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Hindustan Times
01-07-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Two Indo-Canadians conferred with Canada's highest honours
Toronto: Canada announced its highest honours on Monday and on that list is an Indo-Canadian academic who lost four family members in the bombing of Air India flight 182, the Kanishka, by Khalistani terrorists on June 23, 1985. The gathering at the Toronto memorial to pay homage to the victims of Air India flight 182, the Kanishka. (Supplied photo) Among the 329 victims of what remains the worst incident of terrorism in Canadian history were the wife, two children and mother-in-law of Professor Mahesh Chandra Sharma. On Monday, as Governor General Mary Simon announced the list of 83 honorees for this year, he was made a Member of the Order of Canada. The citation with the honor noted, 'Mahesh Sharma is a civic-minded philanthropist and leader. A beloved professor and mentor at Concordia University, he established scholarships to honour the memory of his family who were victims of Air India Flight 182. He also actively champions social causes supporting vulnerable individuals and the wider community.' Professor Sharma who is a professor of supply chain and business technology management at Concordia University in Montreal, studied mechanical engineering in India before moving to Canada. Also on the list was another Indo-Canadian academic, Dr Saroj Saigal, professor emeritus at McMaster University in Hamilton, who was admitted as a Officer of the Order of Canada. She 'helped shape the field of neonatology', the citation stated. 'She is internationally renowned as the first researcher to examine the lives of extremely premature infants from a qualitative perspective and is praised for this humanistic approach. She has shifted attitudes towards preterm infants and increased our understanding of their long-term outcomes,' it added. Dr Saigal obtained her medical degrees and received paediatric training in India before moving to Canada. Other prominent honorees on the list were two healthcare leaders who were at the forefront of Canada's battle against the Covid-19 pandemic. Dr Theresa Tam led the country's effort to counter the pandemic as Canada's Chief Public Health Officer. She retired from the position in June. She was made an Officer of the Order of Canada as was Dr Bonnie Henry, who was the provincial health officer in British Columbia during the pandemic. In a release, the Governor General's office described the Order of Canada as 'the cornerstone of the Canadian Honours System'. It said that since its creation in 1967, over 8,200 people from all sectors of society have been appointed to the Order. 'The contributions of these trailblazers are varied, yet they have all enriched the lives of others and made a difference to this country,' it added. 'Congratulations to the newest appointees to the Order of Canada. We proudly recognise each of these individuals whose dedication and passion for service not only enrich our communities but also help shape the fabric of our nation. Together, they inspire us to strive for greatness and to foster a future filled with hope and possibility,' the Governor General said.
Hindustan Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
New paradigm in India-Canada ties
Jun 24, 2025 08:47 PM IST The commemoration of the bombing of Air India flight 182 jointly by India, Canada and Ireland for the first time on the 40th anniversary of the tragedy that claimed 329 lives is an important moment in recognising the international character of terrorism, and the need for a global response to the problem. It is significant that India sent a delegation to the event in Ireland led by Union minister Hardeep Puri, who emphasised the need for deeper cooperation with Canada to counter extremism and terrorism. While India and Canada must surely focus on trade and investment to give a boost to bilateral relations there must be a substantive dialogue on security issues of concern to both sides, including the threat posed by cross-border, ideology-driven terrorism. (AP) Over the past four decades, Canada largely treated what was the worst act of aviation terrorism till the 9/11 attacks in the US as an incident to be mourned by India, though a majority of the fliers were Canadian citizens of Indian-origin. Most of those involved in the carnage got away because of a botched investigation by Canadian authorities. The recent past has made Canada reckon with the downing of Air India flight 182 as a tragic moment and a violent act against its own citizens, and thereby, its sovereignty. That is a powerful foundation that can be used by Ottawa during its ongoing reset of its relations with New Delhi, with a beginning having been made through the recent meeting of prime ministers of the two countries. While India and Canada must surely focus on trade, investment, supply chains and technology to give a boost to bilateral relations taken to a low point by the row over the killing of a Khalistani activist, there must be a substantive dialogue on security issues of concern to both sides, including the threat posed by cross-border, ideology-driven terrorism.
Hindustan Times
24-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Over 60% Canadians want Kanishka bombing taught in schools: Survey
While Canadians remain largely unaware of the worst terror attack in the country's history, two-third believe details of the bombing of Air India flight 182, the Kanishka, by Khalistani extremists, should be taught in schools and the problem of ignorance corrected. A man lays a wreath as he pays tribute to the victims on the 40th anniversary of Air India Flight 182 Kanishka bombing, at the Ahakista Memorial in Cork on Monday. (ANI Video Grab) These were among the major findings of a new survey conducted by the non-profit Angus Reid Institute (ARI) published on the 40th anniversary of the bombing, which claimed 329 lives, including close to 280 Canadian citizens on June 23, 1985. Of those sampled, 59% said they 'only know the main details', according to an ARI release. Half, 51%, believe the bombing 'has never been treated like a Canadian tragedy', and seven-in-ten, 71%, support an exhibit about the bombing at the Canadian Museum of History. Approximately two-third, 65%, 'believe it should be consistently taught in Canadian schools', ARI said. 'Both would go a long way to increase the number of Canadians in future years who feel Canada has done enough to honour the victims. In both 2023 polling and these latest data fewer than three-in-10 said enough had been done,' ARI noted. Talwinder Singh Parmar, considered the mastermind of the attack, lived in Burnaby in British Columbia, the plot was hatched and the bomb made in that province, yet Canadian remain largely ignorant of what was the worst incident of aviation terrorism till 9/11. The ARI described the Kanishka bombing as an 'unremembered tragedy' as nearly a third of those surveyed, 32%, said they were unaware of it, 4% higher than what it was in a similar poll conducted in 2023. There is also little liking for pro-Khalistan groups taking to gathering at the memorials to the tragedy on the anniversary. 'Three-in-five (63%) say that even if they have the right to be there, the presence of Khalistan supporters at public memorial is inappropriate,' the survey found. In addition, 34% believe there is too much 'disinformation' about the bombing, including the discredited conspiracy theory of an Indian role. 'Today marks 40 years to the day that Canada endured the worst terror attack in its history, but if you ask most Canadians, there's a good chance they'd be unable to tell you that,' the ARI stated. But, they understand such lack of knowledge is wrong, as it added, 'While they may not know a lot about the tragedy, Canadians appear to see this as a problem to correct.'
Hindustan Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
India, Ireland, Canada commemorate 1985 Air India flight Kanishka bombing
For the first time, India, Ireland and Canada are commemorating the 1985 bombing of Air India flight 182 by Khalistani terrorists with events in Cork and New Delhi to pay tribute to the 329 victims of what was the worst act of aviation terrorism until the 9/11 attacks in the US. Union minister Hardeep Puri at a memorial in Cork. (X) While the anniversary of the worst aviation disaster in Irish and Canadian history has been marked by an annual event organised by the Cork County Council in Ireland, the three countries have joined hands to organise an event in New Delhi for the first time on the 40th anniversary of the attack, people familiar with the matter said on condition of anonymity. In Cork, an Indian delegation led by Union minister Hardeep Puri joined Irish Taoiseach (Prime Minister) Micheál Martin, Canada's public safety minister Gary Anandasangaree and the ambassadors of India and Canada for a solemn ceremony at a memorial overlooking the ocean to pay tribute to the victims of the bombing of Air India flight 182, also known as Kanishka. Addressing the event, Puri emphasised the importance of concerted action by the world community against terrorism and called for enhanced security collaboration with Canada to tackle extremism and radicalism. The destruction of the aircraft, which was carrying more than 80 children and citizens of India, Canada, and the UK, in an act of terrorism, is a 'stain on humanity', he said. 'I call upon our Canadian friends in particular to deepen our bilateral collaboration in countering this. Canada is a valued partner and a friend of India. We share vibrant cultural and economic relations with each other, and we are bound by democratic tradition, and those ideals require us to act together against all forms of extremism and terrorism,' Puri said. 'When separatist violence and separatist voices find sanctuary, when extremist figures glorify violence and they threaten not just the people whose lives they take away [and] they threaten societies at large, by working together, sharing intelligence, shutting off funding channels, countering radicalisation, we can ensure that those who continue to promote hate and terror cannot succeed,' he said, in an apparent reference to the activities of pro-Khalistan elements in Canada. Puri said India's intelligence agencies, security apparatus, and diplomatic channels are committed to partnering with Canada and other countries to tackle terrorism. 'Let us redouble our efforts to ensure that what happened on June 23, 1985, is never repeated, not here, not in India, not anywhere in the world,' he said. India and Canada launched a reset of their ties at a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney on the margins of the G7 Summit on June 17, following a prolonged diplomatic row triggered by former Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau's allegation in 2023 about Indian agents being linked to the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar. India dismissed the charge as 'absurd' and the two sides subsequently downgraded diplomatic ties. Puri urged the world community to make 'collective, proactive efforts' to combat terrorism. 'Sadly, this is not merely an episode of the past; terrorism and extremism remain a very real present-day threat, one that many of our countries know very well,' he said. He highlighted the role of the local Irish community in identifying the bodies of the victims, collecting the debris of Air India flight 182, and opening their homes to relatives of the victims four decades ago. 'Out of the ruins of a tragedy, the unique friendship between the Irish and Indian peoples was deepened,' he said. The annual commemoration began with a minute of silence at 8.13am, the exact time the bomb planted by the Khalistani terrorists exploded. Ireland's prime minister has participated in events marking key anniversaries of the bombing, such as every decadal anniversary. The people cited above said the presence of the Indian and Canadian ministers was significant amid ongoing efforts to repair bilateral ties and bolster security cooperation. The event in New Delhi, which will be held behind closed doors and is being attended by senior Indian, Canadian, and Indian diplomats and officials, will begin with a minute of silence. The event will also be attended by relatives of the victims, the people said. 'The intention is to express solidarity with the victims of this terrible incident and to strengthen counter-terrorism efforts,' one of the people said. On June 23, 1985, Air India flight 182 crashed into the Atlantic Ocean, about 200 km off the southwest coast of Ireland, after the bomb planted by Khalistani terrorists exploded. All 329 passengers and crew on board the Boeing 747 were killed. A total of 268 passengers were Canadian nationals, most of them of Indian origin, and 27 were UK citizens. Explosives were placed in suitcases loaded onto at least two planes leaving Vancouver on June 22, 1985. One suitcase blew up while it was being transferred from a Canadian airliner to Air India flight 301 at Japan's Narita airport, killing two baggage handlers. About an hour later, Air India flight 182, on its way from Montreal to London, disappeared from radar and plunged into the Atlantic Ocean. It took 15 years for Canadian authorities to bring the accused to trial, but a bungled investigation by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police failed to secure sentences for the two men who were charged with the attack.
Hindustan Times
23-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
40 yrs of Kanishka bombing: 51% believe the incident ‘has never been treated like a Canadian tragedy', finds poll
Toronto: While Canadians remain largely unaware of the worst terror attack in the country's history, two-third believe details of the bombing of Air India flight 182, the Kanishka, by Khalistani extremists, should be taught in schools and the problem of ignorance corrected. Mourners gathered to remember the victims of the Kanishka bombing at the memorial in Toronto on Sunday, the eve of the 40th anniversary of the worst terror attack in Canadian history. (Supplied photo) These were among the major findings of a new survey conducted by the non-profit Angus Reid Institute (ARI) published on the 40th anniversary of the bombing, which claimed 329 lives, including close to 280 Canadian citizens on June 23, 1985. Of those sampled, 59% said they 'only know the main details', according to an ARI release. Half, 51%, believe the bombing 'has never been treated like a Canadian tragedy', and seven-in-ten, 71%, support an exhibit about the bombing at the Canadian Museum of History. Approximately two-third, 65%, 'believe it should be consistently taught in Canadian schools', ARI said. 'Both would go a long way to increase the number of Canadians in future years of who feel Canada has done enough to honour the victims. In both 2023 polling and these latest data fewer than three-in-10 said enough had been done,' ARI noted. Talwinder Singh Parmar, considered the mastermind of the attack, lived in Burnaby in British Columbia, the plot was hatched and the bomb made in that province, yet Canadian remain largely ignorant of what was the worst incident of aviation terrorism till 9/11. ARI described the Kanishka bombing as an 'unremembered tragedy' as nearly a third of those surveyed, 32%, said they were unaware of it, 4% higher than what it was in a similar poll conducted in 2023. There is also little liking for pro-Khalistan groups taking to gathering at the memorials to the tragedy on the anniversary. 'Three-in-five (63%) say that even if they have the right to be there, the presence of Khalistan supporters at public memorial is inappropriate,' the survey found. In addition, 34% believe there is too much 'disinformation' about the bombing, including the discredited conspiracy theory of an Indian role. 'Today marks 40 years to the day that Canada endured the worst terror attack in its history, but if you ask most Canadians, there's a good chance they'd be unable to tell you that,' the ARI stated. But, they understand such lack of knowledge is wrong, as it added, 'While they may not know a lot about the tragedy, Canadians appear to see this as a problem to correct.'
