The persistent, excruciating battle against the 200-year-old British Raj ended with India awakening to freedom on 15 August 1947. Since then, Independence Day is celebrated as a national festival that holds paramount importance in the hearts of Indians living in the country and abroad. But this year, it is all the more special as we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.
During the past more than seven decades, India has traversed a long, long way in different spheres to be acknowledged as a vibrant republic and the largest democracy in the world, an influential nation in South Asia and an emerging global power.
The uniqueness of India lies in the fact that its spirit is eternal and invincible. In the long march of history, many civilizations rose and fell – thriving for a time and then passing into oblivion, but Indian civilization remained unscathed by the vagaries of time, the British could not subdue or subjugate the indomitable soul of Bharatvarsh.
Amongst the world’s oldest, richest and most diverse cultures, India offers an awesome ethnic, linguistic and religious diversity held together by an undercurrent of unity. Since time immemorial, the nation has remained a meeting ground between the East and the West, and the great Indian diaspora spread across the globe has strengthened this bond further.
Significantly, the Indian diaspora is making a seminal contribution in the emergence of a new, modern and vivacious India that is marching ahead on the swift trajectory of modernisation, technological advancement and holistic development.
The cover story of Namaste Bharat’s August issue is dedicated to this overwhelming spirit of giving back to the country of their roots that permeates the lives of NRIs/PIOs.
The stories penned by our global contributors recount the enthusiasm and gusto in Indian communities abroad not just to witness and take part in the grand 75th anniversary celebrations of India’s independence but also go along on the exciting new journey of India and make it more creditable and eventful in letter and spirit.
The stories widely cover the pursuits and passions of Indian communities living in different regions of the world. As we reiterate our commitment to articulate the voice of the Indian diaspora, it’s encouraging to note that the magazine has increasingly endeared itself to Indians abroad.
Happy reading of the stories dedicated to India@75 and many other themes that this issue deals with in its diverse sections!
CEO
Rashmi