Collection includes books on Indian art, political leaders, travel and books in Indian languages
Ferguson Library in Stamford, Connecticut celebrated India’s festival of lights, Diwali, with the launch of India collection of books on Indian art, political leaders, social reformers and travel.
The collection including books in Hindi, Telegu, Gujarati and some other Indian languages was donated by the Indian government through its consulate in New York.
The Connecticut Chapter of the Global organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO-CT) coordinated the launch program with the library on Nov. 14, according to a GOPIO press release.
Read: GOPIO raises $5,000 for Building One Community for new immigrants (January 12, 2021)
Inaugurating the book collection, Indian Consul General Randhir Jaiswal complimented Stamford Library for this new initiative and said the collection of books on and from India, “will be a source of knowledge to many.”
Noting that 55,000 students have come to the United States from India this year, he said “this opens up immense opportunities for us in this tech-driven world.”
Sharing of knowledge and discovery have shaped the destiny of humanity since beginning of the world, Jaiswal said pointing out how in 1960s, India gained sufficiency in food production with the US sharing knowledge leading to Green Revolution in India.
In her welcome address, Library President Alice Knapp lauded the new initiative from the GOPIO-CT and thanked the Indian Consulate for donating the books.
Welcoming the guests to the celebration of Diwali, Stamford Mayor David Martin described it as “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.
Stamford’s Mayor-Elect Caroline Simmons said she “looked forward to continuing the many great efforts initiated by Mayor Martin, where you as the community has contributed significantly to the city of Stamford.”
Connecticut State Representative, Matt Blumenthal said he was “grateful to the Indian American community for your great contributions and making our state stronger and dynamic.”
The launch event began with an invocation to Lord Ganesha and a universal prayer by GOPIO-CT Secretary Prachi Narayan and Yashasvi Jhangiani, which were followed by the lighting of the traditional lamp and Diyas.
GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham said the celebration of knowledge over ignorance has greater meaning to people all over the world as the pandemic is still not ever and there is resistance to vaccination by some groups of people.
The library was decorated with Diwali banners and artifacts by GOPIO-CT volunteers headed by Anita Mathur and including Shilpa Bhakta, Prachi Narayan, Jayashri Chintalapudi and Anju Simon.
The cultural program coordinated by Yashasvi Jhangiani started with a Kuchipudi dance by Layavinyasa, a school of South Indian classical dance and Carnatic classical music and performed by its artistic director Sarada Nori.
Read: India Collection Of Books Launched At Stamford Library (November 25, 2021)
A Kathak dance by Rasika Sharma followed. Other dance schools performing classical, folk and Bollywood dances included Vani Natyalayam, Vaibhavi’s Dance Crew, Thirakte Kadam, Tinkle Toes Dance Company and Dancing Divas of Bollyon.
The program ended with a vote of thanks by GOPIO Exec. VP Prasad Chintalapudi.