Bill Gates, Chairman of the Gates Foundation, was the guest of honour to inaugurate the first India Day celebrations in the Seattle area, coinciding with India’s 78th Independence Day.
Addressing the 2,000-plus Indian-American community, Gates praised India as a global leader in technology, agriculture and healthcare. He highlighted the country’s contributions, from producing affordable vaccines to advancing digital public infrastructure, which are now being adopted in countries in the global South.
The event was attended by a number of distinguished individuals, including Congresswomen Suzan DelBene and Kim Schrier, Congressman Adam Smith, Lt. Gen. Xavier Brunson, Rear Admiral Mark Sucato, Lieutenant Governor of Washington Denny Heck, and Secretary of State of Washington Steve Hobbs. Mayors from various cities, including Bellevue, Tacoma, and Kent, also graced the occasion.
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The celebration was a vibrant representation of India’s diverse culture with floats and performances from all regions of the country. Representatives of the Indian American community played an important role in organizing these cultural displays, reinforcing the theme of “Unity in Diversity.”
In recognition of the event, five official proclamations were issued by governments and city councils in Washington and Oregon. Iconic buildings in Seattle and Bellevue were illuminated in the tricolor, adding a symbolic touch to the celebrations. In addition, Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon extended his congratulations on India’s Independence Day.
