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Diaspora organizations join hands to host Annual Diaspora Lecture
The central theme of this year's lecture was the diaspora's role in Indian freedom struggle.
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Staff Reporter - Sun, 29, Jun 2025
- 01:19 EDT
- 23
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Speaker Dr. Bhuvan Lall and Dr. Aarti Lal Lall with GOPIO and the Kerala Center officials, members and supporters / Courtesy photo
The Indian Diaspora Center, in collaboration with Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (GOPIO) and the Indian American Kerala Cultural and Civic Center, hosted its 2025 Annual Diaspora Lecture and Interactive Session on June 22, at the Kerala Center in Elmont, New York.
The key highlight of the event, titled, “The Role of America and the Indian Diaspora in the Freedom Movement of India,” was the session led by author and speaker Dr. Bhuvan Lall.
After Kerala Center President Alex Esthappan welcomed the audience, Dr. Lall captivated the audience with his vivid storytelling, shedding light on the pivotal contributions of Lala Har Dayal and the Ghadar Movement in the United States and Europe during the early 20th century.
Dr. Lall said, “According to the timeworn, intelligence reports and records locked away in the archives, Hukumat-i-Britannia considered Har Dayal the single biggest threat to the empire as long as he was alive."
He added, "The origin of Britain’s MI6 was intertwined with the life of Har Dayal. Sir David Petrie, Director-General MI 5 (1941-46) & Chief of British Intelligence in India wrote, “No man in recent times has sinned more grievously against the (British) Government… than Har Dayal…”
Emphasizing on the widespread acceptance of Har Dayal's brilliance, he said, "year after year Hukumat-i-Britannia termed him as the most brilliant person born in India, the most dangerous revolutionary the British Empire had encountered in India, and the most decent human being one could meet on Planet Earth. However, despite many attempts, Hukumat-i-Britannia could never silence or arrest the phenomenon called Har Dayal.”
Dr Lall also highlighted the inspiring legacy of Subhas Chandra Bose, as the Ghadar Party morphed into the Azad Hind Fauj. He emphasized the Indian diaspora’s role in India’s struggle for independence.
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Dr. Lall highlighted the Indian diaspora’s role in India’s struggle for independence / Courtesy photoThe organizers presented Dr. Lall with two rare 'First Day Covers', canceled and released by the US Postal Service during the First Global Convention of People of Indian Origin in New York City in 1989, where GOPIO was founded. These collector’s items of US Postal Service’s First Day Covers featuring Mahatma Gandhi stamps, honored the Indian diaspora and the historic global meet.
The event was attended by community members, scholars, and notable figures, including GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham who chaired the meeting, GOPIO International Coordinator for North America Prof. Raj Vangapaty, GOPIO Council Chair for Seniors Mukund Mehta, Kerala Center Secretary Raju Thomas and officials of GOPIO and Kerala Center, fostering vibrant discussions on India’s freedom movement.
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