There is one event that probably will mark the biggest for the Indian community in London that is coming up in November – any guesses? I am sure by now you all would have known what the event is and would have also registered your names for it.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is going to be visiting London in November and will be addressing the UK audience on 13th November at the massive Wembley stadium. Indians in the UK form one of the largest Indian diaspora in the world and they have waited eagerly to see their Prime Minister ever since he took to power after a landslide victory in May last year.
The event organised by UK Welcomes Modi group, will bring together Indians from various communities, backgrounds, generations and regions. With Diwali just round the corner, this will be one of the biggest celebrations for Indians in the UK.
In the past few years, Prime Minister David Cameron has made every effort to maintain deep ties with India and has also ensured that India remains a close partner. His visit to India brought the country closer and the unveiling of Mahatma Gandhi’s statue at Parliament square opened a new chapter of growing confidence and friendship between the two nations.
With the event fast approaching, a number of things are happening. Welcome partners have now been registered and there are over 400 of them, general registrations are now closed. According to sources, close to 60,000 people have already been registered and the numbers are expected to grow.
On 4 October, the organising committee held a reception for welcome partners at the Gymkhana club in Osterley where High Commissioner of India to the UK, HE Ranjan Mathai was the Chief Guest. A number of dignitaries such as Rt Hon Keith Vaz, Baroness Verma, Cricketer Kapil Dev and entrepreneur Rami Ranger were present as well. One of the key speeches was delivered by Professor Nathu Puri. Compere for the evening was Sheena Bhattesa.
At the event, following appeals from the organisers Keith announced that he would be donating the pay rise he receives for November to help fund the £2mn event. Three other Members of Parliament were present, Virendra Sharma, Steve Pound and Seema Malhotra, all of whom joined Keith’s commitment to donate their November pay rises to the event.
The welcoming partners were urged to pledge £1000 each to contribute to this fund. Lohana community were the first one to come forward. By the end of the evening, around £25,000 was raised.
Speaking about his commitment, Rt Hon Keith Vaz, told Asian Voice, “The Modi event at Wembley is a defining moment for the British Indian community. I wish it was taking place in Leicester which is the City with the largest Indian community of any city outside India but you cannot have everything! The organisers have done a terrific job and we should all help. I am happy to donate my pay rise for the month of November to help fund this event. I am so pleased that all my colleagues who were there matched my pledge.
“I have written to the Vice Chancellors of Leicester University and De Montford university nominating Prime Minister Modi for an honorary degree. He deserves to be honoured in this way from the City that has such an affection for him.
“David Cameron has worked immensely had to improve relations between India and the UK. Although Prime Minister Modi has already visited France, the USA and Germany he has saved the best for last ! "
Steve Pound MP said that this was "not just for the Indian diaspora" and that Narendra Modi is not just the Prime Minister of India, but that he has an important role to play as a "global statesman".
He added, "This is about the future of the world. This is about a man who is playing for the highest stakes on the biggest stage.” "What a Diwali we are going to have – Wembley will be visible from outer space! There will be a great outpour of emotion that will reach to the great heavens and beyond and will never, ever be forgotten."
With public registrations now closed, organisers of the event confirmed that 12% of the attendees are over the age of 65 and 10% are below the age of 10. The UK Welcomes Modi group hope to create a "family atmosphere" in honour of the Prime Minister's visit coinciding with the Hindu festival of Diwali.
A spokesperson for UK Welcomes Modi said, "A gathering of this kind has never been done in the UK before and it is only with such a dynamic leader like Prime Minister Modi that this could have allowed such an opportunity.
"It is by far the biggest reception any elected foreign leader has received in the UK and by far the largest Prime Minister Modi has received internationally."
HE Ranjan Mathai, pointed out that Modi is the first Prime Minister to have a majority in parliament for 30 years and praised his "dynamic vision" for India and its place in the world.
He added that the event will present the Indian community in this country in its true light to the audience in this country as well as around the world. He further said that it will give the diaspora a sense of how best to connect with our Prime Minister’s initiatives for NRI and PIOs in the development and advancement of India.
It won’t be wrong to say that both the countries are waiting eagerly for Prime Minister Modi’s address at the Wembley Stadium. The preparations and the process is no less than one for a rock concert, well our PM is no less than a rockstar himself.
Journalists visiting the UK
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is hosting 11 journalists who have come from India to first hand witness preparations for the upcoming Narendra Modi visit, as guests of the UK government. Along with many events they are attending, the Indian High Commission hosted a high tea, where Asian Voice got a chance to interact with them. The High Commisioner HE Ranjan Mathai welcomed them with a briefing on Indo-UK relationship and Press Information Minister Mr Prashant Pise gave them a tour of India House, that was built in 1930s. It is believed that Pandit Nehru had visited this building at some point.
The visiting delegation of journalists include Padmaraj Dandavathi from Prajavani, Indarjit Adhikari from Ananda Bazaar Patrika, Nirmal Pathank from Dainik Hindustan, Rajkishore Tiwari from Dainik Jagran, Sanjay Vibhakar from Gujarat Samachar, Avnish Jain from Dainik Bhaskar, Javed Ahmed from UNI-Urdu, Vikram Jalota from Jag bani, Dinesh Gune from Loksatta, Rajeev Rajan from Eenadu, R Prasannan from Malayalam Manorama. Accompanying them were Asad Mirza, FCO, Delhi and Shirley Williams, Visits Officer, FCO-UK.
