The India Center at UCF Celebrates Republic Day with Community Event 

Consul General of India visits with the Central Florida Indian Community at UCF

By: Sultana Ali | February 28, 2025

The India Center at UCF hosted a vibrant Republic Day ceremony, which brought together members of the Central Florida Indian Community, the College of Sciences, and honored guests.  

The event featured traditional Indian music and dance performances, including special music from Pandit Nandkishor Muley, an affiliate faculty member of The India Center. The celebration also welcomed a special guest, the Consul General of India Atlanta, Shri Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan. 

Yogesh Joshi, Indian Community Endowed Assistant Professor and Director of the India Center at UCF, welcomed the large crowd to UCF.  

“We are so proud to host today’s event. We are coming together for an important moment in our history that continues to guide our collective future,” says Joshi. “This event commemorates the adoption of the Constitution of the Republic of India and the country’s transition to a republic in 1950. It’s such a special day.” 

Dean of the College of Sciences and Vice Provost of Strategic Initiatives, Maggy Tomova, also addressed the attendees.  

“As you know, Central Florida is home to a vibrant Indian American community. And that is reflected right here on our UCF campus,” says Tomova. “Our College is incredibly diverse—we have students from all over the world, including a large community of students from India along with our Indian American student population.” 

Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings provided a letter to commemorate the day for The India Center at UCF, which was read by Ravinder Sharma, a College of Sciences graduate student currently pursuing his Ph.D. in Physics and also serves as President of the Indian Graduate Student Association. He also had the honor of introducing Consul General Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan, who provided remarks on the occasion. 

The Consul General and the Dean of the College of Sciences thanked the Indian community in Central Florida, bestowing certificates for the groups, which included: Bengali Society of Central Florida, Central Florida Association of Physicians from the Indian Subcontinent, Dawoodi Bohra Community of Tampa, Gujarati Society of Central Florida, Hindu Society of Central Florida, Indian American Business Association & Chamber, Indian American Chamber of Commerce Orlando, Indian Graduate Student Association, Indian Student Association, Islamic Center of Orlando, Jain Society of Central Florida, Jain Vishwa Bharti, Lake Nona Indians, Muthamizh Sangam of Central Florida, Sikh Society of Central Florida, and Shakthi US.  

“It’s great to be here celebrating community—you have all laid the foundation for some great work ahead,” says Consul General of India, Atlanta, Ramesh Babu Lakshmanan.