I. S. Saluja

HICKSVILLE, NY (TIP): The claims made in the official press release issued by the Media Coordinator for IDP USA are  sharply in contrast with the facts when it comes to the poor response to the much-touted Independence Day parade in Hicksville. What surprised everybody was that a combination of good weather, shorter route of the parade, and the presence of attractive celebrity marshals on whom, it is said, a large slice of  public money was spent, people did not get enthused. The question that many are asking is if the parade was worth the amount of public money spent.  Most said it was a foolish waste of public money and blame the organizers who instead of bringing people together, played politics and alienated people. The IDP USA Parade boiled down to an Insult India Parade.

There normally is a large group of elected representatives at the parade. Well, there were a couple of them but surely it was clearly a huge decline in numbers. Obviously, the organizers failed to get them to the parade.   The Indian Panorama has learnt that a particular elected official from Suffolk County was not even given room in the front row on the stage where the IDP USA organizers were struggling to have a foothold . Is this the Indian way of welcoming our guests? Forget about the Indian way if some  Indians have got Americanized, it surely is not the American way to throw protocol to the winds.  I am reminded of , probably 2010when the then Consul General Prabhu Dayal and Mr. Hardeep Singh Puri, then Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations and now a cabinet minister in Modi government , were ignored at the FIA India Day Parade and I had made an issue of it. They represented India, and to ignore them amounted to an insult to India, and that, too at the India Day Parade. The organizers clearly insulted our American friend in ignoring him They need to apologize to the man, and to all others who were not given due respect and recognition. Their misdeed will visit on the future leadership of the IDP USA.

A gentleman who had paid $300.00  for a booth told The Indian Panorama that he sat in the booth from 11 AM to 6 PM with any hardly any footfall. He estimated the gathering at about 200, most of whom were parents of children who were performing in the cultural program. Besides, there were IDP USA members and, very few people who have always been seen participating enthusiastically in the parade.

A lady who did not want to be identified  and had paid $300 .00 for a booth told The Indian Panorama that she could not make even a penny, with no visitors around. She said she would  never ever again lease a booth in the so-called India Day Parade. In a lighter vein, another said, it was not an “India Day Parade”, it was a show by a few to project themselves as community leaders. The Indian Panorama has learnt  how the organizers were dividing the well-knit Indian American community on Long Island was known even to the Consul General of India who was briefed on the situation by one of the founders of the India Day Parade. The Deputy Consul General, Mr. Varun Jeph is learnt to have expressed a shock that not many,  and particularly not almost any,  from a particular community who normally are present in sizeable numbers,  were present.

Who is responsible for the insult to the India Day Parade which never witnessed such a poor response since 2012 when the IDP USA parade was started with the trio of Bobby Kumar Kalotee, Kamlesh Mehta and Harinder Singh as founders. Harinder Singh became ineligible to be a part of the IDPUSA after his conviction in a criminal case. It is reported that Kamlesh Mehta having felt slighted resigned from membership of the IDP USA. And, now  Bobby Kumar Kalotee is the lone Founder controlling the reins of power.

Well, the India Day Parade which was hardly any parade  is a thing of the past now. However, the bitter memories it has left will trouble the Indian American community here for a long time. The wound inflicted by the organizers who played politics and divided the community will fester for a long time. They will surely not be welcome to lead in future because they have proved beyond an iota of doubt that they are absolutely incapable of leading. Once bitten, twice shy. Let me get back to the IDP USA  press release which I am publishing as received.

“11th India Day Parade celebrated India @ 75 in Hicksville

Hicksville, NY: The landmark 75th anniversary of India’s Independence (Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav) was celebrated here at the 11th India Day Parade of Long Island with enthusiastic participation by the community. Large crowds had assembled at the Hicksville Community Center, the starting point of the parade organized by  IDP USA under President Vimal Goyal with Mukesh Modi as  Vice Chairperson. Dignitaries and celebrities joined the parade that featured several floats and marching groups. Patriotic songs along with slogans of ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ and ‘Jai Hind’ rang in the air, adding to the patriotic fervor of the tricolor-waving people despite it being a hot afternoon. At the culmination point near the Hicksville post office, the entertainment stage and 40 booths welcomed India lovers.

India’s Deputy Consul General in New York, Dr Varun Jeph, as Grand Marshal, exhorted people to display tricolor in their homes. Film and sports star Prachi Tehlan, the Celebrity Grand Marshal, said she was impressed by the love of India by people here which surpassed that at home. Well known playback singer Shibani Kashyap, Hollywood / Bollywood actor Prashantt Guptha, who grew up in New York, as well as Naveen Shah of Navika Capital Group were Guests of Honor. Elected officials who spoke included Supervisor of Town of North Hempstead Jennifer DeSena, New York State Senators Kevin Thomas and Anna Kaplan, and Nassau County legislator Rose Walker. Proclamations and citations from Nassau County and Town of Oyster Bay were presented by their representatives. IDP Founder Bobby Kalotee and Chairperson Indu Jaiswal welcomed and thanked the dignitaries and celebs for their presence. IDP Vice Chair Mukesh Modi emceed the proceedings.

President Goyal explaining the IDP themes of the year—‘Each One Plant One’ and ‘Unity in Diversity’– said that it was for the first time that  banners of all 28 Indian states were displayed at the  parade.

Shibani Kashyap belted out patriotic songs and her own hit numbers making people dance to her tunes. Many dance groups, most of them coached by Shilpa Mithaiwala, also performed.

Announcement of winners of raffle prizes, including a return ticket to India, concluded the program. A day before the parade the 3 celebs Prachi, Prashantt and Shibani were welcomed at a meet and greet.

Main sponsors of the parade included JP Morgan Chase & Co, Omega Storage, Navika Capital Group, Flushing Bank, Vass Pipe & Steel Co, Patel Brothers, Indie Films World, Hum Hindustani and Beena Kothari.

President Goyal & Vice Chair Mukesh Modi especially thanked team members Venus Bhasin (Bobby), Mayur Parekh, Pradeep Tandon, Nimesh Shah, Mitesh Parikh, Neeru Bhambri, Kishore Malik, Sagar Shah, Ashwini Sharma, Shilpa Mithaiwala, Sandhya Bhatia, Purvi Shah, Roopam Maini and  Vijay Goswamy.  They also thanked all sponsors, vendors, marching group, media, volunteers and the entire IDP Team. Mukesh Modi expressed special thanks to Town of Oyster Bay’s Supervisor Joseph Saladino, James  McCaffrey, Brian Nevin and Harry Malhotra, as well as Traffic & Safety – County Police Department Precinct 2, County Police Commissioner Patrick J. Ryder, Hicksville Fire Department, NYS Department of Transportation, Region 10 (Long Island), State Department of Transportation Highway Work Permit for their unconditional support, permits and security.