Saturday 15 August was not a normal day of celebration in the UK. High Commission of India, for the first time had to organise a virtual Independence Day celebration, to maintain social distancing, but it was attended by thousands virtually.
The event started President of India, Ramnath Kovind’s address and flag hoisting which was attended by a small group of High Commission diplomats and officials. The new High commissioner of India to UK, Ms Gaitri Issar Kumar in a message said, “High Commission of India complemented the selfless efforts of our diaspora and worked day and night to help more than 28000 stranded Indians reach their homes in India and bring back over 14,000 British citizens. We continue our efforts to help the remaining numbers…
“Dear Members of the Indian community in the UK, our High Commission has received hundreds of messages of badhai and greetings from individuals and associations
in every part of the UK. We cherish your patriotism and warm sentiments and send out to you our best wishes.
“As our people in India and all our brothers and sisters across the globe celebrate our 74th Independence Day, there is equal enthusiasm - if not more - among us all here in the UK…
“This year, we shall have to be careful, follow local regulations and avoid unnecessary social contacts or large gatherings. Our first priority is to be responsible citizens and protect ourselves and our families from any untoward situation.
“I, therefore, request you all to do everything you can to keep good health and a high morale. In fact, I strongly encourage you to adopt the fitness strategy launched by Rt Hon Prime Minister of the UK on a Hero cycle made in India!”
An array of speakers talked about India’s journey and achievements since independence and shared congratulatory messages. It included Lord Tariq Ahmad, minister for Asia in the Boris Johnson government, and members of the House of Lords Swraj Paul and Karan Bilimoria, among others.
Labour MP Navendu Mishra expressed his sentiments through a popular number from the film ‘Swades’ (2004): ‘Yeh jo des hai mera, swades hai mera’.
Mishra, whose parents come from Uttar Pradesh in India, is a first-time MP, elected from Stockport in Greater Manchester in December 2019. Also joining the virtual celebration were Harrow Mayor Nitin Parekh and London’s Deputy Mayor for Business Rajesh Agarwal.
Some anti-India groups organised a protest demonstration outside India House, which last year witnessed violence and vandalism on the same day, when people who gathered to celebrate the day were attacked. However, India Today journalist Loveena Tandon who was present to cover the protest was allegedly intimidated by the protesters.
Other individuals who contributed to the virtual celebration messages included Conservative MP Andrew Mitchell, Lord Rami Ranger, Lord Jitesh Gadhia, Baroness Usha Parashar of FICCI UK, Northern Ireland deputy first minister Michelle O’Neill, industrialist Nat Puri and Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands, who recorded his message from a temple.
