Mohammed Noor Rahman Sheikh, Indian consul general

The Indian Cultural Society-Jeddah (ICSJ) and Bazm-e-Osmania Jeddah, the oldest of NRIs associations in the city, celebrated the 68th anniversary of India’s Republic Day and paid tribute to the country’s freedom fighters.

Bollywood singer Mohammed Ayaz and actor and host Akbar Solapury were the stars of the evening held at the Indian Consulate premises in Jeddah last week.

Mohammed Noor Rahman Sheikh, Indian consul general, was the chief guest.

Anand Kumar, consul for consular affairs; Irshad Ahmed, consul for press; Moin Akhtar, consul for community welfare and administration; Renalda Siswadi, marketing director at Indomie; Zia Abdullah Nadwi, director of Delhi Public School; M. A. Noor Mohammed, Air India manager; Koshy John, airport manager; Salman Aziz, Air India reservation manager; Asif Daudi and Taher Ali of the International Indian School Jeddah were special guests.

Dilshad Ahmed Shamsi, ICSJ patron, said: “We have been celebrating India’s National Day for over 40 years in Jeddah. And we have always shown our love for our country. We have been involved in work for the Indian community, including the collection and distribution of old textbooks for needy students.”

Arif Quraishi, ICSJ president, welcomed the chief guest and others. He said the ICSJ and Bazm-e-Osmania “are proud to have organized our country’s National Days for more than 40 years in Jeddah.”

He added: “We have not forgotten our country as well as our freedom fighters … it is because of the sacrifices of our freedom fighters that we are able to celebrate our National Day, and we Indians are respected worldwide.”

Sheikh congratulated all Indians and expressed appreciation for Quraishi and his colleagues who organized the program.

The audience enjoyed memorable songs of the late Mohammed Rafi, with the last song being “mere yaar shabba khair” (good night, my beloved).