Hi there,
Not long left now to book our Ramayana Puppet Show held at King’s College on 10th November. If you’d like to sign up, please scroll down for more details.
Want to become a Member? Our next social mixer for Members is on Thurs 9 November in Covent Garden. If you’d like to become a Member and to find out more about this, please get in touch.
Welcome to our newest Member Uday Nagaraju, Founder and CEO of AI Policy Labs, a global public policy think tank focusing on AI for social good, SDGs, international co-operation on AI and AI policy and governance. He is also a UK parilaimentary aspirant for 2024 for the Labour Party and is co-founder and Executive President of Global Policy Insights. Uday speaks, writes and teaches on the intersection of AI, Technology and development, policy, governance, including for the Observer Research Foundation.
Welcome to Profee.com, an international money transfer provider. They believe that money transfers should be fast, easy, secure and at low cost for everyone and offer excellent rates to India. Watch this space for more from Profeee.
Welcome also to Minar Pimple, former Director of Global Operations for Amnesty International, and before that Regional Director for the UN Millenium Campaign. He is currently pursuing Executive Education at Harvard Kennedy School.
Member news
Last week, Chevening Scholar and Member Deepak Chatap hosted a session on Democracy, Constitutional Values, and Today's India at SOAS University London featuring a keynote address by Asim Sarode, a prominent advocate for constitutional matters in India. Sarode highlighted challenges to India's constitution and the need for citizens to embrace constitutionalism and fearless citizenship. Deepak emphasised respecting diverse views to strengthen democracy and talked about the historic features of Indian Democracy. Distinguished scholars attended the event, showcasing SOAS University London's commitment to fostering dialogue on India's democratic journey and preserving constitutional values.
Ragasudha Vinjamuri, Founder of Sanskruti Centre Cultural Excellence, together with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Dance organised The Role of Dance in Health, Wellbeing, and Community Cohesion in the Houses of Parliament a few days ago. Hosted by Baroness Fraser in the presence of Co-Chair Baroness Hooper, Baroness Mobarik, and Baroness Sater, Ragasudha event spotlighted the benefits of dance therapy in Down’s and autistic children and also performed a calming genre of dance presentation. Read more here.
Congratulations to Baluji Shrivastava OBE for hosting the final show of his 15th Anniversary Tour Healing Ragas at the Nehru Centre in London on Friday last week. He is one of the greatest instrumentalists India has produced excelling in sitar, surbahar, dilruba, pakhavaj and tabla. He is “sitarist to the stars,” recording with Massive Attack, Madness, Doves, Amorphous Androgynous, and performing with great artists such as Stevie Wonder.
Last week, you will have seen we published the tenth in our Special Series on Kashmir, by journalist Venus Upadhayaya, where she delves into her patrileanal heritage of “Upadhaya”, her kul-devta (family’s principal deity), looks through unique of cross-generational records existing with the Brahmins of Haridwar and finds the history behind the Codes and Customs of the Tribes of Kashmir, research which enabled the prevailing customs of different tribes in various villages of the Kashmir valley compiled and codified to the level of law.
Pop artist Ketna Patel is continuing to host her latest BRITINDIA exhibition at the Headstone Manor and Museum in London (10 Oct 23 - 28 Jan 24). If you’re interested in free artist guided group tours and talks, please call Ketna on 07982 654310.
Why India's space programme is worth every rupee
“Why should Britain send aid to India when it has a space programme?” is a complaint you often hear in the UK.
Well, here’s my answer.
First, what some people call ‘aid’ is actually business development. Both the Indian High Commission and the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) insist that aid from the UK to India stopped years ago.
“Since 2015 the UK has given no financial aid to the government of India,” said the FCDO recently. “Most of our funding now is focused on business investments which help create new markets and jobs for the UK, as well as India.”
In any case, you could ask the same questions about any country’s space programme. Why does Britain fund a Space Agency when the NHS is in crisis and its schools are collapsing?
Second, India’s programme is not new, it began in the 1960s, shortly after US President Kennedy challenged his countrymen to land on the moon during that decade. Since then, it has steadily grown, bringing untold benefits to India: satellite technology to monitor crops and survey natural disasters; telemedicine and telecommunication for remote communities; employment for thousands of people; funding for high-tech businesses.
This all helps India to feed, educate and employ its people. It’s not a vanity scheme, it’s a crucial part of the country’s development story. As Martin Barstow, professor of astrophysics at the University of Leicester points out: “The money you spend in space isn’t really spent in space. It is spent on the ground.”
When India became the first country to land a spacecraft on the south pole of the moon in August this year, it gave Indians across the nation a tremendous sense of pride. Behind the scenes, it was a triumph on many levels. India spends just $1.3 billion per year on its space programme, compared with NASA’s annual budget of more than $20 billion.
The contrast of India’s successful landing with Russia’s disastrous mission a few days earlier (supposedly a far richer and more advanced space programme) was stark.
Business finance in India is part of the soft power the UK employs to further its own goals, including the trade agreement which promises to deliver such dividends to both the UK and India. Withdrawing the yearly £33.4 million that the Foreign Office sends to India would be a false economy, set against the potential rewards of a deal.
Historically, India was an astronomical pioneer, with roots going back 3500 years to the Vedas of the Indus Valley civilisation. The 6th century work the Aryabhatiya was the pinnacle of astronomical knowledge of its time.
So it shouldn’t be any surprise that, as India regains its confidence and international prestige, it is once more guiding the world’s understanding of the heavens.
This is yet another thing to be applauded about modern day India. It will benefit mankind, whether or not the UK withdraws its modest financial contribution.
Dinesh Dhamija founded, built and sold online travel agency ebookers.com, before serving as a Member of the European Parliament. His latest book, The Indian Century, will be published later this year. Email dinesh@dhamija.org to reserve a copy.
Upcoming events:
Ramayana: A puppet show (6pm, Fri 10 Nov | Waterloo Campus, King’s College London | Book here)
The Ramayana Puppet Show is StoryHour UK flagship performance. A timeless piece of culture and art, this story narrates the epic tale behind the festival of Diwali, using uniquely hand-crafted puppets. Having been performed across many different audiences, this puppet show has been celebrated for capturing the essence of a classic. The show has been screened at various Indian embassies across Europe and schools in London while also being readily available in 6 languages here. It has been applauded by Indian Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, author Amish Tripathi and others.
Alongside a screening of the puppet show, there will be live puppeteers demonstrating scenes from the Ramayana, with an installation of the six puppets, followed by a talk and Q&A with producer Neelima Penumarthy.
When: 6 - 8pm, Fri 10 Nov
Where: B5 Auditorium, Franklin-Wilkins Building, Stamford Street, King's College London, London SE1 9NH
Book: Bridge India Members: £10 | Others: £20 bookable here | Drinks and snacks provided
Why become a Member of Bridge India?
Well, because just in the last few months, we’ve won an Award for our work, being featured in The Daily Telegraph, NDTV and elsewhere for our initiatives and events, and hosted multiple events with change-makers in London and elsewhere. Not to mention we’ve some facilitated incredible connections between Members from Florida to London to Delhi.
Become an Individual or Corporate Member of Bridge India. Here’s what we offer:
Events with world leaders and experts
Powerful networking opportunities
Build a deeper understanding of India
Engage in non-partisan, respectful discussion, away from the ‘noise’
Join a set of Members an NDTV report once called “change-makers”
Dedicated account manager to introduce you to other Members
Opportunity to curate and co-host events, and jointly publish thought leadership
Access to trusteeships, professional roles, invitations to special events and more
Individual Membership is £250 annually (with Gift Aid for UK tax payers; Concessions £125) and there are several Corporate Membership options available.
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