Sept. 2, 2007 — Coming at the end of a week filled with back-to-school activities, annual Independence Day ceremonies hosted by the India Association of the Virgin Islands continued to stress the importance of giving back to the local community, and the need to invest in the territory's public schools.
The spectacular gala — held this year at Marriott Frenchman's Reef on St. Thomas — commemorated the 60th anniversary of India's independence on Aug. 15, 1947. Dressed for the occasion, community and association members were dressed in colorful saris and sequined gowns, while men came decked out in sharp suits and tuxedos.
Framed by a backdrop of the Taj Mahal, entertainers — such as 10-year-old Reena Punjabi — treated the audience to renditions of India's national anthem and the V.I. March. Later in the program, Punjabi, dressed in a sparkling pink and silver salwar, danced brightly to a montage of ethnic musics, mixing traditional movements with newer bhangra style steps.
India's Consul General to New York, Neelam Deo, also honored her home country by describing its rich political traditions and diverse culture. Drawing a parallel to the Virgin Islands, Deo said that India, while comprised of a large Hindu population, is a mix of individuals from a range of religious backgrounds, including Muslims, Christians, Parsis and Sikhs.
"By and large, we all live together in a peaceful and productive relationship," she said. "And it's not a matter of surprise that people of different cultures may one day be able to reach the top."
In talking about India and its stride toward independence, Deo strayed back into the topic of education, saying that the country's recent economic and political development has helped to yield positive growth in various social sectors.
"At the end of colonization, we were in a precarious position," she explained. "We had a zero percent rate of growth and a 30-year life expectancy rate. Now, we have a 9 percent rate of growth per annum, and our life expectancy has doubled. In addition, our literacy rate has grown to 70 percent. Though that is not good enough, the literacy rate at the time of our independence was less than 10 percent."
On the territorial level, organizations such as the India Association are also helping to make strides in education, through contributions made to local public schools, Deo said. In addition to providing $6,000 in scholarships to students at the University of the Virgin Islands, the association this year has also pledged $20,000 to Lockhart Elementary School.
The funds will go toward acquiring new equipment for special needs students, said Jackie Watson, the school's occupational therapist. "Sometimes, these youngsters are unable to even move, and in those cases, we have to look at alternate ways to help them achieve the maximum amount of independence," she explained. "We want to give the students the equipment they need for the things that they are actually able to do."
Some of the money will also go toward replacing some of the school's old equipment, such as wheelchairs, Watson added.
Last year, the association also formed a partnership with Charlotte Amalie High School, pledging $100,000 over a three-year period for a new computer program to help at-risk ninth-graders acquire the skills needed to graduate. CAHS principal Jeanette Smith-Barry explained that the program primarily targets students who have continued to repeat grade level. CAHS will receive the second installment of funds this year, which will be based on a list of supplies provided by school officials.
"We have tried to channel the students into a new direction with their school work," Smith-Barry said. "We have got to get them out of the ninth grade."
Stepping up to the podium to accept scholarship awards for UVI students Digna Washington and Robelyn Green, UVI President LaVerne Ragster said the university is ready to take its programs to the next level.
"We will be incorporating three students from India into the UVI population this year," Ragster announced, amidst thunderous applause from the audience. "It's funny — one of the students, she's very young, and when she came here, she felt very homesick. But then she learned that an uncle she didn't know about had recently moved to St. Croix to work with Hovensa. It just goes to show how small the world is."
Speaking earlier, Gov. John deJongh Jr. described this weekend's event as the "perfect end" to the week's activities, which included tours of several of the territory's public schools and receptions for new teachers in both districts.
"Everything has culminated this evening, as we celebrate India's independence with an organization that knows the importance of education, and its value in our society," he said. "And this evening, for me, also represents the cultural richness of the Virgin Islands — how we can be from a variety of different places and backgrounds, and still come together to take a stand on issues like education. It shows that we are bound together, bound as a community."
Back Talk
Share your reaction to this news with other Source readers. Please include headline, your name and city and state/country or island where you reside.
