Republic Day celebrated in US, UK, SA

Republic day was celebrated in the US, the UK and South Africa, with unfurling of the
tricolour and peace prayers held by the Indian community in the countries.

The Indian Ambassador to the US, Ronen Sen, unfurled the tricolour at a function held at Indian Embassy in Washington, with a large number of community members from in and around the capital attending the event, at which president Pratibha Patil's message was read out.

In London, celebration was marked by a special prayer for peace and prosperity at the centuries-old Westminster Abbey, one of the most beautiful cathedrals in the world.

India's high commissioner to the UK, Shiv Shanker Mukherjee and senior officials of the India House were present at the Church as the 'Evensong', a prayer ceremony, by the Lay Vicars of Westminster Abbey, was held "for the peace and prosperity of India, a member of the Commonwealth."

Earlier, Mukherjee unfurled the National Flag at the India House to commemorate the 60th Republic Day of the country. The High commissioner read out the President's
address to the nation on the eve of the Republic Day.

At Edinburgh, Scotland, the Republic Day was celebrated with flag hoisting ceremony at the residence of Ramesh Chander, consul general of India.

Greeting and congratulating the Indian community on the occasion, Chander said it was a matter of satisfaction that India was on rails in its development efforts but needs to
"guard against fissiparous tendencies and communal divide".

The Association of Indian Organisations and the Scottish Indian Cultural and Festival Committee, Glasgow handed over a cheque of 1,000 pounds to the consul general for the prime minister's National Relief Fund. 

Meanwhile, in South Africa, two prominent non-white politicians called for close bond with India to be maintained and promoted.

The leader of the ruling ANC in the KwaZulu-Natal province, Zweli Mkhize; and Mangosuthu Buthelezi, leader of the Inkatha Freedom Party, were speaking at a India Republic Day celebrations in the city on Monday night.

They were part of more than 600 prominent local leaders who attended the 60th Republic Day celebrations at the Durban City Hall organised by the local Indian Consul General, Harsh Varshan Shringla.

The celebrations were characterised by Indian songs and  classical dances performed by local Indian-origin artists. Mkhize, who is expected to play a leading role in the
next national government, paid tribute to people of Indian origin who promoted liberation struggles and were playing role in the nation's socio, economic and educational development.

"India is now strengthening this bond by promoting and growing our economy in various areas," he said.

Shringla spoke about the growing strong political and economic relations between India and South Africa. 

"Since we celebrated our last Republic Day in 2008, bilateral cooperation between India and South Africa have progressed rapidly, manifested by the visits to India of
president Kgalema Motlanthe for India-Brazil-South Africa Summit in October and President of the ANC, Jacob Zuma, in July 2008," said Shringla.

He said KwaZulu-Natal has fast become the investment destination for Indian entrepreneurs, pointing out the upcoming partnerships with NIIT to train as many as 10,000 youth in IT and Business Process Outsourcing (BPO).

Some upcoming projects, he said, also involves India's apex industry association, the CII and the National Small Industries Corporation, or NSIC, of India.