Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut celebrated Diwali, India’s Festival of Lights, with the launch of India Collection of Books. The India-related books were donated by the Government of India through its consulate in New York. The chief guest was Indian Consul General Randhir Jaiswal, who inaugurated the new book collection of Indian art, on political leaders and social reformers, travel books and books in Indian languages including Hindi, Telegu and Gujarati.

Library President Alice Knapp lauded the new initiative from the GOPIO-CT and thanked the Indian Consulate for donating the books. The Connecticut Chapter of the Global organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-CT) coordinated the program with the library. 

GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham said that the underlying theme of Diwali celebration is, Light over Darkness, Victory of Good over Evil and Knowledge over Ignorance, which has caught up the attention of people all over the world including heads of many countries including President Joe Biden at the White House.

“As the pandemic is still not ever and there is resistance to vaccination by some groups of people and the celebration of knowledge over ignorance has greater meaning to people all over the world,” added Dr. Abraham, who had initiated the book launch.

GOPIO-CT officials with dignitaries at Stamford Library’s Diwali Celebration and Launch of India Collection of Books, from l. to r. Jayashri Chintalapudi, Meera Banta, Anita Mathur, Prachi Narayan, Indian Consul Vipul Dev, Indian Consul General Randhir Kumar Jaiswal, Mayor David Martin, Dr. Thomas Abraham, Mayor-elect Caroline Simmons, Mahesh Jhangiani, Srinivas Akarapu, Rep. Matt Blumenthal and Prasad Chintalapudi

Consul General Randhir Jaiswal inaugurated the book collection and complimented Stamford Library for this new initiative and said that USA and India have now a very close relationship. Jaiswal said, “We are in the middle of festival season in India and I want to wish you all prosperity and happiness.” He thanked the library for launching the collection of books on and from India, “which will be a source of knowledge to many.”

Pointing to the fact that 55,000 students have come to the United States from India this year, which opens up immense opportunities for us in this “tech-driven world,” he said. Consul General Jaiswal referred to the recently concluded Global Climate Summit in Glasgow, where India has committed to a cleaner world by making newer assurances to make the world a better place for generations to come.

Stating that the sharing of knowledge and discovery have shaped the destiny of the humanity since beginning of the world, Consul General Jaiswal pointed out how in 1960s, India has gained sufficiency in food production by sharing of knowledge by the United States that led to Green Revolution in India.  “And we are ever grateful to the United States for sharing of knowledge and for the friendship and collaboration between the two nations, which is the defining moment of the 21st century.”

Stamford Mayor David Martin, in his opening remarks said, “As the Mayor of the City, I welcome you all to the celebration of Diwali, which is a celebration of victory of goodness over evil, celebration of light over darkness, and celebration of knowledge over ignorance.”  My whole life has been an expectation of increase of knowledge and library is a place for us to obtain and sharing of knowledge,” he added.

Following the ceremony, Indian American dancers including children performed Indian classical, folk and Bollywood dances.

Photo L., Kuchipudi dancer Sarada Nori and R. Folk Dancers at the Diwali Cultural show

Children performing Bollywood dances

The book collection launch and Diwali event had Consul Vipul Dev, who looks after Political, Culture and Education segments at the Indian Consulate along with several Indian American leaders, GOPIO-CT officials including Executive Vice President Prasad Chintalapudi, Secretary Prachi Narayan, Joint Secretary Meera Banta and Board Members Anita Mathur, Mahesh Jhangiani and Srinivas Akarapu.

(SAM)