The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan organised India’s 76th Republic Day celebration in London on Thursday, 6 February. Key guests included the High Commissioner of India to the UK, H.E. Vikram Doraiswami, Lord Navnit Dholakia OBE DL and Lady Ann Dholakia, Cllr Daryl Brown, Deputy Mayor of Fulham and Hammersmith, Barry Gardiner MP, Vinod Thakrar, Bhavan's Trustee and Head, Marketing Subcommittee to name a few.
The event was chaired by Subhanu Saxena, Chairman, Bhavan UK who welcomed the guest of honour, dignitaries and all the people who had assembled in support of Bhavan's celebration of India's Republic Day.
Speaking at the reception, Guest of Honour, the Indian High Commissioner H.E. Vikram Doraiswami said, “…If you look across the world at the evolution of democracy, if nothing else, is the least, worst system of government that humankind has ever known, you will see that it has not been in human nature to cede power to people easily. Democracy and democratic rights have proceeded grudgingly, to be granted grudgingly, generation after generation to people on the basis of first, on the basis of title, then on the basis of power, on the basis of property, on the basis of education. Nowhere else in history have you had a circumstance for a country to say, we will be a democracy and we will retain that democratic tradition as part of who we are, irrespective of how poor we may be, and no matter how complicated our circumstances are. So commemorating Republic Day matters for that reason.
“The second reason why Republic Day matters is that is an opportunity for us to reaffirm to ourselves what the core value of the Constitution is! The core value of the Constitution, to me, is equality, and that is ingrained in the religious traditions and social and cultural traditions of India, no matter which religious denomination you choose to belong to…
“And last and most of all, the Constitution enjoins upon us to do our best wherever we live, to make things better…”
Councillor Daryl Brown lauded Bhavan as a steadfast hub for education and culture, celebrating its five-decade legacy while Lord Dholakia reflected on Bhavan's historical journey, from Oxford Street to its current home, and its role in fostering arts and culture. MP Barry Gardiner described Bhavan as "a drop of India" in the UK, emphasising its
spiritual and cultural significance.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Vinod Thakrar. Praising CB Patel, Publisher/Editor of Asian Voice and Gujarat Samachar for his presence in the audience as well his decades of support, Mr Thakrar said, “We have been connected to CB for the last 50 years. CB’s office was used when the Bhavan’s first meeting took place in London. The support of such a senior figure in a media house is very much appreciated. Thank you for coming to this event and we look forward to your continued support for Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, which is a cultural centre in London, UK.”
A cultural programme followed with performances by Bhavan’s students.
