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Portrayal of Cultural Landscape at the House of Lords marking World Heritage Week

Diplomats, Presenters and Organisers at SETU

The Sanskruti Centre marked World Heritage Week at the House of Lords with an event on cultural diversity, hosted by Baroness Verma…reports Asian Lite News

An entrancing event marking the World Heritage Week was organised by Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence at the House of Lords recently.

Hosted by Baroness Verma, the event titled Cultural Landscape and Understanding Diversity: SETU had Army Officers, poets, doctors, students, several members of the community, and Diplomats Minister-Counsellor Ruslan Karabulov and First Secretary (Trade) Ms. Yvone Zulu in attendance.

In her opening speech, Baroness Verma highlighted the importance on Cultural Diversity in building stronger societies and enhancing mutual understanding.

Baroness Verma rendering opening words at SETU

She commended Sanskruti Centre for the consistent efforts in trying to preserve aspects of invaluable intangible heritage of India and South Asia.

Her Excellency High Commissioner of Zambia Ms Macenje Mazoka and Ambassador of Kazakhstan His Excellency Magzhan Ilyassov have eloquently spoken on cultural diversity in their countries, and appreciated Sustainable Goals and culture dimension.

H.E. High Commissioner of Zambia Ms Mazoka and Parliamentary Host Baroness Verma

Major Munish Chauhan from British Army spoke on Diversity, Enrichment and Leadership. Diverse art forms were presented on the occasion that offered visual delight, aiming to increase awareness about different cultures and traditions.

Young performers Adithi Mote, Ayati Yuvaraj, Kaavya Rapatwar and Swechaa Manikireddy presented the invocation.

This was followed by a short historical account on Afro-Indian Siddi community, with the dance presented by Sree Lalitha Kotla. Kuchipudi by Sanvika Kommineni, Kummi by Lakshmi Aveen, Mohiniattam by Manju Sunil, Limba dance of Sierra Leone by Cecilia Greene and Bharatanatyam dance on flowers by Ragasudha Vinjamuri have all captivated the attendees.

H.E. Ambassador Magzhan Ilyassov speaking at the House of Lords event
Invocation by young cultural ambassadors of Sanskruti
Classical Dances of India
Classical Dance Presentation
Folk Dances of India
Major Munish Chauhan from British Army speaking on Cultural Diversity
Event on Cultural Landscape and Understanding Diversity- SETU

BK Jaimini Patel of Brahma Kumaris UK rendered a Peace message and led a short meditation round. Vote of Thanks by Ragasudha Vinjamuri underscored the collective responsibility of parents in building a legion of next generation cultural ambassadors, fostering sense of pride and propagating art & heritage for posterity.

The event marks 52nd anniversary of the World Heritage Convention (Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage).

ALSO READ: London Summit Bridges Ayurveda and Modern Medicine

ALSO READ:  ‘Chalo India’ cultural event held in London

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Portrayal of Cultural Landscape at the House of Lords marking World Heritage Week

Diplomats, Presenters and Organisers at SETU

The Sanskruti Centre marked World Heritage Week at the House of Lords with an event on cultural diversity, hosted by Baroness Verma…reports Asian Lite News

An entrancing event marking the World Heritage Week was organised by Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence at the House of Lords recently.

Hosted by Baroness Verma, the event titled Cultural Landscape and Understanding Diversity: SETU had Army Officers, poets, doctors, students, several members of the community, and Diplomats Minister-Counsellor Ruslan Karabulov and First Secretary (Trade) Ms. Yvone Zulu in attendance.

In her opening speech, Baroness Verma highlighted the importance on Cultural Diversity in building stronger societies and enhancing mutual understanding.

Baroness Verma rendering opening words at SETU

She commended Sanskruti Centre for the consistent efforts in trying to preserve aspects of invaluable intangible heritage of India and South Asia.

Her Excellency High Commissioner of Zambia Ms Macenje Mazoka and Ambassador of Kazakhstan His Excellency Magzhan Ilyassov have eloquently spoken on cultural diversity in their countries, and appreciated Sustainable Goals and culture dimension.

Major Munish Chauhan from British Army spoke on Diversity, Enrichment and Leadership. Diverse art forms were presented on the occasion that offered visual delight, aiming to increase awareness about different cultures and traditions.

H.E. High Commissioner of Zambia Ms Mazoka and Parliamentary Host Baroness Verma

Young performers Adithi Mote, Ayati Yuvaraj, Kaavya Rapatwar and Swechaa Manikireddy presented the invocation.

This was followed by a short historical account on Afro-Indian Siddi community, with the dance presented by Sree Lalitha Kotla. Kuchipudi by Sanvika Kommineni, Kummi by Lakshmi Aveen, Mohiniattam by Manju Sunil, Limba dance of Sierra Leone by Cecilia Greene and Bharatanatyam dance on flowers by Ragasudha Vinjamuri have all captivated the attendees.

Major Munish Chauhan from British Army speaking on Cultural Diversity
Folk Dances of India
Classical Dance Presentation
Classical Dances of India
Invocation by young cultural ambassadors of Sanskruti
H.E. Ambassador Magzhan Ilyassov speaking at the House of Lords event
.E. High Commissioner of Zambia Ms Mazoka and Parliamentary Host Baroness Verma
Event on Cultural Landscape and Understanding Diversity- SETU



BK Jaimini Patel of Brahma Kumaris UK rendered a Peace message and led a short meditation round. Vote of Thanks by Ragasudha Vinjamuri underscored the collective responsibility of parents in building a legion of next generation cultural ambassadors, fostering sense of pride and propagating art & heritage for posterity.

The event marks 52nd anniversary of the World Heritage Convention (Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage).

ALSO READ: ‘Chalo India’ cultural event held in London

ALSO READ: London Summit Bridges Ayurveda and Modern Medicine

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-Top News UK News

Labour plans to axe hereditary peers in House of Lords

Although they would no longer be able to make or vote on laws, the hereditary peers would be allowed to keep their passes to the Westminster estate…reports Asian Lite News

Labour plans to swiftly abolish all hereditary peers in the UK House of Lords in its first term in power but will allow the ousted legislators to retain access to the Palace of Westminster as a sweetener, according to party insiders.

Sir Keir Starmer previously branded the unelected chamber “undemocratic” and “indefensible”. But in recent months the Labour leader has resolved to delay plans to scrap the upper house altogether, pushing that ambition beyond a first five-year parliament.

Instead, a Labour government would prioritise ending the “anachronistic” system under which 92 seats in the Lords are reserved for British aristocrats by axing the hereditary peers’ status as legislators, party insiders said.

They added that the party, if it wins the general election expected this year, will act quickly to scrap the hereditary element — jettisoning a weaker proposal to reduce the number slowly by ending the by-elections that take place after a hereditary peer retires or dies in order to appoint a successor.

One Labour official said the latter proposal would have taken too long to reduce the size of the “bloated” upper house, which has swelled to almost 800 members and is the second-largest legislative chamber in the world behind China’s rubber-stamp National People’s Congress.

The tweaked plans came after party chiefs privately conceded that attempting more ambitious constitutional reforms to overhaul the whole House of Lords would absorb too much bandwidth and detract from Labour’s economic priorities in its first term.

Although they would no longer be able to make or vote on laws, the hereditary peers would be allowed to keep their passes to the Westminster estate. Nicknamed the “best club in London”, it has Thames-side terraces, sumptuous Gothic interiors designed by renowned architect Augustus Pugin and taxpayer-subsidised bars and restaurants.

“The crucial thing is ending the anachronism of hereditary peers enjoying a role as legislators of the realm by dint of their aristocratic birthright. They can keep their passes to parliament — we’re not bothered about that,” said one senior Labour insider.

There is also a political impetus behind Starmer axing hereditary peers: 47 of the current crop are Conservatives, while just four sit on the Labour benches and four sit on the Liberal Democrat benches. A further 34 are cross-benchers and two are non-affiliated.

The Lord Speaker’s committee on the size of the House has also recommended the abolition of hereditary peers. Last July it noted that all hereditary peers in the House at present are men. This “skews the gender balance” of the chamber, which is “impossible to justify in a modern legislature”, it said.

The committee also complained that hereditary peers elected to the Lords are not subject to propriety checks, unlike people nominated for life peerages who are subjected to vetting and can be screened out. “This difference of treatment in a house of peers is unjustifiable,” it said.

Removing more than 90 peers as legislators would also help bring down the cost of the upper chamber. Peers are entitled to claim a flat-rate daily attendance allowance of £342. The cost of the House of Lords members finance scheme, which includes peers’ allowances and travel expenses, totalled £21.1mn in 2022-23, official data shows.

ALSO READ-Labour losing members over Gaza stance

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Multilingual presentations at House of Lords for World Poetry Day

All presenters at HoL_Jalaanjali_World Poetry Day

The event titled ‘Jalaanjali’ celebrated cultural and linguistic expressions of India and South Asia, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals and marking World Water Day simultaneously.

Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence has organised World Poetry Day at the House of Lords recently. Poems, songs, and dances in 20 languages were presented on the occasion, as the day fosters the convergence between poetry and arts.  Hosted by Rt. Hon. Lord Dholakia, Deputy Leader of the House, the event titled Jalaanjali celebrated cultural and linguistic expressions of India and South Asia, aligning with Sustainable Development Goals and marking World Water Day simultaneously.

Opening words were rendered by Lord Dholakia, who reiterated on the importance of celebrating different aspects of culture. Concept Note was presented by Ragasudha Vinjamuri, Founder of Sanskruti Centre, followed by dance on Sanskrit lyrics by young artists (Meera, Shravani, Sai Samruddhi, Sucheta and Yoshita) and by Medhavini, a Post-Graduate in dance from Bangalore University who danced on a composition which asks to bring rain to drought affected areas.

Poems, Songs and Dances were presented by Gita Cox (Assamese), Sreyashi Deb Roy (Bengali-Rabindra Nritya), Isra Abdulla (Divehi- Maldivian), Yasha Bhan (Dogri), Vibhuti Shah (Gujarati Garba), Dr Krishna Patel (Gujarati poem), Richa Jain(Hindi), Virender Choudhry (Himachali), Yashas Iyengar (Kannada), Dr Bernadette Pereira (Konkani-accompanied by Leonardo on Ghumot and Paulo on Guitar), Cllr. Sharad Kumar Jha (Maithili), Lakshmi Pillai (Malayalam), Swapnil Jagtap (Marathi), Leina Moirangthem (Meitei), Acharya Durga Pokhrel (Nepalese), Bhagyashree Singh (Odia), Manpreet Maycock (Punjabi poem written by Major Munish Chauhan), Sushil Rapatwar (Sanskrit), Renu Gidoomal (Sindhi), Dr Chandeera Gunawardena (Sinhalese), and Ragasudha Vinjamuri (Telugu).

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House of Lords report urges EV subsidies, faster charger rollout

A lack of charging infrastructure has been a significant obstacle to broader mass adoption of electric cars…reports Asian Lite News

The UK government should take urgent action to encourage people to switch to electric vehicles, from targeted subsidies to speeding up new charging infrastructure, said a report from Britain’s upper house of parliament released on Tuesday.

The House of Lords report, entitled “EV strategy: rapid recharge needed,” which follows an inquiry into Britain’s electric vehicle transition strategy, also calls on the government to clearly communicate to the general public why they should buy EVs.

“They have got to do what politicians don’t like to do, which is get into the space of talking to people about how they live their lives and how they’re going to support them to do it,” Baroness Kathryn Parminter, who chaired the inquiry, said in an interview. “That is the gaping hole and that is where the government’s got to put its foot on the gas.”

The Lords report calls for targeted incentives to make EVs more accessible for lower-income car owners. It also says the government should “turbo-charge” the building of new charging infrastructure, including by reviewing “outdated and disproportionate planning regulations which are a major block to the rollout.”

A lack of charging infrastructure has been a significant obstacle to broader mass adoption of electric cars.

The report comes as Britain sold its one-millionth fully-electric vehicle in January. But while overall EV sales have risen, industry group the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) warned that falling demand from private buyers meant the UK government should take action to subsidize sales.

A spokesperson for the UK transport ministry said a decade of government grants and incentives had led to more than 1 million EVs on British roads.

“The government is targeting its investment where it will have the most impact, to ensure value for money for the taxpayer,” the spokesperson said.

Last September, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a delay to the country’s ban on fossil-fuel cars to 2035 from 2030, citing the “unacceptable costs” to British households.

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World Heritage Week marked by Sanskruti at the House of Lords

Hasta Shilpam highlighting weaving traditions

The event Hasta Shipam marked the World Heritage Week and also coincided with the UK Parliament Week.

A captivating event aiming to spread awareness of culture and weaving traditions of India and South Asia has been organised by Sanskruti Centre for Cultural Excellence at the House of Lords recently.

Hosted by Baroness Verma and consisting of engaging presentations & fascinating cultural representations, the event Hasta Shipam marked the World Heritage Week and also coincided with the UK Parliament Week.

Baroness Verma giving opening words at Hasta Shilpam event

In her opening words, Baroness Verma emphasised on the importance of upkeeping artistry and heritage, and lauded consistent efforts of Sanskruti Centre in that direction.

Dr Anjali Sharma has presented handlooms and folk music of Rajasthan, Dr Rosalin Patasani Mishra of Parichay Foundation spoke on weavers of Odisha in India, Dr Lakhumal Luhana presented on 5000-year-old Ajrak tradition of Sindh, Taba Menia presented weaving tradition of Adi community of Arunachal Pradesh and Dr Pritha Dasmahapatra spoke on Jamdani tradition of West Bengal, Bangladesh and other parts of India.

Presenting Adi weaving tradition

Handlooms of Santhali and Apatani tribal communities of Odisha and Arunachal Pradesh were highlighted through dances by Harsha Rani and Ananya Vilina, Ilkal of Karnataka was highlighted through Suggi dance by Madhushree Murthy, Pochampalli fabric and Bonalu of Telangana were highlighted by Vanamala Acha through folk dance and Kuthampulli fabric of Kerala was highlighted by Manju Sunil through traditional dance.

Presenters at Hasta Shilpam event

Singer-Song writer Renu Gidoomal has introduced the speakers, while Ashok Verma has felicitated the presenters. Vote of thanks was rendered by Ragasudha Vinjamuri, Founder-Trustee of Sanskruti Centre. Host and the organisers were presented with Ajrak by Jaivanti Luhana. The event celebrated the richness of diversity and received exceptional feedback from the attendees.

Presenters at Hasta Shilpam Event 2

Union Minister for Tribal Affairs Arjun Munda, Union Minister for Textiles Piyush Goyal, Culture Minister of Arunachal Pradesh Er. Taba Tedir and Culture Minister of Odisha Aswini Kumar Patra have sent their congratulatory notes to Sanskruti Centre on the occasion.

Cultural Representations at Hasta Shilpam event
Presentation at Hasta Shilpam event
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Tushar Kumar: Youngest Indian-Origin Labour Councillor Honoured at House of Lords

21-Year-Old Tushar’s Philanthropic Efforts Recognised on International Men’s Day, says Rahul Laud

Tushar Kumar, a 21-year-old newly elected Labour Party councillor and Politics BSc student at King’s College London was honoured recently at the House of Lords by the Global Indian Organsiation. This event was on the occasion of International Men’s Day, a day dedicated to acknowledging and celebrating the positive impact men have on society.

Tushar’s journey began earlier this year when he became the youngest Indian-origin councillor, at the age of 20, elected in the local May elections. Juggling his studies with a commitment to the community, Tushar has been actively involved in various philanthropic activities. His role extends from teaching Hindi at the Hindi Shiksha Parishad UK to organising events and volunteering for senior citizens’ welfare.

His dedication to public service and the community has earned him a spot in the prestigious Civil Service Fast Stream programme. Not one to rest on his laurels, Tushar is also part of the University Officers’ Training Corps (UOTC).

On International Men’s Day, a day that emphasises the importance of men’s well-being and contributions to society, Tushar was awarded a monument, a certificate, and a medal at the House of Lords. The recognition was given in the presence of notable Lords and Members of Parliament, acknowledging his efforts in making a positive difference in the community.

On his Facebook post, Tushar expressed his gratitude and humility upon receiving this honour. He wrote, “Receiving this accolade in such a revered place on such a meaningful day is truly humbling. It reinforces my commitment to continue making a positive impact in the world. Let’s continue to celebrate the men in our lives and work together for a brighter, more inclusive future.”

Tushar Kumar’s story on International Men’s Day serves as a reminder of the valuable contributions men can make towards creating a more equitable and caring world.

ALSO READ: Rajesh Agrawal to Represent Labour in Leicester East

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LORD RANGER SLAMS PAKISTAN IN HOUSE OF LORDS

LORD RAMI RANGER: ‘People in Pakistan like Ahmediyas, like Sikhs, like Christians, Hindus are persecuted, forcibly converted, Shia mosques are attacked… I would like to ask who is supplying arms to terrorists in Kashmir, who is training them, who is encouraging them to create disruption in paradise?’  … A special report by Ashis Ray

Lord Rami Ranger turned the tables on Lord Qurban Hussain in a Questions & Statements session in the House of Lords, which was conceived to embarrass India, by counter-attacking against Pakistan on 17 May.

He made a powerful intervention by saying Hussain knows ‘two Sikh traders in Peshawar were murdered last week because of their religion’. He added: ‘People in Pakistan like Ahmediyas, like Sikhs, like Christians, Hindus are persecuted, forcibly converted, Shia mosques are attacked… I would like to ask who is supplying arms to terrorists in Kashmir, who is training them, who is encouraging them to create disruption in paradise?’

Tackling this, Lord Tariq Ahmed, minister of state in the foreign office, said: ‘I am acutely aware of the challenges minority communities face in Pakistan and we again raise these in a constructive way…. It’s important for both countries to move forward mutually together and agree that there is a bright future for both countries…’ 

An image from the blast site in Karachi (File)

Earlier, responding to a question by Hussain, Ahmed of the Conservative party stated the British government is monitoring the trial of the Indian Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik.  He disclosed: We are monitoring the trial very closely. We do note he has been charged under Indian law… and therefore we cannot intervene in the independent judicial process of India directly. However, in all our engagements we urge all countries to always respect their own international obligations regarding the treatment of any detainees.’

The matter put to him by Lord Qurban Hussain, a Liberal Democrat peer, was Malik is on trial this week. He claimed the charges against him are ‘fake’. He alleged Kashmiris suspect the Indian government wants to get rid of him. ‘His life is in real danger,’ he asserted. He asked: ‘Will the government use their good offices to protect Mr Yasin Malik’s life?’ 

Ahmed also maintained in a balancing act in course of the proceedings: ‘We recognise there are human rights concerns in both Indian administered Kashmir and Pakistan administered Kashmir. The United Kingdom government encourages all states to ensure their domestic laws are in line with international standards. Indeed any allegation of human rights is deeply concerning and must be investigated thoroughly, properly and transparently….We raise concerns with the governments of both India and Pakistan.’ 

Hussain had asked what assessment the British government had made ‘of the human rights situation in Indian-administered Kashmir’.

Regarding the United Nations’ role on the Kashmir dispute, Ahmed stressed: ‘The best way to find a solution is to do so together.’