Looking to the Future

A land with thousands of years of history, India chose a system of politician allegiance to democratic principles and voluntary compliance. This is in stark contrast to regional rival China which had chosen a much stricter and coercive system of government. Although the latter system has achieved great results for China, it comes at a price. Human rights violations and lack of freedom are a constant affront for the people. India on the other hand, a country of great aspirations and as many frustrations is lagging behind but still in the realms of a newly industrialised country with democratic rights for all its citizens. It is the country full of great heritage and culture galore.

So how is India progressing?

Economy

India has the 5th largest economy by nominal GDP. It accounted for 3% of the world’s GDP compared to 8.5% in 2017. It is now bigger than its colonial master! It is the 3rd largest by purchasing power parity (ppp).

Education

Literacy rates have increased from 12% in 1947 to 74% in 2017. Oxbridge and Ivy League universities are still prized career ladders, but the famous IIT colleges of India are now some of the world’s best. The CEO’s of Google and Microsoft are both IIT educated.

Faith

India may not be the most powerful nation on the planet, but can be considered the most diverse religiously. Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism are the birthplace. Zoroastrianism is the adopted faith. Islam numbers the second highest in the world and other faiths have significant influence in the country. As a secular nation, it celebrates all the major faiths as well as numerous others.

Film

The biggest producer of films in the world. Bollywood itself is now becoming intertwined with Hollywood productions and the crossover has begun. Hollywood produces around 700 films per year compared to Indian cinema which releases around 1200.

Food

Food grain production has increased five-fold since independence making famine a very rare occurrence. In the last famine in 1943 before independence, two million people died in Bengal. Poverty has fallen from over 80% in 1947 to around 22% currently.

Space

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sent a mission to Mars which was cheaper than the Hollywood blockbuster Gravity - that is around $70m. ISRO also released 104 satellites in a single mission – a world record.

Looking to the Future

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Latest News

Diwali in London 2023

Freedom of Hindu Beliefs

The British Sanatan Dharmic Alliance organised an events called Freedom of Hindu Beliefs. It was a first of its kind event, bringing together prominent parliamentary figures, community leaders, Hindu rights activists, academics and members of the diverse Hindu community.

Tolerance over Interference

The farmers protest has taken a violent turn last week when thousands broke through the main protest and invaded one of India’s iconic sites – The Red Fort. And if that was not bad enough, they did it on India’s Republic Day celebrations.

The Pioneer Lawyer

One of the worst years in humanity’s history is coming to an end it is very sad to see that many key events and anniversaries have been marginalised. One such key date is the anniversary of women’s rights which has been rarely mentioned in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.

Diwali like no other

The pandemic has changed the boundaries of what we can do, and what we cannot. Diwali no longer means that thousands of people out on the streets of Leicester or on Trafalgar Square.

Faith Leaders write to PM over lockdown

Coronavirus - Are we winning?

Vegetarian & Vegan Kitchen - Healing Our Earth

It is another must-watch. Healing Our Earth group of volunteers are bringing another seven hours of in-depth insight into vegetarian and vegan cuisine. You can watch it at https://m.facebook.com/healingourearth and www.healingourearth.com

Coronavirus latest

The amount of information available on coronavirus is astonishing, but with it comes confusion, mixed messages and a whole lot of fake or inaccurate news. So here we are here again hoping to simplify the key information impacting the ethnic communities currently on the news agenda.

The global online summit to combat COVID-19

Life in the era of the COVID-19 pandemic is severe, stressful and in many cases fatal with the UK death rate rising above forty-four thousand. It is during this time; you see and hear about the brave and enduring individuals who find ways to beat the odds against the virus.

The Coronavirus Jigsaw Puzzle

Alpesh Chauhan, New Music Director of Birmingham Opera Company

It is breath-taking to see a young role model making his mark into the mainstream of British arts and culture. The Birmingham Opera Company has appointed locally born Alpesh Chauhan as their new Music Director.

Coronavirus Latest - India joins the Global Vaccine Mission

The crisis of Coronavirus continues worldwide. Even countries with low mortality rates are not safe, as they are either lacking increased testing or they are fearing a second wave of the spread which could further bring chaos within the health and economic systems.

Coronavirus - Humanity ahead of politics and profiteering

What we took for granted only a few weeks ago, now is a completely different world where we cannot even touch our loved ones.

The legacy of an Asian media pioneer

Commonwealth Games

So, after India threatens to boycott the Commonwealth Games, the officials negotiate and buckle down to a deal where India will host the archery and shooting events and pay the bills.

Arvind Krishna CEO of IBM

Indian professionals continue to make their mark on the top echelons of the world's tech companies. The latest one is Arvind Krishna taking up his post in April 2020 as the new CEO of IBM.

UK India Technology Innovation Fund

Talented Indian techies have an opportunity get funded with a new British Government fund launched to support collaborative research under the UK-India Tech Partnership.

British Museum snaps up Indian masterpiece

The British Museum has managed to raise around £440,000 to buy a painting by one of India’s greatest painters which was earmarked to be exported abroad. It has been bought with support from the Art Fund, National Heritage Memorial Fund and the Brooke Sewell Permanent Fund.

Never to be Forgotten

India has adopted the marigold as a symbol to commemorate the Indian soldiers who died in WW1.

Diwali - a new dawn

It’s a sight of a new dawn. Indian culture is extending across the globe. Where Indian culture has been tolerated for the sake of diversity and community relations is now embraced by the mainstream.

Let us not forget Gandhi's legacy

Two years have been marked to celebrate Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th anniversary and there have been many celebrations all around the world.

A Parliamentary First

Britain ethnic minority population is nearing 14%. There has been a steady rise in how ethnic minorities are represented in public life at around 8% in parliament.

Places of Worship under attack

The threat to places of worship has been mainly targeted toward mosques and synagogues. It would be an oddity that other places of worship would face any kind of hate from vandals and criminals. But in the last year or so, things have changed, and no places of worship are safe from being hit.

Kumar Iyer appointed Chief Economist at FCO

The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) has appointed Kumar Iyer as their Chief Economist thereby making him their first BAME origin member of the Board of Management.

New Government measures to update crematoria facilities

The Hindu community has welcomed the Government’s decision to help update crematoria facilities so that the needs of different faiths can be accommodated.

World's largest 'Bhagavad Gita'

The Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the world's largest and heaviest Bhagavad Gita at the ISKCON temple in New Delhi. It is the world’s “largest principle sacred text ever to be printed.”

Gandhi Peace Centre Inauguration

More than 300 guests attended West Midland's Shri Venkateswara Balaji Temple for the opening of the Gandhi Peace Centre.

Diwali in the European Parliament

Following on from Diwali in Trafalgar Square and Belgrave Road, Leicester, the wider Europe has begun taking notice of the importance of Hindu Festivals outside India.

Diwali on the Square

In its 17th year, the Diwali festival on Trafalgar Square attracted thousands of people for an afternoon of spectacular celebration and commemorating the legacy of Indian soldiers during WW1.

UN Environmental Accolade

For years India has had to be stuck with the labels of unhygienic, dirty and not taking environmental issues seriously. Are such views justified?

Looking to the Future

In its 72nd year of Independence, India is a country with thousands of years of heritage. So how is this diverse nation progressing?

Government backs off from caste

After years of debacle, political scrutiny, community disharmony and blame from all sides, Theresa May’s government has finally decided to ditch the caste legislation.

UK India Week 2018

In a special event dedicated to the UK India-Week, there is much hope that this special relationship will only get stronger as Brexit beckons and Britain needs a major trading partner. With India progressing as an economic hothouse, it is no wonder that the UK-India Week is gaining new gravitas.

Pukaar Community Concert

A prominent women’s organisation ‘Pukar Group’ in Leicester managed to raise over a thousand pounds by organising a community concert.

The Commonwealth in Highlights

In a democratic country, people have a right to protest. And there were plenty of protests during the recent visit of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London.

Commonwealth

Heads of Government Meeting, London 2018

Hanuman Jayanti

It is Easter time in the Christian calendar and people are breaking up for the Easter break. But this year, March 31st also represents a major festival in the Hindu calendar. It is dedicated to the birth one of the great superheroes of civilisation – Lord Hanuman.

Insight into Akshardham Temple

Around 10,000 labourers and craftsmen helped build one of the greatest places of worship in the world?

First Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi

The BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha is endowed to construct the first Hindu Temple in Abu Dhabi.

100th Indian Satellite Launch

The Indian space programme ISRO has reached another landmark by launching its 100th Indian satellite.

It is another must-watch. Healing Our Earth group of volunteers are bringing another seven hours of in-depth insight into vegetarian and vegan cuisine. You can watch it at

https://m.facebook.com/healingourearth

and

www.healingourearth.com