India's 80th Independence Day draws 2,500 diaspora members in Singapore

India's 80th Independence Day celebrations in Singapore brought together diplomats, students and the diaspora. The day linked cultural pride with remembrance of Indian soldiers who fought and died in Singapore.

In Short

• President Murmu's address excerpts and patriotic songs featured at the Chancery event
• Students from Indian schools performed traditional dances showcasing India's cultural diversity
• Women-led Sari Circle highlighted handloom heritage through workshops and community experiences

Indian High Commissioner to Singapore Shilpak Ambule on Saturday hoisted the Tricolour at an event marking India's 80th Independence Day, with more than 2,500 members of the Indian diaspora joining the celebrations. Held at the Chancery, the event also featured excerpts from President Droupadi Murmu's address to the nation, along with the National Anthem, Vande Mataram and patriotic songs.

The day's events also included cultural performances by students from Indian schools in Singapore and a community initiative led by women from the diaspora to showcase India's handloom and textile traditions. Later, Ambule laid a wreath at the Kranji War Cemetery and Memorial on behalf of the Indian community in Singapore in honour of fallen soldiers.

At the flag-hoisting ceremony, students from Indian schools in the city-state presented traditional dances, reflecting the diversity of Indian culture. Those attending the celebration were served sweets, Indian meals and soft drinks.

At the Kranji War Cemetery and Memorial, families of serving personnel of the Indian Armed Forces deputed in Singapore, veteran Indian soldiers, members of the High Commission and other distinguished guests from the Indian and Singaporean communities attended the ceremony.

In his address there, Ambule said that more than 67,000 of the 139,000 Allied Forces personnel deployed to fight in Malaya and Singapore during World War II were Indians. He said the sacrifice of Indian soldiers who fought in Singapore during the war was reflected in the names of over 12,500 Indian soldiers among the 24,000 fallen Allied soldiers inscribed on the walls of the Kranji War Memorial, and in the hardships faced by the large number of Indian Prisoners of War in Singapore, many of whom never returned home.

He also highlighted the role of the Fifth Infantry Division of the pre-Independence Indian Army, which arrived on September 5, 1945, as the first Allied force to enter and liberate Singapore at the end of World War II.

As part of the Independence Day celebrations, women from the Indian diaspora marked the legacy of India's handlooms, weavers and textile traditions. Through workshops, cultural experiences and community events, they created greater awareness and knowledge about India's many weaves, their origins, the regions they come from and the skilled craftsmanship behind them, Divya Dhar, who led the community initiative Sari Circle, said.

The celebrations in Singapore combined the observance of India's 80th Independence Day with cultural events and remembrance ceremonies, bringing together the Indian community, students, veterans and officials through the day.

With PTI Inputs

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