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Kargil Ke Aage Chalenge

Vimla Parikh looked at her saree and blouse for several minutes wondering whether she should wear them for the India Day Parade. For several years, she has worn the saree and blouse which has the colors of the Indian flag. "But today's parade is different, for we are also remembering the jawans who fought to save our country," she told herself. "May be I should wear something sober."

But a few minutes later, she was waiting for F train stop at Union Turnpike, all set for the parade in her special attire. "I thought the parade was paying a tribute to these brave men -- and the women in their families," she said. "So why should one feel sad about such an event? Let their examples be followed by many others."

For an estimated 20,000 people who attended the annual parade on Madison Avenue, shouting Jai Hind and Bharat Mata Ki Jai on this August 15, was a far more emotional exercise than in the previous years. And the visitors from India, singer Asha Bhosle and star Govinda, reminded them so.

The two were the grand marshals but Govinda hardly walked any part of the parade. Mayor Rudy Guiliani, who walked halfway through the parade, gave a mini speech applauding the Indian community, was the only high profile mainstream politician this year. The organizers had expected the likes of Congressmen Benjamin Gilman and Gary Ackerman, two staunch friends of India, to attend the parade but conflicting appointments kept them away

Bhosle, who walked part of the parade, which is covered in about 25 minutes, said she had never walked so much in recent years. Seizing her announcement, Yash Pal Soi, the president of Federations of Indian Associations, the organizer of the parade, declared to the effect, "Hum be chalenge Kargil ki taraf, aur Kargilke aage bhi chalenge. [We will walk to and beyond Kargil]."

His announcement was enthusiastically reported but by about 50 young students who are attending a leftist summer camp in the city. They took time off from their camp and carried placards denouncing war.

An elderly gentleman said to one of the students: "I agree with you war is bad. But why shouldn't you take this message to Pakistanis or their masters, the Chinese?"

The South Asian Gays and Lesbians Association, which is not allowed to march in the parade ostensibly because the organization is a South Asian group, also protested. Among the 50 Salaga protestors most were Indians. Some carried placards which said, Long Live Queer India. Others showed men kissing - and above the picture, the tile read, Maine Pyar Kiya. Scenes from Deepa Mehta's controversial film, Fire, were also used in a placard that said: Desi Dykes.

Sakhi, the women's organization for South Asian women, were also not allowed to march but the ban has been revoked. As the Sakhi volunteers marched in the parade, a gay activist said: "It is clear, we are kept away not because we call ourselves South Asians like Sakhi does but because we are gay and lesbians."

But to Asha Bhosle, who sang patriotic songs with Govinda contributing his footwork, the protests did not matter. It was the case with the participants, some of whom had driven more than 100 miles from the neighboring states to join the biggest India Day Parade in America.

Govinda thanking the audiences and the FIA president Soi for extending him the invitation to lead the parade, offered a firebrand two minute speech about India's security and the need for peace. He also got his wife and daughter to say Jai Hind. And then taking his son in his arms, he said 15 or 20 years from now, the lad could enter the movies and prove that chote miyan is better than bade miyan. The movie, Bade Miyan, Chote Miyan, starring Amitabh Bachchan and Govinda, was a medium size hit in America. But his gesture drew wild applause.

Earlier in the day, as stream of Indians got into the F train at Jackson Heights, a white commuter could not help grumbling.

"Why can't these people go back to their country and celebrate over there?"

His muttering caught the attention of a second generation Indian student.

"I agree with you," she said. "We should have only one parade -- American day parade."

She paused for a second.

"But before we do that, the older immigrants -- the Irish, the Italians, the Polish... should show us the way by not having their own parades."

Later, she was heard telling her friends. "Did you listen to that horrible man? He would not say anything against Irish or Polish parades."

She paused again. "Who knows? Who knows?"

Next: Baring the Soul in the Park

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