This is widely regarded as the most successful Convention held in this country. The participants were mostly from the British Diaspora.
There was no entry fee thus ensuring that all, poor, disabled, unemployed or well off participated on equal terms.
Since I came to Britain over 40 years ago this was the first genuinely democratic Convention truly representative of all sections o the Diaspora community. Indeed, before this event, most Indians in the Diaspora felt alienated and felt that apart from soothing words Indian officialdom did not really care about their welfare. However the latest Convention signalled India ’s new democratic approach towards its brethren overseas. Although the initiative came from the Government of India , the London Conference was organised by the transparent and the enlightened leadership of the High Commissioner, his Deputy and the Minister for co-ordination.
Leading Diaspora Indian Parliamentarians including Lord Dholakia, Lord Desai, Swaraj Paul, Virendra Sharma and Keith Vaz were also present.
Sushma Swaraj, the able, experienced, charismatic and caring minister for external affairs rejected the idea that because Diaspora Indians were citizens of foreign countries, they were of no concern to India . India cared deeply about their situation, appreciated their contribution to their own countries and many invested generously in India itself. India , she emphasised cared deeply about their sons and daughters abroad.
UK Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, paid tribute to the British Indian Diaspora for their energy, enterprise and their huge contribution to the Inland Revenue. He told the audience that his government fully supported the reforms being made by the government of Narendra Modi to eliminate poverty and backwardness.
Baronness Verma and the Hon. Shailesh Vara, were among the most eloquent champions of closer ties between Indians in this country and the Motherland. The implication of Baroness Verma’s observation was that it is not all roses in the Diaspora Garden and that much more had to be done to bring about the positive changes desired by people abroad.
One got the impression that this Convention, unlike other meetings, is going to be fruitful not only because of the presence of some high powered government officials from India ( Prem Narain, Secretary Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs and Manoj Kumar, Joint Secretary) but their painstaking record of the proceedings, which no doubt will be passed on to the relevant Ministries for more concrete action.
The Convention holds out the promise in view of the growth of some reactionary forces in Britain and Europe hostile to the Indian Diaspora that a friendlier climate will prevail with the election of governments committed to a multicultural society.
It goes without saying that it is the generosity of the sponsors (INDO RAMA,ESSAR,RAJEEV ACCOUTANTS,SUN MARK LTD,THE WASHINGTON MAYFAIR,PARKER LLOYD GROUP,VEDANTA,LODHA,THE LOOMBA FOUNDATION,HINDUJA,TECHNOLOGIES STRONGFIELD,PURICO GROUP,BANK OF BARODA ) that made the conference totally free and accessible to everyone turning it in to a truly inclusive Community Convention for the Indian Diaspora in the U,K.
