India’s Consul General in Durban Dr Thelma John David (left) took a salute during the singing of India’s national anthem during the 78th Independence Day commemoration on Thursday in Durban. | Nqobile Mbonambi/ Independent Newspapers
Durban — India has called on South African youth to join yoga and Indian dance classes that were being conducted at India’s Consulate-General office in Durban.
Delivering her address at India’s 78th Independence Day celebration in Durban on Thursday, the Consul-General for Durban Dr Thelma John David said as part of cultural exchange and collaboration with South Africa and also for South African Indian youth to keep their culture it was important that they attended yoga and Indian dance.
The event was held at India House in Morningside and was well attended by members of the local Indian community in Durban. David said although her office’s jurisdiction was Durban, her office was prepared to accept youth from outside Durban who wanted to do yoga and dance classes.
Describing Durban as a home away from home, she praised the good working relationship between South Africa and India, saying her country was looking forward to taking South Africa on a journey to be a fully developed country by 2047.
“It's been two years since we arrived here with my family. Our relationship across the Indian Ocean has been warm. For me and my family, Durban is a home away from home,” said David.
On international matters, she said she was looking forward to South Africa’s hosting the G20, saying India noted that SA hosted the BRICS Summit and India has hosted G20. She also congratulated Anil Sooklal on his appointment as SA ambassador to India, saying she was happy that he is from Durban.
India and Indian nationals worldwide celebrate the country’s independence from Britain on August 15, 1947.
The Independence Day celebrations are always preceded by another important day in the Indian political calendar which is Partition Horrors Day on August 14.
On this day, many Indians were tortured when they were forced to relocate to other regions during the partition of the country into two dominions.
The country was divided into two, where Muslims were moved to what became known as Pakistan while Indians remained in the Republic of India.
In the south of Asia, Bangladesh was also created.
In the speech she delivered during the commemoration of Partition Horrors Remembrance Day, which was held in the offices of Consulate-General on Wednesday, David said that they recalled the countless people who were impacted and greatly suffered due to the Horrors of Partition.
She said that it was also a day to pay tributes to their courage which illustrates the power of human resilience.
“A lot of those impacted by partition went on to rebuild their lives and attain immense success. Today, we also reiterate our commitment to always protect the bonds of unity and brotherhood in our nation,” said David.
In his social media post, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “Partition’s pains can never be forgotten. Millions of our sisters and brothers were displaced and many lost their lives due to mindless hate and violence, therefore in memory of the struggles and sacrifices of our people, the country holds the remembrance day.”
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