Indians in Taiwan celebrate 75th Independence Day, hoist national flags, take out motorcycle rally
TAIPEI: The Indian nationals studying and working in Taiwan celebrated 75th Independence Day with great fervor and joy in the capital city Taipei on August 15.
The celebrations included hoisting Indian national flags, motorcade parades, musical events, and speeches.
Over 5,000 Indian nationals either work or study currently in Taiwan.
The Indians’ Bikers Club of Taiwan, an association of motor-biking enthusiasts consisting of Indian nationals staying in Taiwan took out a motorcycle procession through the streets of Taipei. It took off from Taipei City Hall to culminate at the Liberty Square where the bikers brandishing Indian national flags posed for individual and group photographs.
The India Taipei Association (ITA) Director-General Gourangalal Das and India’s de facto ambassador in Taiwan flagged off the motorcycle procession and delivered a passionate speech.
“I also ask our community to be responsible members of this society that has adopted them and to keep the Indian flag flying high through all their actions while they are in Taiwan,” Das said in his address.
Manoj Kriplani, the founder of the Indians’ Bikers Club of Taiwan who has been living in Taiwan for the last 17 years said that he and other Indian nationals did not think of themselves as being separated from their country, even though they were thousands of miles away from their homes.
“We Indians are very patriotic. We love our country like anything. This feeling gives us a really proud moment to celebrate in Taiwan,” Kriplani said while speaking to the local media.
After the motorcade arrived at Liberty Square in front of the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall, the bikers, wearing themed t-shirts to celebrate the special occasion, mixed with Taiwanese onlookers and were happy to share their culture with all those who expressed curiosity about the event.
“There were also virtual celebrations, such as an event hosted by the ITA that day. During the ITA’s online event, a flag-raising ceremony was held, Das delivered remarks, and a group performed a combination of Indian and Chinese instruments including the tabla, erhu, esraj, and pipa,” Taiwan News reported.
Meanwhile, celebrations were also hosted online by the Indian community with music, cultural performances, and speeches by government officials.
Taipei Times wrote that during the online presentation, Taiwan’s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Tien Chung-kwang (田中光) commended the Indian community in Taiwan for developing such a strong friendship between the two countries.
Prior to this responsibility, Tien Chung-Kwang was appointed in India as Taipei Economic and Cultural Center (TECC) representative and Taiwan Ambassador to India.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Indian friends in Taiwan for your contribution and friendship. The way your community has come together and join hands in supporting each other is truly remarkable and inspiring,” Tien told Taipei Times.
“I really appreciate your consistent dedication to strengthening the close relationship between Taiwan and India in many areas.”
