75th anniversary of India’s independence held at the invitation of the Consul General of India, Jitendra NATH MAJHI, . Stake President Huguette BELLO was beside the Consul in the old Town Hall of Saint-Denis. Also in attendance were the Tamil association, Mrs Secretary General for Regional Affairs, Nathalie INFANTE, Mrs Mayor of Saint-Denis Ericka BAREIGTS and Department President Cyrille MELCHIOR.

The fruit of a bloody battle, ripened by a desire for democracy, India gained its independence, guided by Gandhi’s steps.

“Since independence, India has been trying to become a giant. A long journey in three quarters of a century! », said the Regional President. “India is one of our ‘homeland’. We do not forget that from the very beginning of its settlement, from the second half of the 17th century, our island received a lot of women who were very less than India. They are the ancestors of many of us. During the period when slavery is now in Reunion, from India came slaves, often with talent as they said then, as well as free laborers, “thugs” for our ships, “rust removers for our soldiers, craftsmen for our population. But especially after abolition of slavery in 1848 we received a number of contract workers, of whom 117,000 between 1848 and 1933 were from India. Today they form one of the largest components of our population. India’s contribution to Reunion’s culture and identity is considerable, in our Creole, in our music and dance, in our cuisine. The Reunion people have adapted the manifestations of Indian religion and culture. India’s independence paved the way for another independence, heralding the hour of decolonization. »

For the President of the Department, “this event is an opportunity to see the history of the relationship between Reunion and India. For the Mayor of Saint-Denis, “this fight, with its universal values, is still inspiring today. For the people of Reunion, India is at home. »