People walked up the stairs, admiring the decoration, soaking in the atmosphere, with women in beautiful sarees, lehengas and kurtas, as some men also flaunted their traditional attires.
The stage with a glittering backdrop in Edwardian I was decorated with candles and stunning red and pink flowers and leaves. A traditional panchmukhi (five-faced) diya was kept on the stage, for lighting by the Secretaries of State and Ministers, who were meant to address the guests.
The room was full of people from various walks of life, including Secretaries of State, new and current MPs, former MPs, Councillors, Assembly Members, members of the Labour Indians and various faith groups, 1928 Institute, businessmen and business organisations, community leaders and organisations, think tanks and members of the diaspora. Sweet non-alcoholic drinks and vegetarian canapes were making rounds, as people mingled.
A booklet, called ’The UK-India Relationship: Perspective on a Future Partnership’ was left on tables across, which included insightful articles by many including Lord Meghnad Desai and Indian High Commissioner HE Vikram Doraiswami.
The power of British Indians
The guests were welcomed from the stage by Krish Raval OBE, Chair, Labour Indians, who talked about defeating the impossible. Speaking at the event, he said, “Diwali is, of course, a time for family and Labour Indians is very much a family...And we are part of the largest diaspora community in the world, and the British Indian community's role in that diaspora is crucial for the prosperity and the well-being of everyone in the UK and not just people from our community. Jobs across the board, depend on this vital link, the umbilical link, between the UK and India and our relationship with India is central to this success. And it's in everyone's interest, to strengthen and protect the 'living bridge' between our countries. So, my priority as the Chair of the Labour Indians group is to ensure that we play our part well, and to do this, we must not continue only as (just) a group of volunteers…
"Lastly and vitally, this is a time of deep spiritual meaning for those of us in the Dharmic traditions. Diwali, as we know, represents the triumph of life, light over darkness. Friends in India, or from India in particular, will know that in the days preceding Diwali, many of us observe Navratri. People observe Navratri here, and we perform Durga Puja...I was always taught that the diya that we light on Diwali, like Lord Ram's victory over Ravana, shows that the impossible can happen. And isn't that the story of our and other communities through hard work, sacrifice, wisdom, courage, perhaps blessing, that we can achieve what once seemed unreachable? And this may I also flag up that Prime Minister Keir Starmer's unprecedented election victory was once regarded as impossible, and he, together with friends you're about to hear from, have proven otherwise. So, let the diyas we light tonight, prompt us to continue to achieve the impossible, and in the midst of the darkest current realities, even in the NHS, may they inspire us to create a better country that lights up the world for everyone...”
Redbridge councillor Sunny Brar talked about the power of the community and said, “For me, Diwali represents a time of renewal in our personal lives. We go through all shapes of obstacles and challenges. So, for me, it's a time of new beginnings. It's a time of letting go of all the darkness in your life and letting life prevail. Diwali, for me also transcends caste, creed and religion, even so, ask everyone here, hold on to the positive in your life and celebrate that and all the negatives that you have in your life with this festival using as an opportunity to let that darkness go…”
A light of guidance through faith
Secretary of Health Wes Streeting MP, whose constituency in Redbridge is a home to many from the diaspora, paid homage to the community’s contributions and spoke at length about rebuilding trust in politics and politicians. He said, "If I think about my borough, and what makes it a special place and a great place to be a Member of Parliament is the fact that you've got Christians like me living alongside Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Sikhs, Jain, Zoroastrian communities, and all living mostly in good spirits and as good neighbours. There have been some tensions, and let's not pretend that there are none, but by and large, it's a place where people come together, celebrate what makes us unique and what makes us different, but also celebrates so much of what we have in common.
" I'm also here with my hat on as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The contribution the successive generations of Indians, British Indians, have made to our National Health Service, and not just British Indians by the way, Indians too, who are coming over to contribute to our health and our care services at every level of clinical leadership and senior management. Our life sciences and medical technology sector is going to revolutionise how we deliver health and care in this century. We should be so proud of the contribution, and in his party conference speech just a few weeks ago, the Prime Minister not only celebrated the contribution that people make to our country whose family roots and origins lie elsewhere in the world, but also called out for what it was the racist, thuggish bigotry that we saw over the summer…
“It is a reminder that for all of the hatred and all the prejudice that exists in dark corners of our country, light is more powerful; that the many outnumber the few, and this country has always been in my lifetime, and will always be a place that is inclusive, not only tolerant of people from different backgrounds, but respecting of and actively celebrating difference as well as what we have in common. And I'm proud that we've got that kind of political leader in Number 10.
"Now, as we think about Diwali, this is a moment to think about, as Cllr Sunny Brar was saying, personal reflection…When you saw Keir Starmer walk into Downing Street, that wasn't just Keir's achievement, my achievement, the Labour Party's achievement, that was your achievement too. And it means that as we rebuild trust in politics and politicians, and rebuild the sense of politics as a force for good in society, you will have helped to not just kindle, but to ignite the flame that has burned brightly in the proudest moments of our history - that politics can be a force for good, that light can indeed triumph over darkness…”
Minister for Faith Lord Wajid Khan talking about the importance of faith in times of need, added, “As the Minister for Faith, I want to reset that relationship between the government and faith communities, as too often that is seen as transactional. The government only comes to us as faith communities when it needs something. We want to make sure that we can champion the important role of faith in our missions, in our country and the development of our country…
“The great work that faith plays has been evidenced in the pandemic and it's also been seen clearly in the recent disorder that we saw across the country. It was faith leaders and faith communities that came together to triumph over darkness, and light will always triumph over darkness!"
Celebrating UK-India partnership like never before
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Liz Kendall MP addressed the audience by pledging a renewed relationship with India. She said, "I really want to say something about this Labour government's commitment to build a new relationship with India. It was a very clear part of our manifesto that we want to build a new strategic relationship with India because we understand the right relationship between our two great nations, not only the great economic ties, India being the second largest investor in the UK and all of the Indian businesses in this country and British businesses employing Indians in India, but because of all the other wider cultural links with sport, art, food and so many other areas. The links between our two countries are so important, and that is why our Prime Minister has said, we will seek a new strategic relationship with India based on our shared values of democracy and of aspiration, including a free trade agreement but also a new strategic partnership for global security, for climate and economic security. And it is because we see that relationship as so important that, David Lammy, our Foreign Secretary, visited India within the first three weeks of the government's election. That is a very clear signal of our determination to build that relationship in future. There is so much we can learn from what India is doing, particularly in the sphere of AI, Tech, Space, Science and Research, building the jobs of the future, building the knowledge of the future, and spreading that opportunity to all.
"I have spoken personally with the High Commissioner about this on many occasions, and it's something I am determined to champion, not just within government, but within my own city. Let me just finish by saying something about why I think Labour Indians is so important. You said right from the start that we can never take the support of British Indians for granted, and you were absolutely right. You helped us achieve a great election victory. But I know from my own city, I am the only remaining Labour MP in Leicester, so I know the work of building trust and support is not done. In fact, it is never done. Earning the support and trust of voters isn't a one off. It is a continual process, day in and day out, week in and week out, year in and year out. So, our campaign to build those links to strengthen and deepen our relationship with British Indians and with India itself as a strategic partnership that we must continue building from now into the future…”
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State in the Home Office, Seema Malhotra MP talked about why we should celebrate the UK-India partnership like no other. She said, "When the history of two nations, Britain and India is as entwined as ours is, it is our friendship, collaboration, vision, that also serves to define our shared future. And events like this are vital in helping further develop the networks that are driving forward - how business, politics, communities meet, how partnerships are formed, and how two nations like ours, can unite in common purpose for our shared prosperity.
"In this room amongst you all, we have powerful agents of change who are leading that drive for a better and more prosperous world, in our communities, in our economy, in our national conversation. And when it comes to celebrating Diwali, we do so in that tremendous spirit of celebration that Wes has talked about, that Liz has talked about, that others have spoken of this evening, but we do that with a sense of a driving light for us all, that is, if we are to build that better future for all, where light indeed to shine over darkness, where we have growing security in a world that is becoming defined by insecurity, where we have a sense of opportunity that people feel in their hearts, rather than feeling a sense of being left behind. That is a world to fight for. That is a world to build together. That is a world to take the lights that we have into the places where there isn't enough light, and to show what we can do together, to bring hope, to bring joy, to bring connection, to make sure of that...
“And as you all know that the British Indian community is pivotal to all of that, at the heart of our economy, our British and Indian businesses working together; at the heart of our NHS, so many of our Indian diaspora community, our doctors, our nurses, and we have so much more to do. And that's why the partnership that we have between Britain and India, that we celebrate alongside our important festivals, is for me, at the core of how we define our place in the world too. Britain under Keir Starmer is now an outward looking nation, with Keir and David Lammy abroad being Britain's voice in the world, being your voice in the world… "
