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Nostalgic celebration of independence

Hasan Suroor

60th anniversary celebrations held at Durbar Court in London

LONDON: The symbolism of choosing Durbar Court, an architectural hangover of the Raj, to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Indian independence here on Monday could not have been lost on anyone familiar with its history. And nobody seemed more conscious of it than the host himself, Britain's Foreign Office Minister Kim Howells.

Dr. Howells noted that, the fact that the event was being held in what used to be the India Office during the Raj showed just how much water had passed under the Thames and the Ganga in the past 60 years. It was a "reminder" of the journey that both India and the U.K. had travelled since then, and how much the mutual relationship had transformed -- from one between colonial masters and the natives to a "thoroughly modern one."

"If you look up, you will see carved into the stone, the names of the river Indus, the Ganga. Higher up, are the names of the great Indian cities and regions: Delhi, Bombay, Goa and Agra, to name just a few. Of course, many of these names have changed. And now many more Britons have the opportunity to visit these places than when this hall was built 116 years ago. Nowadays, these are places we go to as tourists or on business or to study," he said.

Key partner

Mr. Howells described India as Britain's key partner in fighting terrorism, tackling climate change and addressing other "challenges" facing the world.

Dr. Howells, who visited India last month, said: "We have committed to work together to fight terrorism, something which both our countries have suffered in recent years. We have discussed a common response to climate change – India remains, of course, a key to any successful climate policies," he added.

He reiterated Britain's support to India's bid for a permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council pointing out that it was already playing a "leading role" at the U.N. and was the third largest contributor to its peacekeeping forces.

Paying tribute to India's growing economic and political power, he said it could no longer be "comfortably confined to a box labelled ‘developing world' ".

Trials and tribulations

"Its enormous economic power, the sophistication and erudition of its nationals and of course its rich culture all preclude this label," he added.

India, he said, had come through difficult times to vindicate Jawaharlal Nehru's prediction that independence must be "an opening of opportunity, to the greater triumphs and achievements that await us."

On Indo-British trade relations, he said: "India is now the third largest investor in the United Kingdom, second to only the U.S. and Japan. Almost 500 Indian firms now operate in the U.K. – some are major multinationals, many more have a strong I.T. focus. Our trading relationship, always strong, is growing by 20 per cent a year and the U.K. looks set to become the largest investor in India."

Indian High Commissioner Kamalesh Sharma also spoke.

Support for India's bid for permanent seat in U.N. discussed India, third largest investor in the U.K. today

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