Mayor Adams, Deputy Mayor Joshi celebrate India's Independence Day

Mayor Eric Adams and Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi joined the Indian community at a flag-raising ceremony at Bowling Green to celebrate India’s 78th Independence Day.

In his remarks, Mayor Adams highlighted the significant contributions of the Indian community to New York City, calling it “the New Delhi of America” due to its large Indian population. He emphasized the importance of diversity and the shared responsibility to uphold the values of leaders like Gandhi.

“We’re proud to have Meera Joshi as the first Indian-American Deputy Mayor of New York City,” said Mayor Adams. “Her leadership in managing the city’s infrastructure is invaluable. Today, we also celebrate the potential historic election of the first woman president of Indian descent in the United States.”

Deputy Mayor Joshi reflected on her personal connection to India’s independence through her father and emphasized the importance of inclusivity and the evolving nature of the city and nation.

Consul General Binaya Srikanta Pradhan from the Indian Consulate in New York praised the contributions of the Indian community to both India and the United States, highlighting the strong partnership between the two nations.

The event concluded with a proclamation presented to Sivadasan Nair, President of the Indian Cultural Association of North America, recognizing his contributions to representing Indian culture in New York City.