On planes, in trains and in cars, they streamed in from around
On planes, in trains and in cars, they streamed in from around the country and abroad to seek comfort in their similarities, hobnob and celebrate their ancestry, exchange notes about their off- spring, savor their regional cuisines, talk of what they miss about India and discuss the benefits of living in America.
In what has become a tradition, thousands of Indian Americans got together over the July 4 weekend to celebrate the culture and heritage of a home they have left behind but one that still tugs at the heartstrings.
As the Indian population in the United States has grown, so has the size of the conventions organized by various groups.
More than 8,000 people came to the Telugu Association of North America (TANA) convention in Santa Clara, California; between 7,000 and 8,000 Bengalis met in Maryland; about 1,000 Tamils gathered in South Carolina; and over 2,500 were expected to attend the Jain convention in Houston.
By far the largest attendance, however, was at the Ahmadiyya Muslim convention in Missisauga, Canada; organizers said 15,000 people from around the world attended.
“The size of conventions is growing with the rising population,” Bacchu Roy, twice the past president of the North American Bengali Convention (NABC), told News India Times. Bengalis from Bangladesh joining those from India also adds to the crowd, he said.
There are some 100,000 Bengalis in North America, and the convention seeks to attract every age group, he said. “Many have retired, others have become more wealthy over the years, and the conventions give them an opportunity to relax,” he added.
Youth have become an integral part of the convention with fusion music and contemporary arts to attract them, apart from traditional folk and programs related to Rabindranath Tagore.
“It is no longer song and dance alone, though,” Roy said.
“We have seminars, panel discussions, what have you, on business, art, politics; stimulating discussions that hark back to the ‘coffee house’ in Kolkata.” Rama Saha, chairperson of the 31st North American Bengali Conference, said this year’s gathering, held July 1-3, at the Baltimore Convention Center, was the biggest so far. Tapan Bera, president of Sanskriti, a Washington, D.C.-based organization that coordinated the Bengali convention, echoed her views.
High-profile artists and singers like Kumar Sanu, Alka Yagnik, Lopamudra Mitra and Srikanto Acharya attended; Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley showed up, as did Maryland House Majority Leader Kumar Barve; Indian Ambassador Meera Shankar was at the opening ceremony.
A new element this year was “Prabhat Pheri,” a procession to celebrate Tagore’s 150th birth anniversary. The event was held July 2 morning, and 200 people participated. Additionally, Rabindra Bharati, the famous group from Kolkata, came to perform Tagore’s much-loved dance drama “Kach-O-Debjani.” The venue for the Bengali conference was itself a big draw.
The Baltimore Convention Center’s huge and wide-open spaces, and the fact that there were no glitches, Bera said, made for a great convention.
The convention was telecast on local Channel 10 in Kolkata.
The July 1-3 TANA convention had a huge contingent from India, TANA President Jayaram Komati told News India Times. As many as 200 delegates were sent by the government of Andhra Pradesh, including legislators, statehouse Speaker Manohar Nadella and Galla Aruna Kumari, the minister for geology and mines; members of parliament; and Union Minister of State for Defense M.M. Pallam Raju.
TANA teamed up with at least two Indian television networks to livestream the convention. With numerous sponsors and an Indian government eager to court the diaspora, there was plenty to do and to listen to.
Top artists and performers, intellectuals, businesses and speakers were all there.
Sateesh Chilukuri, convener of the convention, told News India Times that one of the main events was the culmination of the 18-city talent competition that TANA held over the weeks preceding the convention. “We brought the winners here and we gave them awards for their performances,” Chilukuri said.
TANA’s Indian TV partners included TV 9, Andhra Jyoti and Enadu TV; all three telecast the convention. Radha Krishna, owner of Andhra Jyoti, hosted his popular weekly program “Open Heart with RK” from the convention site. He also hosted a political forum with lawmakers from India.
“Every event was over-crowded. We had to actually remove and clear people out due to safety concerns,” Chilukuri said.
Ravi Prakash, CEO of TV 9, also hosted his popular show “Encounter with Ravi Prakash” at the convention.
Bala Krishna, the son of legendary Telugu actor and politician N.T. Rama Rao, held a 45- minute discussion on Raja Raja Narendra.
The Federation of Tamil Sangams of North America, FeTNA, held a more modest gathering.
The 24th annual Tamil Convention was held July 2-4 at the Gaillard Municipal Auditorium in Charleston, S.C.
More than a thousand people came, Sundara Vadivel Balasubramaniam, the program coordinator, told News India Times.
“For Tamils, this was a good group. The main idea was to have artists and scholars and intellectuals; we were not going for cinema or things like that,” he said.
There were 10 corporate sponsors from India and the U.S., 20 booths with books, jewelry, textiles, clothing, CDs and music, and lots of discussions, he added.
“The highlight of the convention was the performance by Sathi, a folk drum artist group from Tamil Nadu, that rocked the auditorium,” Pazhani Sundaram, president of FeTNA, told News India Times.
Other highlights, according to him, were guests Rathika Sitsabeisan, the first Tamil member of parliament in Canada; as well as actors Nassar and Charlie; lyricist Muthukumar and singer Devan.
Sundaram and Dhandapani Kuppuswamy, vice president of FeTNA, coordinated the convention. Charlie’s skit was hilarious; and dances by children were “extraordinary” organizers said.
Folk dances and martial arts performances went down well, and the crowd gave standing ovations to performers.
A Tamil literary quiz, a debate, poetry reading and oratory were part of the programs, and winners were given prizes.
The Jain Associations in North America (JAINA) held a convention July 1-4 at the George R. Brown Convention Center & Hilton Americas in downtown Houston. “Live & Help Live” was the theme of this year’s convention.
“In JAINA’s over 30-year history, this is the first time the convention is coming to the South; and with over 2,500 people registered from all over the world, it is being recognized as one of the biggest & most organized efforts by JAINA thus far,” said a report on indoamerican-news.com.
The theme was meant to emphasize the three core principles underlying Jainism – ahimsa (compassionate living), aparigraha (responsible living) and Anekantvad (social living).
Despite having fewer than 5 million adherents and comprising less than 1 percent of the Indian population, the convention attracted a healthy 2,500-strong crowd from around the world.
The convention featured more than 35 dignitaries/scholars and saints in the daytime programs in multiple religious/non-religious and interfaith sessions. Evening entertainment included a play titled “Gandhi Before Gandhi,” whose cast was especially flown in from India; Raas-Garba dance; and the first “Jains Got Talent” competition. A parallel Jain Networking Forum for youth was also held.
On July 2, more than 80 volunteers from the Jain Society of Houston put on a show titled “Swagatam.” On July 3, the three winners of “Indian Idol 2010” performed.
According to organizers, a team of over 200 volunteers worked a whole year to bring together the Houston program.
The 35th annual convention of Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat, a global organization with members in 190 countries, including a significant contingent of Indians from around North America, was held July 1-3 at the International Center in Mississauga, in the province of Ontario in Canada. Some 15,000 delegates from around the world attended, according to a press release from organizers. Several lawmakers at the federal and provincial levels, mayors and other civic leaders, attended the concluding session of the convention.
Messages from Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty were received and read out, acknowledging the charitable works of the Ahmadiyyas over the years.
The Islamic Society of North America held its 48th annual convention at the Rosemont Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill., from July 1-4.
Apart from the colorful bazaar, there was an art and photography exhibit, a film festival, myriad interesting panel discussions on empowerment of Muslims, Muslim women and chaplain-women and chaplaincy, racism, classism, ethics, as well as leadership training, foreign policy discussions including one panel on Kashmir, a panel on Muslims in multicultural societies offering Indian and American perspectives, the subject of food, faith and service, Muslim-Christian relations, public service, etc. Numerous distinguished speakers participated.
By Ela Dutt, News India Times, 15 July 2011.