”. While Mr. 2019, but today, we are fortunate an 8th grader sang the Patriot-
Dr. Anita Bose Pfaff shared with Bose died in a plane crash, while to have this virtually connecting ic song Mera Rang De Basanti
the audience experiences from trying to defeat the British, she all of us from around the world Jola. Hitesh Jain of Vancouver,
her own personal life, as she was said, “There is good reason to for this solemn event.” While BC sang Sarforshi Ki Tamanna,
growing up seeing her father, call him a martyr, because he referring to the different paths lyrics of which were penned
travelling across India to Europe died in the process of fighting for used by the freedom fighters, by Shri Ram Prasad Bismil, a
to South East Asia, garnering freedom. India was his sole love, he said, “They all had one goal: Martyr, paying tributes to the
support from Western and Asian and he was willing to put his life freedom for our motherland. martyrs.

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