Despite the delay owing to several factors including the London riots, the celebration was organised by the community, with the help of the Indian High Commission to the UK, with a series of cultural programmes including one by students of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, children's painting competitions and entertainment programmes.
Addressing the gathering, Acting Indian High Commissioner to the UK Rajesh Prasad said he is happy that the Indian community was in the forefront in organising the event as a "community" event.
Admitting that there was considerable delay in organising the celebrations owing to several reasons, Prasad said "in future, we, in cooperation with the community, will try to institutionalise the celebration on a fixed date so that more members of the community could participate in it".
Referring to the rapid progress made by India in the economic and other fields, he said, "we are currently engaged in India in the gigantic task of removing poverty".
Describing India as a diverse country with a large population, Prasad said, "we are proud that we are an open, free and democratic society".
Referring to the vast progress made by NRIs in the UK, the Acting High Commissioner told the Indian community: "you have done us proud".
Referring to the India-UK relations, he said "They are very strong, and probably stronger than ever. What we have managed to do is not to get mired in the past. We have taken positive aspects of the past and moved forward".
Prominent among those who spoke on the occasion included Baroness Varma, Virendra Sharma, Labour MP, Entrepreneur Prof Nat Puri and industrialist Dr Rami Ranger.
Ranger thanked the founders of the Indian Constitution for providing the country a "democratic and secular framework" so that all communities could live and prosper together.
"Let us be proud as Indians as we, as a community, work hard and achieve outstanding results and contribute to the society where we are settled".
Vijay Goel, a leading NRI solicitor and partner in Singhania and Co, a solicitor firm here described the community event as a "good initiative.
He said the NRI community was very happy to participate in the event and get connected with their motherland.
Puri, a leading entrepreneur, said the High Commission had done a good thing by encouraging the NRI community to organise and celebrate the country's Independence Day.
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