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ISM
CELEBRATES INDIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY
The 60th Independence
Day of India was celebrated with patriotic fervour by all the Indian
schools of the capital area with a colourful programme on the school
grounds of Indian School Muscat. The Tricolour was unfurled by the Chief
Guest, H.E. Ashok Kumar Attri, the Indian Ambassador to Oman, in the
presence of invited dignitaries, teachers and students.
Prominent members of the Indian Community, members of various
School Managing Committees and Principals were among the special invitees.
Excerpts
from the Indian President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam’s address to the nation on
the topic ‘National Awakening’ and his vision for an economically
developed India before the year 2020 were shared with the audience by the
Chief Guest. A seven point Oath was administered to the assembled students
by the Ambassador, on behalf of the President.
The Chief Guest spoke about the close ties India has with the
Sultanate of Oman and advised the gathering to be confident and steadfast
in their actions while in the country.
The
ISM ground was tastefully decorated with festoons, murals and a replica of
the Red Fort at the gate. The School Band played the National Anthem and a
few other lilting tunes through out the programme. The
programme was organized outdoors in keeping with the mood of the day. The
specially erected stage made the football field á la amphi-theatre.
 The
highlight of the morning was the choral music by more than 90 selected
students from various Indian schools. A Medley of six patriotic songs was
presented with Harmonium, Tabla, Ghattam, Violin, Guitar and the Keyboard as
accompaniments. Enthusiastic young voices, filled with love for the
country swelled in the air. The songs, melodious in their tunes and
nationalistic in their themes reverberated in the stadium and echoed in
every heart. The cultural entertainment included Bihu, the most popular
folk dance of Assam. The performers dressed in the traditional Indian Sari
danced together in lines and circles. Drums and pipes accompanied the
vocal song. The group was trained by Ms. Chaitali Bhattacharya. Sixteen
meticulously dressed dancers performed ‘Shanti Mantra’ a fusion of
Indian Classical dance forms of Odissi, Bharathnatyam, Kathak, Kuchipudi
and Mohini-attam. The dance presented a call for peace and harmony in the
midst of violence prevalent in the world. The finesse and vigour of the
performers reminded the audience of India’s rich cultural heritage.
The dance was choreographed to Pandit Ravishankar’s music by Mr.
Deepak Roy.
When the audience adjourned to the School Multipurpose Hall for a repast,
soothing strains of refreshing light Hindustani and Karnatic music,
rendered by students u nder
the able guidance of music teachers of ISM, refreshed their souls.
Thus,
though miles away, the Indian community in Muscat saluted their motherland
in a befitting manner.
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