First major international India event post-FTA, Pahalgam concludes | New members
Meet our wonderful new Members.
Dear all,
Next week, our weekly Policy Watch series resumes.
But for now, we’re celebrating our incredible flagship Ideas for India conference, which concluded last week, part of the annual India Week.
The event was significant because it was the first major international India conference after the deadly Pahalgam attack and the signing of the UK-India Free Trade Agreement. It is also the only such independent bilateral forum between the UK and India. Check out our LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter for the huge positive feedback we’ve had.
Ideas for India brought together political, business and technology leaders from across the UK and India, including Working President of the BRS party from Telangana KT Rama Rao, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha and Pradyot Manikya.
Sessions explored India’s role in a multi-polar world including former head of the Diplomatic Service Lord Simon MacDonald; a deep-dive into post-Pahalgam relations between India and Pakistan; doing business with India featuring the Chair of the Bar Council Barbara Mills KC as well as UK-India Business Council Board Member from Jupiter Asset Management Avinash Vazarani; founder stories from Indians going global; a discussion on India as a vishwaguru in the soft power of elections featuring co-founder of India’s most well-known political consultancy I-PAC Vinesh Chandel; and Shaunaka Rishi Das from the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies in conversation with Founder and Chairman of Wahed Inc Junaid Wahedna comparing sharia-compliant and dharma-compliant investment strategies.
The Black-tie Celebration Dinner was held in partnership with Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council. It featured traditional tribal dancers travelling especially from Tripura to perform an extraordinary showcase of traditional dance forms including Hojagiri, Mamita, and Garia, each filled with spirit, rhythm, and ancestral storytelling. They were introduced by the head of the Royal Family Pradyot Manikya.
The evening also featured BBC news presenter Rajini Vadiyanathan in conversation with former central government Minister and the then-youngest ever Lok Sabha MP Sachin Pilot, touching a range of topics from governance to Pahalgam and beyond.
For the second year, the evening featured three special Awards, presented to changemakers building the bridge between the UK and India. The Community Service Award was presented to Harshad Kothari for his work in tirelessly building communities behind the scenes. The Contribution to Music Award went to sarod player Soumik Datta. The Contribution to Digital Innovation Award went to State Bank of India (UK) Limited because over the past year, the bank has made significant strides in making banking simpler, smarter, and more accessible for their customers.
Become a Member
Like what you see here? Check our our Membership options.
Individual Membership is £150 annually, concessions £100. Corporate Membership options are for businesses, non-profits, advocacy organisations and others, looking for bespoke services that meet their strategic goals. We can provide in-depth alignment with a series of networking opportunities, policy initiatives or curated programmes. Prices start at £750 annually.
Planning for Ideas for India and India Week 2026 has already begun. So if you’d like to be involved, please get in touch with us for sponsorship opportunities.
Member news
Thank you to all of you that have joined Bridge India recently. We’re a vibrant community of change-makers from across the UK, India and elsewhere. Here are just some of our new Members:
Ali Aliev is is the Director of Business Development at leading British private school NLCS International with expert knowledge in international franchising. Abbaya Chowdary Kothari is a former Member of the Legislative Assembly of the YSR Congress Party from Andhra. Azhar Khan is a Partner at Brunswick and founding member of Brunswick’s India practice. Hariharan Mallikarjunan is an experienced Microsoft Dynamics 365 for Finance and Operations functional consultant. Harmeet Arora is a Strategic International Partnership Developer at Allport International. Leena Mehta has worked in executive recruitment in IT and other sectors, with offices in the UK and US. Mohammad Rustam is studying at Queen Mary University of London and Dhruvi Patel is at UCL. Neena Odedra has 16 years of experience in the property industry. Having spent years as a fabric designer, Roopa Girard is soon to release her new book about travel to India. Sanjiv Shah was the Chief Investment Officer at Sun Global Investments Limited, leading Investment Advisory and Asset Management. Smriti Kaila specialises in Systemic Constellations and empowers individuals to tap into their inner healing potential. Smrutha Ramesh is CEO and Director of an international student admission firm and recently opened Tandoor Chai in Hatfield. Tanu Banaik is an artist and clothing designer working for Poeticgem. Rewati Prabhu has over 18 years experience in urban design and regeneration in the USA, India, Africa and UK.
Upcoming events
Invitation: Considering moving to Dubai? (6pm, Tues 17 June | Book here)
Have you considered a move to Dubai yourself or know someone who is considering? If so, join an exclusive drinks reception with Deepak Malhotra, Executive Chairman of Sanctuary, about the merits of a move from London to Dubai, and how to go about it.
When: 6-9pm, Tuesday 17 June
Where: The Savile Club, 69 Brook Street, London W1K 4ER (closest tube station Bond Street)
RSVP: Spaces are strictly limited, request a space here (please note you’re not confirmed until you recieve an email confirmation)
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The Bridge India Team
contact@bridgeindia.org.uk | www.bridgeindia.org.uk
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About Bridge India: Bridge India is a progressive non-profit think tank dedicated to discourse on public policy. Bridge India is a company limited by guarantee Companies House number 15283062.