From Harrow to Jammu…. by Lakshmi Kaul

Meeting members of Legislative Assembly

In Jammu, Mr Blackman received a rapturous welcome by local community. He visited the Raghunath temple and the archives run by the Trust in the temple premises.

“I am impressed by the collection of the archives in the temple library and happy to note that the work to digitise the ancient scriptures is being carried out. I am pleased to note that the support from the British Library is being sought to undertake this useful exercise as also set up a museum to display the key artefacts and scriptures for public viewing”, added Mr Blackman.

In a traditional programme organised by the J&K Ex-Services League and Dogra Sadar Sabha, Mr Blackman was welcomed along with Manu Khajuria, Founder of Voice of Dogras and myself as the ‘Daughters of the Soil’ for their contribution to raising the voice of the region in the UK. This for me personally was very humbling.

In a programme organised by the Department of History at University of Jammu, Mr Blackman had the opportunity to address the students. He urged them to engage in greater research with British universities highlighting the various aspects of the history and cultural heritage of the J&K region.

He further met with the key public officials. This included the founder of PDP, Muzaffar Hussain Baigh to gain an insight into the party’s founding and history; the former Deputy Chief Minister, Nirmal Singh; Indian diplomat and author, G Parthasarthy and retired Vice Air Marshal Kapil Kak.In Delhi he had a very useful meeting and discussion with Dr. Jitendra Singh, Minister of State (independent charge) at the Prime Minister’s Office along with the MP from Laddakh, Thhupstan Chhewang that gave him an opportunity to understand the issues pertaining to the residents of Leh-Laddakh.

He met with displaced Sikh community representatives from the PoJK region as well as representatives of the Kashmiri Pandit community who are in the process of resettling in Srinagar.

Whatever the impressions of Kashmir in the UK psyche, it has to be said that the image of self-determination is not aspiration of the majority population of Jammu & Kashmir. It is evident from the interactions, there is a strong feeling of Nationalism among all the various residents of the region and most of them want to flourish like other states in the country.

Lakshmi Kaul is a political aid to Bob Blackman MP and founder of Kashmiri Pandits Cultural Society UK.

In the streets of Jammu

It is a privilege to work with someone who really wants to learn about world cultures. Having been a long standing friend of India, especially Jammu & Kashmir, I was surprised that Bob Blackman MP had never visited India. I took it upon myself as a task to get Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East and his wife, former councillor Nicola Blackman to experience the life in Jammu & Kashmir and understand the ground reality facing the region.

So why would this be a concern to a British MP? Britain has over a million Non-Resident Indians living in the UK which makes them the largest ethnic population. They have a tremendous impact on the socio-economic and political life of Britain. More poignant for Mr Blackman, his constituency in Harrow East has one of the largest Hindu & Indian Population in London. For him, such a visit helps him to understand the ethnic origin of most members of his own constituency better and the therefore facilitates his understanding of the various issues that impact them. The visit also became an opportunity for him to raise some concerns and interact in detail with the senior Ministers and Bureaucrats in India.

Arriving in New Delhi, Mr Blackman first travelled to Srinagar where he was hosted and accompanied by the regional politician BJP MLC, Surinder Ambardar. He then visited the revered Hindu temple of Goddess Ragyna, Kheerbhawani that is constructed over a sacred spring and is managed and run by the Dharmarth Trust. The Kheerbhawani Puja is universal among the Hindus of Kashmir. The temple is situated at a distance of 14 miles east of Srinagar near the village of Tul Mul.

With a hectic schedule, a whole host of meetings were arranged. Mr Blackman met members across regions and religions, representing the civil society, young lawyers, non-displaced Kashmiri Pandits, recently re-settled Kashmiri Pandits who returned to the valley on the Prime Minister’s resettlement package, young politicians, traders and members of Kashmir Chamber of Commerce.

“I am struck by the sheer beauty of Srinagar and the vast potential the state has for future. It was heartening to see the common aspiration for development and progress in the state among all those I met and interacted with,” said Mr Blackman.

From Harrow to Jammu…. by Lakshmi Kaul

Meeting members of Legislative Assembly

In the streets of Jammu

Keep in touch

Latest News

REPLAY - Diwali in London 2024

REPLAY - Diwali on Trafalgar Square 2024 – The Festival of Lights Returns to London

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

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