Dear all,
You can check out the videos from our recent Ideas for India conference on YouTube here, including the exclusive interview of Pankaj Munjal (Chairman and MD, Hero Cycles) with BBC London presenter Asad Ahmad.
Unprecedented racist riots have broken about across Britain in the last few days. Our statement can be found below.
Our team member Timsa Bajpai says the UK's multicultural society status is at stake, in her blog immediately below the statement.
We’ve got several varied events in the pipeline: our Forest Essentials evening with Noreen Khan on 27 Aug in Covent Garden; delegation to the 33rd Economic Forum in Poland on 3-5 Sept; many Members at the 22nd Asian Achievers Awards on 20 Sept at Hilton on Park Lane; and an event assessing UK-Relations under Labour with Navendu Mishra MP on 15 Oct.
Where else would you get access to such a wide range of opportunities to build your network and explore new knowledge exchange opportunities? Become a Member today.
A world-leading Hindu Studies centre is about to take a quantum leap - read more from Tanja Jakobsen, Development Director of the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies.
Planning for the Ideas for India conference, part of India Week, in 2025 has started. If you’d like to be involved please get in touch to explore partnership opportunities.
Bridge India’s response to the recent racist riots in the UK
Bridge India has always championed an inclusive approach to bring communities in the UK and India together, celebrating the diversity of both our cultures. All Bridge India members are proud of their heritage as Indians and Britons and have been shocked and saddened by the recent violence and racism that has taken place in parts of the UK.
During times like this, it is important that we are united in peace, and that we work together to restore trust and cohesion within our communities.
Bridge India is dedicated to fostering unity and will continue to bring communities together.
Read the full statement here.
Addressing the rise of far-right violence and anti-immigration sentiment in the UK
Today, the UK's multicultural society status is at stake, and it’s vital we work together to preserve it.
The recent outbreak of far-right violence and anti-immigration sentiment in the UK represents a critical challenge to the social fabric of the country but also to its identity as a multicultural society. What began with the tragic stabbing of three young girls in Southport has blown out of proportion into nationwide rioting as far-right groups use misinformation to incite xenophobic attacks, which is exposing high risks not only to the safety of minorities but also to the values of inclusivity and unity that underpin both British and Indian identities.
The violence has been largely fuelled by the spread of misinformation, particularly on social media platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Telegram. The false claims regarding the Southport attacker’s identity and background have quickly gone viral, fueling a wave of anti-immigrant protests. Far-right influencers have leveraged these narratives to incite violence against targets they have directed their anger at: immigrants and asylum seekers.
The lessons of this phenomenon underline the urgent need for stronger countermeasures against online disinformation and for bringing digital platforms to take accountability for the spread of hazardous material. The UK government’s response, including arrests and a legal crackdown on rioters, is only an interim step with hopes towards a long-term solution that focuses on addressing the very roots of far-right radicalisation and the platforms that enable it.
The Government should consider expanding the scope of the Online Safety Act to cover societal, not just individual, harm and to define ‘false communications’ so it adequately covers disinformation, extending a responsibility for social cohesion not just towards individuals, but social media platforms and unmoderated online forums.
But citizens also have a responsibility to collective action. Individuals should prioritise trusted and credible sources of information only, sharing responsibly online and helping ensuring the flow of false information is minimised.
The outcome of this disruption has, however, been even worse for immigrant communities, like the large Indian diaspora living in the UK. Students from India who were to travel to the UK for their studies are showing great apprehension over this issue of safety. Many are reconsidering their plan for studying in the UK. This anxiety is compounded by the broader environment of hostility toward immigrants, which threatens to erode the trust and sense of belonging that are crucial to community cohesion. We cannot live in a society where children fear stepping out of their own houses.
That’s why organisations like Bridge India call for renewed efforts to support and protect minority communities. What this recent violence reminds us of is just how fragile social cohesion can be during times of crisis. We must continue working to build bridges between communities in the UK and India.
By doing so, we can ensure that the values of inclusivity and diversity continue to lie at the heart of our societies.
If you have been affected by the riots and would like to work with Bridge India on anything discussed above, please contact me at timsa@bridgeindia.org.uk.
Timsa Bajpai is part of the Bridge India team and currently studies at King’s College London.
Membership options
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Individual Membership is £150 annually and concessional Membership is £100.
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Upcoming events
33rd Economic Forum (3-5 Sept, Karpacz, Poland | Book here)
The Economic Forum in Karpacz is the largest meeting platform in Central and Eastern Europe, where not only security, perspectives of economic development, contemporary challenges and overcoming crises, but also presents specific solutions and innovative ideas.
It takes place over three days, with 350+ sessions and 6,000+ guests including several dozen Ministers, Prime Ministers and business leaders, on 3-5 September in the city of Karpacz in Lower Silesia in Poland. Details can be found on the website link above or this brochure.
Bridge India is once again a Partner, bringing an Indian delegation and hosting a session on Taking Advantage of the India Opportunity. This week is the last opportunity to join our delegation.
Finding balance … with Forest Essentials (5:30pm, Tues 27 Aug | Covent Garden)
Join award-winning radio and TV presenter Noreen Khan and luxury Ayurveda brand, Forest Essentials. At their store, you will get a chance to discover a personalised skincare routine based on your dosha type. Indulge in the world of luxurious Ayurveda with us.
When: 5:30pm, Tues 27 August
Where: Forest Essentials, 28 James St, London WC2E 8PA (closest tube station: Covent Garden)
RSVP: Max 6 places available for non-Members, email smita@bridgeindia.org.uk. We expect to be over-subscribed so please only treat your place as confirmed if you’ve got an official email confirmation back from us. Non-alcoholic drinks and canapes served.
22nd Asian Achievers Awards (Fri 20 Sept, London Hilton on Park Lane | tickets)
The Asian Achievers Awards recognise the outstanding work of individuals within the South Asian community. Established in 2000 and held annually since then, it is consistently recognised by the community as the most prestigious and highly respected such Awards in the calendar, with a net worth of the audience consistently worth £tens of billions. Bridge India is a partner to the Awards.
The evening will be hosted by actor Nitin Ganatra OBE; and ITV News presenter and former AAA winner Anila Dhami. It will start with a Drinks Reception at 6pm, followed by a sit-down dinner, awards and entertainment from standup comedian Ahir Shah and others from 7:15pm, and close by 11pm, followed by an afterparty with BBC DJ Vallisa Chauhan and live music.
When: 6pm until late, Fri 20 Sept
Where: London Hilton on Park Lane
Tickets: Click here. Get in touch for special prices available for Bridge India Members.
The future of UK-India relations: In Conversation With Navendu Mishra MP (6:30pm, 15 October | House of Commons)
New Foreign Secretary David Lammy visited India in just his third week in office, meeting both his counterpart Dr Jaishankar, as well as PM Narendra Modi. He said the UK’s relationship with India had been “underperforming” and that he sought to reset it.
So in a Labour front bench that has far fewer Indian faces than the Conservatives over the last year 14 years, but one which offers stability in policymaking over the coming Parliament, what do future UK-India relations look like?
Join us in conversation with Navendu Mishra MP for a deep-dive into this topic.
When: 6:30pm, Tues 15 October
Where: House of Commons
RSVP: Email contact@bridgeindia.org.uk requesting a space. Preference given to Bridge India Members.
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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.