Indian Independence Day was marked today, Friday 15 August, with celebrations at the Brent Indian Association on Ealing Road. Around 150–200 people from Brent and Harrow attended the event.
Indian Independence Day commemorates 15 August 1947, when India became free from British rule. The day is a time for reflection, celebration, and remembering the sacrifices made for the country’s independence.
Mayor of Brent, Cllr Ryan Hack, addressed the gathering. He said, “Nameste, My friends…. This is my second visit to Brent Indian Association since becoming Mayor, and just as I felt back then, I feel today that the London Borough of Brent stands as a friend to the people of India. Our shared values — family, compassion, and community — are the foundation of why this centre was founded all those years ago, and the heart of what our Borough represents.
“When I last stood here in June, none of us could have imagined the heartbreak that happened on a sunny, yet quiet, afternoon — the devastating crash of the Air India flight in Gujarat. The grief from that unimaginable tragedy still weighs heavily on our hearts, and its impact continues to be felt by families, friends, and communities both here in Brent and across the world.
“I am young enough to have known my great-great-grandfather — my mum’s, mum’s, mum’s father. To me, that is a living bridge across generations. I am the proud grandson of a Dunkirk evacuee and the soldier who served in the Eighth Army; he told me growing up how he was so proud to have served as a liberator in an Army whose people — from India and far beyond — stood shoulder to shoulder in the fight for the freedoms we hold so dearly today. I say to everyone here and across Brent; our ancestors taught us so much – their courage, sacrifice, and unity, and their legacy still lives on.
“From the vibrant bustle of Ealing Road, to the steady rhythm of dhol drums taught to young people at Claremont High School, where I once studied, to the fireworks that illuminate Brent’s skyline each year — the people of India have given so much to our borough and this country. Your spirit, Your culture, and your contributions have become woven into the very fabric of who we are as a community – and shapes Brent every single day. Be proud of who you are, what you have done for our country, and our amazing borough.
“God bless India, God bless the United Kingdom, and to everyone who calls this borough their home – but has India glowing in their hearts. Ja Hind!”
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