Edinburgh, 18 June 2025: In a vibrant celebration of Indo-Scottish ties and global collaboration, the Scottish Indian Arts Forum, British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, Scottish Hindu Foundation, and Scottish Hindu Economic Forum jointly organized a high-profile Meet and Greet with a distinguished Indian delegation by welcoming at the Scottish Parliament and hosting at MR Busrai Restaurant. The delegation included Hon’ble Judges, Education Ministry officials, Doctors, Philanthropists, and Entrepreneurs, brought together by the Communities to discuss key issues like immigration, legal reforms, and India’s developmental roadmap.
The event was successfully organised by Dr. Richa Sinha, President of the Scottish Hindu Foundation, and Manjari Singh, a prominent Indian community leader. Their dedicated efforts in fostering intercultural dialogue and uniting the Indian diaspora were widely appreciated.
MSP Foysol Choudhry warmly welcomed the delegation to the Scottish Parliament, acknowledging the critical contributions of the Indian diaspora.
The delegation, led by Prof. (Dr.) Ashutosh Mishra, Member, Board of Governance, All India Sainik School Society, Ministry of Defence, Government of India, also held in-depth discussions on hate crimes, culminating in the announcement of a major international conference on Hate Crimes to be held in April 2026.
A Diverse and Distinguished Gathering
The event was graced by dignitaries from both India and Scotland, reflecting a shared vision of cultural inclusivity and global cooperation.
Among the notable Indian delegates were:
- Dr. Richa Sinha, President, Scottish Hindu Foundation
- Manjari Singh, Leader, Bihari Community of Scotland
- Shri Anand Ahlawat & Ms. Manisha, Haryana Community Leaders
- Mr. Abhijit Chakraborty, Scottish Indian Arts Forum
- Dr. Sanjay, Philanthropist
- Ms. Tarun Garg, Educationist (India)
- Shri Rajat Talati, Gujarati Community Leader
- Smt. Sujata Dhamamsker (Samrat), Maharashtra Community Leader
- Shri Uday Kuchadi, Telugu Association Leader
- Dr. Kiran Sachane, President, British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
- Swapnil Wirmalwar & Mr. Vikram Shekhawat, Scottish Hindu Economic Forum
- Shiv Singh, Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh
Book Release and Mention
A key highlight of the event was the launch of the book titled “Economic, Social and Legal Impact of the Prayagraj Mahakumbh Mela 2025”, authored by Prof. (Dr.) Ashutosh Mishra and Suraj Kumar Maurya. The book offers insights into the socio-legal and economic dimensions of one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
A book titled ‘Hindus in Scotland Then and Now’ was also unveiled.
Promoting Culture, Unity, and Dialogue
The Scottish Indian Arts Forum, known for organizing cultural events like Dussehra, International Yoga Day, and Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav, reiterated its commitment to promoting diversity, inclusivity, and fusion of Indian and Scottish traditions.
This meet not only strengthened the cultural bonds but also opened avenues for policy dialogue, bilateral cooperation, and legal awareness among the Indian diaspora in Scotland.