India | Republic Day

High Commissioner Sarna gives his Republic Day address

Climbing high

India’s newly-arrived High Commissioner Mr Navtej Sarna made his mark on London by hosting a lively Republic Day celebration with performances from across the subcontinent – from Kerala in the South to Punjab in the north. India’s diversity, held together by democratic institutions, has enabled it to “climb high” to become a rising power, said Sarna. Although India still faces many development challenges, the High Commissioner added: “We have the strength and the energy to climb further. But in today’s inter-related world, no nation can climb solo. We need partnerships. And there can possibly be no better example than the one that exists between the UK and India.” Embodying those ties was the Guest of Honour, Employment Minister Priti Patel MP, a member of India’s 1.5 million-strong ‘extended family’ in the UK, who said: “For all of us who are of Indian origin, it fills us all with tremendous pride seeing India flourish and grow.”

PHOTOS : PIERRE DE VILLIERS

High Commissioner Sarna, the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps Mr Alistair Harrison and Annette Prandzioch (RCS)

Heads of Mission from The Seychelles, The Bahamas, Kenya and Thailand

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