The High Commission of India in London hosted a prestigious Republic Day reception at the historic Guildhall, attended by over 800 guests, including UK Members of Parliament, Lords, Indian diaspora leaders, and other distinguished personalities.
UK Speaker Hails India’s Democratic and Technological Leadership
The chief guest, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons, highlighted the strong and evolving India-UK relationship, emphasizing deep historical, cultural, and economic ties.
He praised India’s thriving democracy and recalled Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla’s recent visit to the UK Parliament, calling it an “eye-opener.” Hoyle expressed admiration for India’s use of artificial intelligence in Parliament, stating:
“To learn that AI simultaneously translates 22 languages in your Parliament is just incredible. As I told your Honourable Speaker, we would love to work together to find out how AI can improve our parliamentary procedures.”
Indian High Commissioner Highlights India-UK Partnership
India’s High Commissioner to the UK, Vikram Doraiswami, reflected on India’s transition to democracy 75 years ago, when the Constitution came into force:
“We did not wait for prosperity or literacy or a better someday. We gave every one of ourselves full citizenship from the start.”
Speaking on India-UK ties, he described the partnership as a “natural and obvious choice”, underscoring the shared values between the two nations.
Strengthening Bilateral Relations
Wes Streeting, the UK’s Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, also attended the event, reinforcing India-UK collaborations across key sectors, including healthcare and trade.
A Grand Celebration of India’s Heritage and Global Influence
The Republic Day reception at Guildhall served as a significant platform for:
✅ Strengthening diplomatic ties
✅ Recognizing the Indian diaspora’s contributions
✅ Celebrating India’s rich cultural and democratic heritage
With the presence of top UK officials and Indian leaders, the event marked another historic milestone in India-UK relations.