Indian Embassy commemorates Independence Day eve

By Tashi Dendup

The Embassy of India in Bhutan organized a flurry of events this week to commemorate the 75^th Independence Day Celebrations of India.

As part of the India@75 ‘Azadi ka Amrut Mahotsav’ celebrations to commemorate the 75^th anniversary of India’s Independence, the Embassy of India organized an interaction between the Ambassador of India to Bhutan, Ruchira Kamboj and Bhutan’s Women’s National Cricket Team.

The Lady Dragons, as they are fondly known, will be participating in the upcoming International Cricket Council (ICC) Women’s Asia qualifier in Malaysia in November this year. The tournament in Malaysia is a precursor to the 2022 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be held in New Zealand.

To celebrate the common love for cricket between India and Bhutan and in keeping with the close and friendly relations between the two countries, the Indian Embassy offered its grounds to the Women’s National Team for their training sessions.

During this time, the team will also attend yoga classes led by Mr. KVSSN Murthy, the yoga teacher at Nehru-Wangchuck Cultural Centre.

Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj said that she is truly delighted that the Indian Embassy canplay a small role in helping the girls train for the International Cricket World Cup. “They are an absolute inspiration for the youth of Bhutan and I wish them all the very best,” she said.

On Wednesday, Indian scientists were awed when Bhutanese students raised various questions on outer space at the India@75 Space Odyssey-Showcasing India’s achievements in Space Technology event held as part of celebrations to commemorate the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.

A team of scientists from the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), led by Distinguished Scientist and Scientific Secretary, R. Umamaheswaran, were baffled when Bhutan’s space engineers and science students from Lungtenzampa MSS, Motithang HSS, Royal Academy, and Royal Thimphu College raised questions ranging from exo-planets to intelligent life, space technology, and the mysteries of the Black Hole.

According to the Indian Embassy, space technology is a promising area of Indo-Bhutan cooperation. In aMoU signed between the two countries last year, India and Bhutan are currently collaborating on the joint development of a small satellite for Bhutan which will be launched by the end of this year.

The 2020 Edition of Brunel Medal was awarded to Economic Affairs Minister Loknath Sharma, Chairman ofMangdechhu HEP, by the Indian Ambassador, Ruchira Kamboj on Thursday.

The Brunel Medal is awarded by the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) in the United Kingdom to recognize excellence in civil engineering. 

MangdechhuHEP has a total capacity of 720 MW.  Located in Central Bhutan, it provides 44 percent of total hydropower generation in the country. The Plant generated 5047 million units of power as of June this year and earned revenue of Nu 21, 933 million till date. More than 500 people are employed by the project.

The Embassy also conducted a virtual conference to celebrate the contribution of Assam in India’s freedom struggle and to explore the connectivity and synergies between Bhutan and Assam on August 6.

The program was attended by the Economic Affairs Minister Loknath Sharma, and the Indian Ambassador to Bhutan, and other senior government officials at the Postcard Dewa hotel in Namseling, Thimphu.

Eminent Indian scholars and Assamese writers/ journalists also gave a talk on the subject which is part of India@75 celebrations which will culminate on August 15.

“India is like My Best Friend – who is there with you during your ups and downs,” asserted SamtenTenzin Droelma of Motithang HSS as she won the videobytecompetition yesterday, organized by the Indian Embassy in commemoration of India’s 75th Independence Day Celebrations.

Other winning entries included videobytes from Neelam Phuyel of Changangkha MSS and Karma Tenzin of Gedu CBS. Cash prizes of Nu 20,000, 15,000 and 10,000 were awarded respectively. 

Many participants from Bhutan who took part in the online course on Gandhian Philosophy by Dr. Shobhana Radhakrishna also received their certificates of appreciation from the Indian Embassy.