"I am afraid of how we're celebrating. I feel it is a false pride," Prashad said. "We are desperate for self-legitimacy in a country that is profoundly racist and has its own way of integrating us."

Prashad also discouraged celebration without considering the deeper implications of independence.

The Indian struggle for freedom still exists in the United States, he said.

In his speech, Prashad also called the Indian community in the U.S. "state-selected" for intelligence.

"We are a weapon in a class and race war in the United States and that is what we need to think about," Prashad said.

After the panel speeches, the forum attendees separated into smaller groups for three concurrent workshops discussing the "Impact of Independence." Each workshop was led by a South Asian scholar.

The three workshop topics were: the struggle in Bangladesh since 1947, the role of women in the independence movement and the social development since independence.

Many students in the audience said they felt the forum shed light on the complex issues associated with the celebration of independence.

"The panel helped jump-start our minds to look at issues from different angles," said Neil R. Lawande '99, co-president of the SAA.