India | Republic Day
High Commissioner Sinha gives his Republic Day address
José Matheickal (IMO), IMO Secretary General Mr Kitack Lim and Mr Ravi Mehrotra CBE
The High Commissioner for Mauritius Mr Girish Nunkoo and Embassy Editor Elizabeth Stewart
MC and Chief of Protocol at the Indian High Commission Mohinder Singh and his wife Shalini
High Commissioner Sinha with guest of Honour Climate Change Minister Mr Nick Hurd MP
The hypnotic rhythms of Kerala
Dr Mohan Kaul, founder of the Commonwealth Investment Corporation with Shadow Foreign Secretary Ms Emily Thornberry MP
Deputy High Commissioner Mr Dinesh Patnaik welcomes the Rt Hon Sir Oliver Letwin MP
High Commissioner Sinha and his wife Girija greet the Ambassador of the UAE Mr Sulaiman Almazroui and the Ambassador of Brazil Mr Eduardo Dos Santos
Namita Varshneya and her team in the High Commissioner’s Office registering guests
The Ambassador of Argentina Mr Carlos Sersale Di Cerisano congratulates High Commissioner Sinha and his wife Girija
High Commissioner Sinha and his wife Girija welcome the High Commissioner for Kenya Mr Lazarus Amayo
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Cultural connections
India’s vibrant Republic Day celebration – with music, dance and, of course, curry – was the first in London for the newly-arrived High Commissioner Mr Yashvardhan Sinha – and it was a taste of things to come. Marking the 70th anniversary of the world’s largest democracy’s independence, 2017 will be the Year of Indian Culture in the UK, which will start with a reception at Buckingham Palace.
Addressing the 1000 guests, including parliamentarians, diplomats and captains of industry, High Commissioner Singh said the India-UK relationship had “never looked better”. The whopping US$19.3 billion in bilateral trade was the “tip of the iceberg”, he said, adding: “With the UK exiting the EU, the time has come for India and UK to again re-engage.”
The Guest of Honour, Climate Change Minister Nick Hurd MP, paid special tribute to the Indian diaspora, borrowing a phrase from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that they were a “living bridge” connecting the two nations.
PHOTOS: PIERRE DE VILLIERS