BOCA RATON, August 08, 2003: More than 600 members of the Indian-American Community gathered at Florida Atlantic University earlier this week for an event marking the 56th anniversary of India's freedom from British colonial rule. An honored guest at the affair was the Honorable Skand R. Tayal, Consul General of India based in Houston, along with Dr. Gunvant Shah, a prize-winning author of Indian literary works.

In his remarks, Consul-General Tayal suggested that the United States might have averted 9-11 even American authorities had paid more attention to India's earlier and repeated warnings of trans-border terrorism conducted by jihadist extremists. For his part, Commissioner Eggelletion spoke of the spirit of solidarity that persists among the ethnic Indian and African minority populations and their common heritage stemming from the British colonial experience. And he stressed the need for "people of color" to remain united in the quest for equality and justice in this country.

The program was organized by a coalition of local Indian community groups and the National Association of Indians in America (AIA) whose president, Dr. Piyush Agrawal, resides in Weston. Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggelletion also participated and read a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Diana Wasserman-Rubin and the Board of County Commissioners. A similar proclamation from Miami-Dade County was also read to the audience by Mohammed Shakir, representing the Miami-Dade Commission and the county's Asian-American Advisory Board.

Rounding out the program were several traditional and Indian popular music and dancer performances by South Florida students.

Vandemataram being sung at the Ceremony.

Piyush Agrawal receiving the Proclamations from Mr. Mohammed Shakir, Executive Director, Asian American Advosisory Board of Miami-Dade County and from Broward County Commissioner Josephus Eggeletion.

For more information, contact Dr. Piyush C. Agrawal at the numbers/address given below.