[gallery size="medium" td_select_gallery_slide="slide" td_gallery_title_input="ICSJ and Bazm E Osmania Jeddah mark Republic Day event" ids="124580,124577,124578,124579"] JEDDAH — The Indian cultural society and Bazm E Osmania Jeddah, one of the oldest NRI's association here, celebrated the 68th anniversary of India's Republic Day and to pay tribute to the country's freedom fighters with a gala event. ICSJ and Bazm E Osmania organized a grand memorable evening with Bollywood singer Mohammed Ayaz and Bollywood actor and host Akbar Solapuri at the Consulate premises last week. Rafi Ki Yaadein, a musical night that took the audience back to the haunting tunes and memorable lyrics of the music directors and lyricist of yesteryear, proved to be a draw with the audience responding to the music belted out in the voice similar to that of the legendary playback singer late Mohammed Rafi. Inimitable playback singer Mohammed Ayaz made the night memorable with his confidence and the rendition of classical numbers of the yore impeccably. Indian Consul General Md. Noor Rahman Sheikh was the chief guest. Special guests were Anand Kumar, consul consular, Dr. Irshad Ahmed, consul press (info & culture), Moin Akhtar, consul community welfare and administration, Renalda Siswadi, marketing director Indomie, Zia Abdullah Nadwi, director of DPS, L. Ramnarayan Iyer, executive editor of Saudi Gazette, M. A. Noor Mohammed, Air India manager, Koshy John, Air India airport manager, Salman Aziz, Air India reservation manager, Asif Daudi, MC IISJ, Taher Ali, MC IISJ, and Amanullah Khan. ICSJ patron Dr. Dilshad Ahmed Shamsi, in his welcome speech, said that we have been celebrating India's national days for more than 40 years here. In addition we have been involved in community work including the collection and distribution of old test books free of charge for the needy student of IISJ. ICSJ President Arif Quraishi welcomed the chief guest, all consuls' and special guests. He said, "ICSJ and Bazm E Osmania are proud to organize our country's national days for more than 40 year in this city. We have not forgotten our country as well as our freedom fighters. And we pay tributes to the freedom fighters of India by remembering their sacrifices on the events held to mark our national days. Though we are away from India by staying in Saudi Arabia for a long time our love for our homeland still burns strong." Consul General Md. Noor Rahman Sheikh released the Republic Day of India Souvenir 2017 Jeddah, which has been written and produced by Quraishi. Sheikh congratulated all Indians on the 68th Republic day of India and expressed appreciation for ICSJ President Arif Quraishi and his team's efforts in organizing the country's national day function. He said that souvenir is very precise and informative. This souvenir conveys the message that the constitution of India is product for all Indians. He appreciated Quraishi's community services, adding, "Arif Quraishi is one man army because he has written this souvenir with passion and dedication." The chief guest presented a shawl and bouquet to Ayaz and Solapuri. The program started with patriotic song (Aye mere watan ke logo) by local singer Dhaniya Prashad. Then Ayaz too started with a patriotic song (Jahan Dal Dal Per Sone ki Chirhiya Karti Hai Basera), after this patriotic song Ayaz sang more than 20 songs solo & duets of the most memorable and popular songs of Bollywood legend late Mohammed Rafi. The audience thoroughly enjoyed the golden songs of Rafi and various mime performance of Solapuri and were left wanting for more. The closing song, Mere Yaar Shabba Khair), fittingly brought the curtain down on the evening with the audience demanding an encore of this song. Local singers who participated in this program were Fares Al Wahidi and Dhaniya Prashad. The program was compered by Syed Fazalul Haque and coordinated by Imtiyaz Mirza. Arif Masod Siddiqui, vice president of ICSJ, proposed the vote of thanks. The main sponsor of the event was Indomie, co-sponsors were: Air India, Mohammed Yousuf Naghi Motors Co. Hyundai, Cigalah groups, Davidoff Cafe, Tata Motors Manahil, Mosaid Travels, Zeeyarah.com Superior, Al Falah International School (DPS), Abdulaziz Al Sorayai Investment co. Al-Rayan, Nabil, Tiffany, BAFCO International Shipping & Logistic Co. Ltd., Saudi Master Baker Ltd, PEPSI, American Garden, Amanullah Khan, Shadab Restaurant, Premium Biscuit, DALDA, HI-TEA Best Harvest, Arctic Gold, Al Areesh. The event ended with national anthem sung by all the special guest and ICSJ members, who shared the stage with Ayaz and Dhaniya, for the l anthem.
