The India-Canada Society of Hamilton

Founded in November 1973, the Society is a secular and non-denominational organization to preserve the East Indian heritage and to contribute to the enrichment of Canadian life and culture. 

The early enthusiasm of a recent immigrant community led to an outburst of cultural activities. The India-Canada Society has done everything a cultural organization aspires to do and more! Participation in community festivals, such as It's Your Bag Day at Gage park for which it won an award of excellence 1976, holding language classes, lecture series on Indian culture and heritage at McMaster university, production of major dramas such as "Meghadutam" (Cloud Messenger) written by Kalidasa and "Abala" , a drama on the perception of women in a male dominated society, creation of sub-committees to serve the special needs of women and youths, community surveys to judge the needs of the older people, a networking committee for inter-organizational communication, and much more.

But what has made the India-Canada Society to stand out  is its continued emphasis, through public education, on promotion of  universal causes such as cultural diversity, community harmony, human rights, nonviolence, and peace. Many may not know  that it was India-Canada Society who pioneered the establishment of a human rights committee during the mid-seventies. The committee was first of its kind in the country and it included representatives from the regional police, the church, community leaders and government. The committee's interest in the fight against racism evolved into the Mayor's Race Relations Committee.

Over the last twenty-five years in cooperation with  various departments at McMaster University (History, Music, Religion, Philosophy, Political Science, Women's Study, Peace Centre, and others) the Society has hosted major national and international speakers on Indian Philosophy and Culture and has helped celebrate the work and  life of such figures as Gandhi, Tagore, Radhakrishnan, Vinoba Bhave, Ramanujan, Nehru, Aurobindo, Ravishankar.  Their life and work symbolizes the essence of India and their philosophy has a universal appeal.

With the aspiration to address broad national and international issues, the India-Canada Society launched a fund-raising drive to establish a Gandhi Nonviolence Lectureship/ Chair at McMaster university. The first event was a fund-raising dinner in August 1993 featuring Dr. Karan Singh as guest speaker.  The Gandhi Lectureship was inaugurated in 1996 by Ovide Mercredi, National Chief of the Assembly of First Nations. The ultimate goal is to establish an Endowed Chair at the Peace Centre to make available the teachings of Gandhi on Nonviolence, Peace and Social Justice to McMaster students. The Society appeals for your support.

For information and membership contact: Ashok Dalvi  President, India-Canada Society, 905-825-9890