Tag: Diaspora

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London News UK News

Croydon Celebrates Festival of Lights

The exquisitely decorated Ganesha bejewelled with silk flowers gazed benevolently upon the numerous diverse communities of shoppers who paused to gawp but stayed to gaze and admire the richness of the culture of Bharat…reports Sheillama Maharaj and Nilanjana Paul

The Hindu community in London suburb of Croydon organised first-ever Diwali celebrations in town’s shopping centre.

The autumnal air in Croydon Centrale nipped at the heels of shoppers. But the inner atrium of Whitgift Centre was ablaze with the warmth, light and energy of a major Hindu festival.

Ms Seema Anand collaborated with IIW (Inspiring Indian Women) to curate and organise the Diwali Celebrations at Centrale and Whitgift Shopping Centres and created one of the most dazzling, the first-ever Diwali at Whitgift Square! The exquisitely decorated Ganesha bejewelled with silk flowers gazed benevolently upon the numerous diverse communities of shoppers who paused to gawp but stayed to gaze and admire the richness of the culture of Bharat and the beauty of her people. The Ganesh was made last year (in 2020) for the 20th year celebrations at Brent Cross. From start to finish it took about 3 weeks.

Ms Seema Anand

Inspiring Indian Women wove their way through the throngs of the curious and admiring They were sinuous, elegant and gracious as they inspired the onlookers to appreciate and participate. The performances were varied – from Breakdance Bollywood to Bharatnatyam to Carnatic Dance to Yoga! A marvellous powerful synergy was created between the onlookers, the performers, the proud mums and Dads and the Musical, Creative Arts.

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A beautifully arranged bouquet of performances brought the spirit of Diwali alive. From professionals to amateurs, from old to young, the festival brought together artists from all over the land. The celebration included the glamorous dancers from Senjuti’s Rhythm and Dance and cute Siya and Aarav Rau with their solo performances.

It also had students from Indradhanushkids with their presentation of songs and dances. The event featured performances from Beeja Group. The talented mother and daughter duo Moumita and Tanisha, Paromita Goswami and Vini Kalia, Soumya with her team, Forums Dance Academy, and Krati Banga with her team also took part in the celebrations.

Almost hundred palms got free henna designs beautifully done by Divya Chari and Ruchita Brahmkshatriya. Free Diya making workshop by Anita Choudhary from Mehakflowers.co.uk engaged several Kids who now could connect ‘Diya’ (Lamp) with Diwali. Pics Credit – Kranthi Roy from Pink Pearls Photography UK The audience left with lingering memories of the joyous celebration, until next year

ALSO READ: London Hosts KannadigaruUK Rajyotsava

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-Top News Diaspora India News

Modi interacts with Indian Diaspora in Glasgow

The high-level segment of COP-26 is titled the World Leaders’ Summit (WLS) and the Summit will be attended by Heads of State/Government of more than 120 countries…reports Asian Lite News.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with members of the Indian community in Glasgow on Monday to strengthen people-to-people bonds ahead of his participation in the 26th session of the Conference of Parties (COP-26).

“Strengthening our people-to-people bonds. Indian community members and Indologists gather in Glasgow to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a tweet.

At COP-26, the parties are expected to work to achieve the completion of Paris Agreement implementation guidelines; the mobilisation of climate finance; actions to strengthen climate adaptation, technology development and transfer; and keeping in reach the Paris Agreement goals of limiting the rise in global temperatures.

The COP-26 is going to be a multilateral event and an opportunity for “Prime Ministers of India and the UK to sit together and review the implementation, the progress that had been made on the roadmap 2030 in May 2021,” High Commissioner of India to UK Gaitri Issar Kumar had said during an interview with ANI.

The COP-26 is set to take place under the Presidency of the UK partnering with Italy. The high-level segment of COP-26 is titled the World Leaders’ Summit (WLS) and the Summit will be attended by Heads of State/Government of more than 120 countries.

PM Modi arrived in Glasgow on Sunday. The Prime Minister is on a two- day visit to participate in the event.Later in the day, PM Modi is also scheduled to attend the opening ceremony of COP-26 and will also meet UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to discuss bilateral ties between India and the UK.

PM Modi is also slated to launch two important initiatives under the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the International Solar Alliance (ISA) at the 26th session of the Conference of Parties.

This comes after PM Modi participated in the G20 summit and in the Summit on Global Supply Chain Resilience, on the sidelines of the G20. He also met outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Indonesian President Joko Widodo in Rome. (ANI)

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Indian diaspora in Africa can help bridge Indo-African ties

India’s ties with Tanzania had got a boost after the visit of former President Jakaya Kikwete in 2015…reports Mahua Venkatesh.

New Delhi must channelise the large Indian diaspora in Africa to recast its ties with the continent amid a belligerent China, which has not only increased its grip over the continent for commercial reasons but has also expanded its activities in the Indian Ocean with an aim to becoming a maritime power.

Africa is home to three million people of Indian origin.

“New Delhi enjoys a natural advantage because of the people of Indian origin in East Africa. Without delay, the (Narendra) Modi government must take stock of the move and ensure that lost ground is made up,” an analyst, who did not wish to be identified said.

“New Delhi enjoys a natural advantage because of the people of Indian origin in East Africa. Without delay, the (Narendra) Modi government must take stock of the move and ensure that lost ground is made up,” the analyst said.

India’s ties with Tanzania had got a boost after the visit of former President Jakaya Kikwete in 2015. Kikwete visited New Delhi for five days in June 2015. However, engagements between the two countries have been slow since then.

Tanzania, which opened a consulate in Hyderabad last month, has a sizable natural gas deposits in the Indian Ocean, which India has considered its backyard. “It is estimated that the country has over 46.5 trillion cubic feet of proven natural gas reserves,” the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in a report noted.

It also said in the report published earlier that India and Tanzania have a common interest in maritime security. “Looking at the wide range of threats in the maritime sphere such as sea piracy, armed robbery, narcotics trafficking, terrorism, India, has declared maritime security as top priority. Similarly, there is no doubt that maritime security is an issue of concern for Tanzania,” it said.

So recently, when Tanzania announced that it will revive a $10 billion port project in the town of Bagamoyo on the Indian Ocean regions (IOR) eyebrows were raised. Reason? China is the main project investor.

A Nikkei Asia report said that the move has led to speculations over whether China is looking to establish an additional dual-use foothold on the East African coast.

Meanwhile, external affairs minister S Jaishankar’s recent visit to Kenya, which shares its borders with Tanzania, underscored the importance India is now attaching to Africa though the intensity of engagement between India and the African countries has slowed down due to the outbreak of the Covid 19 pandemic.

“Africa’s large Indian population has merged with the society there and New Delhi must cash in on this aspect. It must take them into account to further expand its relations with the African nations. All channels of communications need to be opened up. Using the diaspora is one which can be effectively used,” an analyst said.

(This content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)

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Indian diaspora seek action against Hindu hatred

The letter reads that incident will have a detrimental impact on Indian students if the Oxford University and Thames Valley Police do not seem to take any decisive actions…reports Asian Lite News

More than hundred Indian diaspora organisations across the country jointly issued a letter to UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson over concerns related to lack of action by the Oxford University towards Hindu hatred promoted by its faculty member.

Dr Abhijit Sarkar, a faculty member, instigated hate-filled trolls on social media against Rashmi Samant who was the first Indian female to be elected President of Oxford Student Union.

Dr Sarkar’s continuous attack on Rashmi and her family on social media for their Hindu faith, forced her to resign and led her to finally leave the country, says the letter.

Hindu Hatred in Oxford University(Twitter)

The jointly issued letter which was signed by 119 organisations also called for suspension of Dr Sarkar with immediate effect and expulsion after a thorough Police investigation for hate crime.

It is noted that Dr Sarkar’s posts reflect his racist and bigoted views with multiple misogynistic and sexualised comments including gender slurs to various women on social media.

The British Indian diaspora urged Home Office to review his visa status in view of his racist and hateful actions on social media.

The signatories are Hindu Council UK, Hindu Forum of Europe, National Council of Hindu Temples, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh (UK), National Council of Hindu Priests,Vishwa Hindu Parishad (UK),Nepali Hindu Forum UK, Shree Swaminarayan Temple Cardiff, Friends of India Society International (FISI) UK, Global Kashmiri Pandit diaspora (UK), Indians in London Group (IIL), Hindu Lawyers Association, Global Hindu Federation Ltd, Nepali Shiva Mandir Aldershot, National Hindu Students’ Forum (UK), Akshay Patra Foundation (UK), Hindu Forum Nottingham, Kashmiri Pandits Cultural Society, London, Gurudwara Miri Piri, Southall, Dr. Ambedkar UK Mission (AUM), Voice of Dogras (UK), Overseas Hindu Malayalee UK (OHM UK), British Hindu Voice, Gurudwara Ramgarhia Sabha, Southall, Kannadigaru UK, Hindu Punjabi Sabha of Leeds, REACH India, and Inspiring Indian Women (IIW)

Hindu Hatred in Oxford University(Twitter)


Hindu International Medical Mission, Hinduism Worldwide Inc
,Shree Ram Mandir Birmingham, Uttar Pradesh Community Association (UPCA), UK , South Asian Performing Art (SAPAC) UK
, Shree Sanatan Mandir Leicester, UK Telugu Hindu Organisation (UTHO), Hindu Samaj Swindon, International Center for Cultural Studies (UK) , Hindu Mandir and Community Centre Nottingham
, Jammu Kashmir Study Center, UK , Hindu Temple Nottingham
, All County Kannada Association UK , Vichaar Manthan UK
, India Welfare Society, London , Advocacy for British Hindus & Indians (ABHI) UK , International Dogra Society , Indian National Students Association (INSA) UK , Kannada Balaga Swindon
, Jeevan Organ Trust UK , Leuva Patidar Samaj Yorkshire
, Karunadina Anivasi Hindugala Okkoota (KAHO) UK , Hindu Cultural Society of Bradford , The British Hindu Press Association , Abhishekam Group , KAVITA Community Org, Ireland, Leeds Mahila Mandal , India Knowledge Consortium (INK) UK , Basingstoke Hindu Society , Namaste Elderly Group of Leeds , Mata Da Mandir (Hindu Cultural Association Dudley) , Ram Mandir Southall , National Association of Patidar Samaj , Newcastle Hindu Temple , Param Shakti Peeth of UK , Rajasthan Association UK , Northeast India Cultural Committee of UK , Overseas Friends of BJP UK , Slough Mitra Mandal , NaMo Namah Foundation UK , Leeds Pragati Mandal , Shree Krishna Mandir, Leamington Spa , Rajasthani Roots UK , Pranyog Yoga centre
, Shree Krishna Temple, Dudley , SwIndians , Telugu Association of Basingstoke (TAB UK) , Shree Bharatiya Mandal-Indian Association (Tameside) , VHP Temple Bolton , Sangamam UK, Shree Prajapati Association U.K , Shree Hindu Community Centre
and Sai Dham (Nottingham).

Lord Rama Krishna Temple, Warrington, Shiv Westminster, The Shivalyh, Derby Kannadigaru , Bihari Connect UK, Durga Bhajan Mandali, Birmingham , Derby Hindus , Hindu Council (Brent) , Anoopam Mission UK , Haryana In UK Association
, Bengali Hindu Adarsha Sangha , Bhagwati Shakti Peeth , Bharat Hindu Samaj Peterborough, Bihari Community, Gita Foundation
, Hindu Sevikas Samiti UK, Indian Ekta, Kent Telugu Community (KTC) , Life in London Trust , Luitporia Nasoni North East
, Shree Navdurga Association UK , National Hindu Welfare Support (NHWS) , Shree Kalyan Mandal, Rugby , South London Hanuman Chalisa Group, Telangana Development Forum, South Indian Association UK, The Indian Association Cheltenham (Glos)
, UK Indian Business Network (UKIBN), Vaso Nagrik Mandal (UK)
, Upton Hindu Community Association, Vande Mataram, Yog-Kulam
, Wellingborough District Hindu Association, Warangal NRI forum UK Ltd, Royal Sutton Indians, Midlands Marathi Association
, INSIGHT UK, Nottingham Kannadigaru, Shree Lakshmi Narayan Hindu Temple and Bradford

Also read:UK on track to inoculate all adult by July

Categories
-Top News Diaspora India News

Old passports not required for OCI card holders

India's External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar
The government has extended time till Dec 31, 2021, to get the OCI cards re-issued for those below the age of 20 years and above 50 years, reports Asian Lite News.

People of Indian origin and Indian diaspora having overseas citizens of India (OCI) card are now not required to carry their old, expired passports for travel to India, as required earlier.

The Overseas Citizens of India or OCI card is issued to people of Indian origin globally which gives them almost all the privileges of an Indian national except for the right to vote, government service and buying agricultural land. The OCI card gives them a visa-free travel to India.

In a March 26 press release, the Indian missions in the US said that in order to ease the travel of OCI card holders, it has been decided that the “time line for re-issuance of OCI cards in r/o OCI card holders, who may be required to get their OCI card reissued has been extended until December 31, 2021.”

 “The requirement of carrying old and new passports, along with the OCI card, has been done away with,” the Indian embassy said on its website, referring to a notification issued in this regard by the Centre, addressing one of the major concerns of overseas Indians.

“Henceforth, an OCI cardholder travelling on the strength of an existing OCI card bearing old passport number is not required to carry the old passport. However, carrying the new (current) passport is mandatory,” the embassy said.

According to the embassy, the Indian government has also decided to grant further extension of time till December 31, 2021, to get the OCI cards re-issued for those below the age of 20 years and above 50 years.

As per the current OCI guidelines that have been in force since 2005, an OCI card is required to be re-issued each time a new passport is acquired by the cardholder up to the age of 20 years or after completing 50 years of age.

The Indian government has relaxed the second provisions since last year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The timeline has been extended multiple times so far. However, this is for the first time that the guidelines has been relaxed for carrying old passports and the new passports along with the OCI cards for overseas Indians.

This has caused a lot of inconvenience among the Indian diaspora as normally the old passport is discarded after the issue of new ones. But the old OCI rules desired that the overseas Indians carry the old passport as well along with the new passports and the OCI card.

New York-based social activist Prem Bhandari, who has been taking up the cause of OCI card holders for the past several years, welcomed the announcement. He expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of External Affairs and the Government of India for not only extending the renewal up to December 31 this year but also for relaxing the guidelines and not requiring OCI card holders to carry their old, expired foreign passports.

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“The OCI card holders can heave a sigh of relief worldwide,” with these new guidelines, he said. He expressed thanks to Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla for the new guidelines.

Bhandari said that he had seen first-hand the inconvenience caused to members of the Indian diaspora due to certain OCI card rules as they undertook travel to India during the pandemic.

The OCI card, among other benefits, allows multiple entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa to an Indian-origin foreign national to visit India. Under the provisions of the OCI card, which gives the cardholder lifelong visa to India, those below 20 and above 50 need to renew their OCI card every time they have their passport renewed.

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