I am very pleased to see the immense progress made by India in its 74 years of Independence. The recent confirmation from Chancellor Rishi Sunak (first Indian-origin MP with keys to No. 11) about wanting Mahatma Gandhi’s face on the British coin is a hallmark of Indian diaspora’s success in the UK.
Hard-working Indians have been making success stories long before Independence. During two world wars, the British Indian armies played leading roles and were awarded with prestigious awards and knighthoods. Maharaja Duleep Singh was brought to the UK with his Kohinoor diamond. Crying one day, he had said, “I have no one to talk with me in my mother tongue.” Since, then the UK has changed.
Today, Indians are living in every town and city of the UK. Soon after Indian independence in 1947, the British felt that they were in dire need of Indian workforce who came in without any problems and baggage attached to them. Fellow Indian-origin individuals from Uganda have made worthwhile and notable contributions to the UK today. Thousands of Indians are celebrated success stories in the UK for their hard-work, skill-set and business acumen thereby, contributing to the UK’s economic growth.
Indians have established their footprint in various industries such as medicine, ophthalmology, dentistry, pharmacy, accountancy and law. Lately, there has been a good record of Indians operating in hospitality, trade and property sectors as well.
The influence of Indian culture right from masala curries to artificial jewellery and ethnic sarees have become a style-statement for British ladies. Thousands of places of worship including the Gurudwaras and Mandirs have been brought into culmination by the united efforts of the Indian diaspora.
I offer my heartiest congratulations to the India diaspora for the significant milestones achieved across UK and wish them luck for all future endeavours. And I congratulate India for her magnanimous journey in becoming “Great India”.
