The 70th-anniversary celebrations of Indian Independence Day across the globe are already in the history books now. As usual, Indians in the United States have celebrated Indiaâ€™s achievement of freedom from British colonialism with enthusiasm and vigor across the land.

The first India Day Parade was held in New York City under the banner of the Federation of Indian Associations of NY, NJ and CT in 1981. It was relatively a small event where the local politicians or media paid very little attention. The parade continues to date with much more fanfare, floats and celebrity participation.

However, as the community started to grow, we have witnessed a decentralization of these celebrations to other parts of the tri-sate and beyond. Edison, New Jersey, home to a large segment of the population organized their parades often in competition with one another.

As the city dwellers started moving eastward, Hicksville, Long Island became another hub of activity for the community as new shops, and restaurants opened on the Route 106/107 corridor. The community in Long Island in 2012 decided to hold their parade on Broadway in Hicksville.

None of us may forget the yearly celebrations the Jackson Heights Merchants Association organized at the cross section of 74th Street and 37th Ave in Jackson Heights which attracted high officials to pay tribute to India and the growing Indian American community in Queens.

Queens has one of the largest concentrations of Indian-Americans than any other place in the country. Since New York was the gateway for early immigrants, Queens also became home to many of those early immigrant settlers. The District 23 of the New York city council comprises of those townships of Floral Park, Bellerose and Queen Village where most of the community reside.

In the last election, a South Asian could have easily won the election from that district if there was unity among its rank. The Democratic machine politics in Queens knew too well how to divide the South Asian votes to elect one of their own hand-picked candidates, and they have already succeeded twice.

Therefore, when Floral Park-Bellerose Merchants Association decided to hold an India Day parade in Queens, many people saw it as an opportunity to make a statement that â€˜we, Indians are here and want to be counted.\'

Thus the India Day Parade was held on August 13, on Hillside Ave from 262 Street to 235 St, a mile, and a half, that ended up on the playground near YMCA where the entertainment programs were staged.

It was the first India Day Parade in Queens and the Second such Parade ever held anywhere in the City. There was a great crowd despite the scorching heat marched the entire length of the parade route.

One thing that was noteworthy about this parade was that it brought out a large number of Keralites who marched behind so many of their banners ranging from cultural to religiously affiliated organizations. They included FOKANA (Federation of Kerala Associations of North America), FOMAA (Federation of Malayalee Associations of Americas), Indian Nurses Association, Kerala Cultural Association, Kerala Samajam of Greater New York, Orthodox Church, United Prayer Fellowship and so forthâ€¦.

People in large numbers lined up on both sides of the streets waving flags of India and the United States and often shouting loud â€˜Bharat Mata ki jai.â€™ Many from the Indian-owned stores that mostly occupy both sides of the Hillside Ave on the parade route cheered loudly voicing their approval for this unique gathering that brought out the community in force.

It is widely known that few Keralites, though they constitute the second largest regional group, participate in the India Day Parade in Manhattan. Some explanations are offered for such a lack of interest and the prominent one among them is that Manhattan Parade has always been held on a Sunday when many in the community are attending Church services.

Another plausible explanation is that India Day Parade in Manhattan is perceived as a â€˜Gujaratiâ€™ affair where a few people control the program without any deference to regional representations, democratic governance or financial transparency. Some of the Community leaders recollect well, how many of the South Indian organizations were kicked out from FIA for the purpose of wresting control away from a representative governance. Today, some in the leadership openly boast about their money power and dismiss any criticism emanating from any quarters.

Some people are wondering as well how the Consul General of India continues to cooperate with a group under the banner of the â€˜Federation of Indian Associationsâ€™ where there is hardly any participation from Keralites, Punjabis or Telugu folks, all put together, might constitute a majority in the Tri-state area.

Congratulations are to those leaders, Subash Kapadia, Kripal Singh, Hemant Shah, V.M. Chacko and Koshy Oommen, for a great show in Queens that injected a new level of enthusiasm and energy to the hearts of many who felt all along that they were left out of the main event.

see also:

India Day Parade on Manhattan: a boring, outdated show

http://www.dlatimes.com/article.php?id=65936

One more parade in New York City: The significance of the parade in Queens