President Pratibha Patil to visit UK in Oct

I / London August 10, 2009, 11:29 IST

President Pratibha Patil will undertake a three-day visit to Britain beginning October 27, the first state visit by any Indian Head of the State in nearly two decades.

Acting Indian High Commissioner to the UK Asoke Mukerji said Patil will visit Britain from October 27 to 29 at the invitation of Queen Elizabeth. During her visit, the President will stay at the Windsor Castle.  "After a long time, a state visit will take place in the last week of October," Mukerji said, while speaking at a function organised by the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan to celebrate India's Independence Day.  

 

Mukerji noted that this would be the third State Visit by an Indian President to the UK. Late Presidents S Radhakrishnan and R Venkataraman visited the UK in 1963 and 1990 respectively.  

The Acting High Commissioner also noted that India has become the second largest investor in the UK, next only to the US.  

"India has become a beacon of hope in the region," he said and praised the Indian Community in the UK for their contributions.  

Describing the Indian community in UK as unique, he said it has not only prospered but helped the UK-India relations to take deep root."British Indians are not only a bridge, they are also interpreters of the relations," Mukerji said.  

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a State Visit to India in 1961 as the guests of the then President Rajendra Prasad.  

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a State visit to India in November 1983 as the Guests of the then President Giani Zail Singh. That visit included the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh paid a state visit to India in October 1997, as the guests of the then President K R Narayanan.  

Maneck Dalal, Chairman of the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan said: "We are here to serve the cause of India's culture and we have made concerted efforts to join the mainstream of British culture, while maintaining our identity."  

Referring to disturbing scenario of extremism and fanaticism in parts of the society, Dalal said "We are a force for good."  

John Marr, recipient of Padma Shri for his contributions to the UK-India relations, said "India has bounced back after the tragedy of Mumbai (terror attacks in November last year).  "India is a growing country and the 21st century belongs to India because of its democracy, leadership and value of Parliamentary democracy that works."