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Deccan Herald
19 hours ago
- Deccan Herald
180th Indian Arrival Day celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago
🌺 Celebrating 180 years of Indian Arrival Day at Nelson Island! 🇮🇳🇹🇹 Watch the vibrant event hosted by the Indian High Commission, filled with music & culture. @MEAIndia @diaspora_india @iccr_hq @MGICCTandT @mfcagovtt @PSRajpurohit13 — India in T&T (@IndiainTandT) June 1, 2025 In a historic first, the High Commission of India organized Indian Arrival Day at Nelson Island to commemorate 180 years since the arrival of the first group of Indian immigrants on the shores of Trinidad and Tobago in 1845. The event was attended by a diverse audience, including… — India in T&T (@IndiainTandT) June 1, 2025
Indian Express
21 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
180th Indian Arrival Day celebrated in Trinidad and Tobago Port of Spain (Trinidad and Tobago)
The Indian mission in Trinidad and Tobago celebrated Indian Arrival Day, marking 180 years since the arrival of the first Indian immigrants to the Caribbean nation. The event on Sunday was the first such celebration by the High Commission to celebrate the arrival of the first group of Indians in 1845. Minister of Foreign and Caribbean Community Affairs Sean Sobers was the Chief Guest at the event, the Indian mission said in a post on X. It was attended by Speaker of the House of Representatives Jagdeo Singh, Deputy Speaker Dr Aiyna Al, other senior ministers and officials, as well as community leaders. A video posted by the Indian High Commission showed dance and music performances at the event. 'Everyone cherished the day in a pleasant atmosphere, with a cool breeze and lovely sunshine. Happy Indian Arrival Day!' the High Commission said. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, there are 548,279 persons of Indian origin in the Caribbean nation, which has a population of about 1.5 million people
The Print
a day ago
- Politics
- The Print
India's all-party delegations show a problem with our embassies
Governments regularly send foreign affairs ministers or senior officials to convey important and special messages. But the use of all-party parliamentary delegations is a rare practice in diplomacy. I cannot recall any recent example of a country taking such a step. That such delegations were needed to convey India's position on terrorism reflects the limitations of Indian missions abroad in performing this task effectively. My view is that the government was compelled to send these delegations because Indian missions abroad are unable to aggressively promote India's national interests. The decision of the Modi government to send all-party parliamentary delegations to different countries for mobilising support against terrorism, following the ceasefire with Pakistan, has attracted significant public attention. As these delegations are reaching various countries, questions are being raised about why such a step was necessary in the first place. This situation can be attributed to two interrelated factors. One is that successive governments have failed to carry out necessary reforms in the Indian missions abroad. The other is that officials working in Indian embassies get little public recognition back home, which impacts their performance. As a result, the government has to resort to temporary mechanisms such as sending all-party delegations. However, the long-term solution lies in the structural reform of India's missions abroad. Also Read: Sanskrit to satellites, embassies in Delhi are using culture to show ties, get close to India Decolonising the structure of Indian embassies The Indian missions abroad, called high commissions in Commonwealth countries and embassies in others, are primarily responsible for conveying the message of the Indian government. Increasing the efficiency of these missions is crucial, but unfortunately, successive governments have not paid any attention in this regard. Reforms are needed in two directions—decolonisation of the structure of Indian embassies, and the promotion of active over passive leadership. First, the structure of Indian embassies. For example, the Indian High Commission in London still seems to be organised along colonial lines. Presently, six of its officials are designated as ministers. They are minister (counsellor), minister (audit), minister (economic), minister (coordination), and minister (Nehru Centre). Interestingly, the designation of minister is not used by the Indian High Commissions in Australia, New Zealand, or Canada. And only India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh have this designation in their London-based high commissions. This practice appears to have been inherited from the office of the Secretary of India during colonial rule. While the positions of secretary and deputy secretary may have been replaced with High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner, the remaining designations are unchanged. The designation of minister also creates confusion when Union or state ministers officially visit London. Usually, the embassy 'ministers' receive and accompany them. It causes great confusion for those unfamiliar with the bureaucratic hierarchy. The second issue relates to leadership style. The government needs to ensure that Indian embassies show active rather than passive leadership. Presently, embassies tend to act only after receiving instructions from the government, and their engagement remains very formal. However, they need to be encouraged to engage with the Indian diaspora and other stakeholders informally. Based on my six years of experience in London, I have noticed that purely bureaucratic appointments reduce such engagement. Therefore, the government needs to diversify its officials in Indian missions. It should incorporate professors, journalists, writers, and other young leaders into the pool. I have found, for instance, that the appointment of Amish Tripathi as the Chair of the Nehru Centre in London significantly increased social activities. The centre acts as the cultural wing of the Indian High Commission in London, and it emerged as a premier institution engaged in India's cultural interface with the UK. Coming from a literary background, Tripathi, who served until October 2023, did not concern himself with bureaucratic protocols and met people both formally and informally. This led to a rise in cultural activities and social gatherings at the Nehru Centre. The appointment of diverse professionals in Indian missions abroad is needed for two further reasons. First, the missions increasingly need to engage with the Indian diaspora, which is itself diverse in terms of region, ideology, caste, and profession. A broader mix of professionals in missions will improve outreach. Second, the appointment of diverse professionals will provide them with exposure to foreign policy and diplomacy, which would be beneficial for developing future leaders. Also Read: Countering Pakistan isn't India's only challenge. We need doctrinal clarity on China factor The problem of invisibility The lack of public recognition for the good work done in Indian embassies also discourages officials from showing active leadership. For example, the current Indian High Commissioner in London, Vikram Doraiswami, is the most active one I have seen in comparison with his predecessors. He frequently meets people and actively participates in community events. Yet most Indians would not know his name. Similarly, the security officer of the Commission, Kiran Bhosale, was injured while protecting the Tricolour during a Khalistan protest in 2023. Yet this news found no space in the media. All of these point to a lack of recognition for the work being done in the Indian mission. This too acts as a disincentive to active leadership. To sum up, decolonising Indian missions, promoting active leadership through professional diversification, and increasing recognition for officials would go a long way in making embassies better equipped to fulfil the role they were set up for. Arvind Kumar is a Visiting Lecturer in Politics & International Relations at the University of Hertfordshire, UK. He tweets @arvind_kumar__. Views are personal. (Edited by Asavari Singh)
India Gazette
a day ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Ambedkar was a great Indian, we are humbled and proud to be on premises of his home": All-party delegation led by Ravi Shankar Prasad pays tribute in London
London [UK], June 2 (ANI): An all-party Indian delegation, led by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, paid tribute to BR Ambedkar at the Ambedkar Museum in London on Sunday, describing him as a 'great Indian and a social reformer.' Prasad noted that the Indian government had purchased the house where Ambedkar once lived, and the Indian High Commission now maintains it, along with four other sites associated with his legacy, recognized as 'Smriti Sthal.' Speaking to reporters, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, 'We are pleased to be here. Dr Ambedkar lived here for two years in London. The government has bought this house, and the Indian High Commission maintains it. We offered flowers to him. He was a great Indian. All five places related to him are maintained as 'Smriti Sthal'...We are happy to be here. My respect for Dr Ambedkar as he was a great social reformer.' Former Union Minister MJ Akbar said Ambedkar's vision of a new social order and respect for every individual, challenging inconsistencies and inequalities of traditional social hierarchies, remains one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. Speaking to ANI, Akbar said, 'Dr Ambedkar's vision of a new social order and respect for every individual, challenging inconsistencies and inequalities of our traditional social hierarchies, I think, remains one of the greatest achievements of the 20th century. Today, we feel humbled and proud that we are on the premises of the home where so much of his achievement was conceived before it was brought into practice. He is one of the great people of modern India and the least we can do to pay homage to him is remember him each day.' AIADMK MP, M Thambidurai, called BR Ambedkar a 'great man' and stated that the delegation is pleased to come here to pay its respects to Ambedkar. He noted that India is running a government based on the constitution created by Ambedkar. On paying tribute to Ambedkar, he said, 'A great opportunity as a delegation to come over here. At the same, you have the opportunity to see the memorial place of Dr. Ambedkar. He studied here, spent his time, his knowledge and everything, helped India to frame the constitution and also to uplift the suppressed people. He is a great man. In that way, we are, at the opportunity, happy to see that as a delegation, they have come over here, and it is our bounden duty to come and see the memorial in this place, and also pay our respect to Dr. Ambedkar. Therefore, the constitution has given every right, equal rights. But, India is running the government based on the constitution, democratic way, which our Ambedkar had created. But we are seeing unfortunate things happening in Pakistan, which they are not at all following the constitution and the democracy, which is an unfortunate thing.' Indian High Commission in London said that the all-party delegation recalled that one of the most outrageous examples of Pakistan-abetted and directed terror began in Mumbai on 26 November 2008, on the anniversary of the adoption of our Constitution on that day in 1949, the drafting of which was led by Babasaheb Ambedkar In a post shared on X, the Indian High Commission in London stated, 'All Party Delegation visited Ambedkar Museum in London and paid tributes to Dr. B R Ambedkar on the 75th anniversary of the entry into force of the Constitution of India. In commemorating Babasaheb's leadership and vision, they also recalled that one of the most outrageous examples of Pakistan-abetted and directed terror began in Mumbai on 26 November 2008, on the anniversary of the adoption of our Constitution on that day in 1949, the drafting of which was led by Babasaheb Ambedkar. They emphasized the resolve of Indian democracy to confront and defeat terrorism in all its forms.' Earlier, India's High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, briefed the all-party delegation on India-UK ties, highlighting the strong diaspora ties and shared challenges in countering terrorism following the Pahalgam terrorist attack and Operation Sindoor. 'The All-Party Delegation was briefed by team @HCI_London led by HC @VDoraiswami on India-UK bilateral relations, highlighting the strong diaspora ties, and shared challenges in countering terrorism in light of #PahalgamTerrorAttack and #OperationSindoor.' An all-party delegation, led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, arrived in London on Saturday (local time) as part of India's global outreach program to convey the country's firm stance against terrorism. The delegation landed in the United Kingdom after completing visits to France, Italy, and Denmark, where they engaged with government officials, diaspora, and other stakeholders to raise awareness about India's zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism. Upon their arrival, Ravi Shankar Prasad said, 'We are here in London. We will keep our stance on terrorism effectively, here. We believe that we will get that support here as well, the way we have received the support in those three countries.' The Indian delegation, led by Ravi Shankar Prasad, includes BJP MP Daggubati Purandeswari, Samik Bhattacharya, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi, Congress MPs Ghulam Ali Khatana and Amar Singh, former Union Minister MJ Akbar, and Ambassador Pankaj Saran is in Copenhagen. The delegation aims to brief international partners on India's response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack and its broader fight against cross-border terrorism while engaging with leaders in France, the UK, Germany, the EU, Italy and Denmark. (ANI)
News18
a day ago
- Politics
- News18
UK Support For All-Party Delegation Derails ISI's Disruption Attempt
Last Updated: During the event, groups of ISI-backed Khalistani protesters attempted to stage a demonstration at the Indian High Commission in London. An all-party delegation led by BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad, which arrived in London on Saturday to reiterate India's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism, received massive support from the members of the Indian diaspora. CNN-News18 learnt that over 1500 members of the diaspora rallied in support of the Indian delegation's mission to expose Pakistan-sponsored terror activities, in the backdrop of the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 people. The delegation, comprising political and diplomatic representatives, is visiting the UK to hold key meetings with local authorities and global stakeholders. Their focus is to highlight the atrocities committed by Pakistan-backed terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, particularly its involvement in the Pahalgam attack and the 26/11 Mumbai attacks — one of the deadliest terror strikes in India's history that also claimed the lives of several foreign nationals. According to top intelligence sources, the delegation aims to present credible evidence and context on Lashkar's operations, its Pakistan-based support network, and its continued threat to regional and global peace. 'The number of Indian people who reached the High Commission is really amazing. Usually on a Sunday, people don't come out of their homes, given the next working day. Around 1500 people have come, and the numbers are increasing every minute," Kuldeep Shekhawat, President of the Europe Chapter of Overseas Friends of India, told CNN-News18. ISI-Backed Disruption During the event, groups of ISI-backed Khalistani protesters attempted to stage a demonstration at the Indian High Commission in London. Denied permission at the premises, the protesters shifted to Trafalgar Square, waving Khalistani flags and banners. Top intelligence officials termed this move 'a desperate attempt by Pakistan's ISI" to deflect attention from its support to terror outfits like Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed. 'This is a clear attempt by Pakistan to change the narrative. With international pressure mounting over its links to terror, the ISI is using proxy elements to disrupt diplomatic efforts and mislead public perception," said a senior intelligence source to CNN-News18. Despite these efforts, the Indian delegation's outreach has drawn strong support from the global Indian community, reflecting unified condemnation of terrorism and growing awareness about state-sponsored extremist networks operating from Pakistan. The all-party delegation, led by Prasad, also comprises MPs Daggubati Purandeswari, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Ghulam Ali Khatana, Amar Singh, Samik Bhattacharya, M Thambidurai and former Union minister of state MJ Akbar and Ambassador Pankaj Saran. Watch India Pakistan Breaking News on CNN-News18. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from geopolitics to diplomacy and global trends. Stay informed with the latest world news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! First Published:
