Indian Diaspora-Contributions of Indian Diaspora and India’s History & Heritage in the UK to be Documented

SARMAN NAGELE : LONDON

The contribution of the Friends of India Society International UK (FISI UK) over the past five decades in shaping and giving a new direction to India-UK relations has been unparalleled. This was stated by Manoj Ladwa, Founder and Chairman of the India Global Forum (IGF), during his keynote address. He highlighted that today, both nations are writing a new chapter in bilateral relations through trade, advanced technology, and shared values. The diaspora community is no longer just a ‘bridge’ between the two countries, but has transformed into a powerful ‘engine’ of growth.

Reflecting on FISI UK’s five-decade journey and its immense contributions, Mr. Ladwa also presented a forward-looking blueprint for the organization’s evolving role in further strengthening diaspora engagement.

Speech by @manojladwa
Keynote Speaker — FISI UK Golden Jubilee Celebrations at The Bhavans, London

Manoj Ladwa is the Founder and Chair of @IGFupdates , the premier platform for UK-India business and policy dialogue.

An excerpt:

Somewhere in this hall tonight or in our… pic.twitter.com/l9IM2pUtQ2

— 🇬🇧FISIUK 🇮🇳(Friends of India Soc Intl UK) (@FISI_UK) June 29, 2026

The event commenced with a welcome address by FISI UK President Madhuresh Mishra, who shared his thoughts on the founding spirit of the organization and its continuous relevance in the evolving dynamics of India-UK relations. Mr. Mishra noted that for the past fifty years, FISI UK has stood as a quiet yet highly resilient voice for India within the British Parliament, the media, and the wider community.

The historic Golden Jubilee celebration of the UK’s oldest and most prestigious pro-India organization, FISI UK, concluded with great grandeur on June 28, 2026, at ‘The Bhavan’ located in West Kensington, London.

Preserving the Legacy of Indian Icons:

During the event, it was highlighted that FISI UK’s ambitious and pioneering new initiative is fully dedicated to documenting and preserving the struggles, lives, and contributions of great Indians-ranging from Swami Vivekananda to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar-who lived, studied, and reshaped history on British soil. The project aims to safeguard India’s rich heritage for future generations through a special ‘Heritage Magazine’, curated ‘Heritage Tours’ across the UK, and a dedicated ‘Blue Plaque’ campaign.

A Glorious 50-Year Journey Rooted in the Emergency Era
FISI UK was founded in 1976, immediately following the imposition of the Emergency in India. It began with a small but determined group of British Indian activists who strongly believed that the diaspora community possesses both the right and the responsibility to speak up for India on the global stage. During an era when India’s political voice was largely silent in the British Parliament (Westminster), this organization took it upon itself to build strong relationships, raise global awareness, and counter misleading narratives that misrepresented India.

Guided by the core values of truth, integrity, and solidarity over the last five decades, FISI UK has consistently engaged with British governments, protected the rights of the Indian diaspora, and stood firm against misinformation campaigns. From the early movements of the 1970s and 1980s to the recent historic parliamentary events addressing the rights of persecuted Hindu minorities fleeing Pakistan, the organization has consistently remained at the absolute forefront of diaspora diplomacy.

Over the past five decades, FISI UK has championed democratic values, strengthened India-UK ties, and provided a positive and constructive voice for the British-Indian community. While this Golden Jubilee celebrated this glorious legacy, it also successfully laid down the roadmap for the organization’s next chapter.

Distinguished Dignitaries and Institutional Awards
House of Lords members Lord Rami Ranger and Lord Uday Nagaraju, along with the Deputy High Commissioner of India to the UK, Kartik Pande, also shared their insights during the event.

The occasion was marked by the official release of FISI UK’s ‘Golden Jubilee Magazine’, a strategic panel discussion on the voice of the diaspora, and the unveiling of ‘SMRITI’-a major new initiative aimed at preserving the legacy of Indian trailblazers in Britain.

During the ceremony, senior former office-bearers who nurtured the organization for half a century-including Dheeraj Shah, Hasmukh Shah, Bharat Shah, Rajnikant Mistry, Jayu Shah, and Mayur Shah-were formally honored for their lifetime contributions.

The celebrations concluded with the presentation of the ‘Golden Jubilee Awards’, which recognized outstanding contributions across fields such as Youth Leadership, Community Service, Cultural Ambassadorship, ‘Friend of India’, and Lifetime Achievement.

A Grand Gathering of Leaders:

Marking 50 years of relentless service to India and the British-Indian diaspora, the mega event witnessed an influential turnout.

Prominent attendees included members of the House of Lords Lord Rami Ranger and Lord Uday Nagaraju; Navendu Mishra MP; Deputy High Commissioner High Commission of India London, United Kingdom, Kartik Pande, former MP Virendra Sharma; Executive Director of The Bhavan Dr. M. N. Nandakumar; National Media Coordinator of FISI UK Vinay Pujari; London Councillors Manoj Mishra and Aryan; Founder of Friends of MP Rohit Dixit; Executive Body Member of the Global Alumni Association of MANIT, Bhopal and volunteer of Friends of MP Saurabh Jain; senior journalist from India Sarman Nagele; alongside several former Mayors, policy experts, the Director of the Indian National Students Association (INSA-UK), and leaders from various prominent socio-cultural organizations.

FISI UK General Secretary Rahul Subramanian expressed a vote of thanks, extending deep gratitude to everyone who attended and contributed in making the historic milestone a resounding success.