Be 24X7 ambassadors of Bharat, says Indian VP Jagdeep Dhankhar

On May 6, Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar and his wife Dr Sudeep Dhankhar represented India at the historic Coronation ceremony of King Charles III and Queen Camilla

The VP had not one but two intimate interactions with representatives of the Indian dia spor a or gan ise d b y the India n High Com miss ioner to the UK Vikr am Doraiswami during his short visit to the UK

The VP appealed to people to act as 24/7 ambassadors of India in the UK Dhankhar

A crown jewel of Hounslow, a mosaic of cultures and colour

Creative Art Campus has announced the painting of a large-scale mural to celebrate the upcoming Coronation of His Majesty The King and H er Majes ty The Que en Consort said: “Every one of you has to be 24x7 an ambassador of Bharat India is now the hub of manufacturing activity for the globe I would therefore appeal to all of you, in whatever manner you can contribute to the growth of the nation, for the rise in its reputation and to ensure that untenable, illpremised, unfounded, baseless narratives do not take strides in the public domain

“No one is against honest assessment or criticism, that will always help us attain our goals But malicious, pernicious orchestration is antithetical to good conscience We must antidote it ”

He also met several British Indian mem- bers of the UK Parliament, including peers

Lord Meghnad Desai and Lord Karan Bilimoria and MPs Virendra Sharma and Seema Malhotra

While interacting with Indian students based in the UK, the VP stressed dispelling falsehoods about India He said: “If you don’t approve of it, you must antidote it A false narrative about such a vibrant democracy is antithetical to our national interest if we don’t react And, I have no doubt, the most powerful reaction always comes from rational minds ”

After a packed schedule of royal engagements including a Commonwealth Heads of Government meet hosted by Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland and a reception hosted by King Charles for world leaders at Buckingham Palace in London, his two-day visit to the UK concluded

Diversity and Inclusion

The Coronation Mural Project is a firstof-its-kind project an initiative by Indian origin team in the UK, celebrating multiculturalism and the commonwealth The project aims to create a mosaic of cultures and colours by featuring 54 flags of the commonwealth countries and showcasing the coronation theme of the British monarchy The project is a unique blend of history and art, reflecting the future of multicultural Britain

The design composition and art details are created by Mr Rohit Patel, a renowned Indian artist with over 20 years of experience in the art industry Their unique approach to mural painting is based on a deep understanding of the local environment, culture, and history, as well as a commitment to using the highest quality materials and techniques This approach ensures that their murals are not only beautiful and visually striking but also meaningful and impactful established themselves as experts in mural painting Jignesh and Yash have a wealth of experience creating stunning and unique murals that capture the imagination and inspire awe in all who see them They have worked on a wide range of projects, from large-scale public murals to intricate indoor designs, and their work has been featured in numerous publications and media outlets

With their extensive experience and Guinness World Record recognition, Jignesh and Yash are the perfect artists to lead the creation of the Coronation Commonwealth Mural in Hounslow The planning, execution, and support team includes Sudeep Sakalle, Kamal Prabhakar, Kuldeep Shekhawat, Nachiket Joshi, Babji S Vundavilli Tapan Shah, Acharya Jyoti Prakash, Shreyansh Jain, Khushi Shah & Aditi Chourey Sakalle Their creativity and expertise will ensure that the mural is a stunning and unforgettable work of art that will be admired and celebrated for many years to come

Britain has come a long way says head of UK’s leading ethnic media agency Javed Husain is the Founder and Director of Mediareach Advertising Ltd, a full-service advertising agency spec ia li zi ng i n multi c ul tural and ethnic marketing With over 36 years of experience in the industry, Javed has es tab li shed hi mse lf as an ex pe rt i n mar keti ng to diverse audiences

Speaking to Asian Voice on the eve of King Charles’ coronation he said: “I believe that with the coronation of King Charles the nation is entering a new phase in embracing diversity

"As someone who came to Britain in 1984, I can see first-hand how far this country has come in embracing multiculturalism Ethnic minorities have also imbibed a lot from the British during these years Growing up in Lucknow, India, I was exposed to multicultural and multi-faith communities which taught me the importance of celebrating diversity and respecting other cultures I believe we must continue to make positive strides towards a more just and equal society for all ”

Javed was born in the Nawabi city of Lucknow, India, into a family of entrepreneurs He received his early education at La Martiniere College and went on to earn a BA in Business from Christian College He later received a post-graduate degree in advertising from Watford College, Hertfordshire

A fifth generation Syed with ancestors from Iraq and Iran, Javed’s formative years in India shaped his views on diversity and inclusion One of Javed's fond memories of celebrating cultural and multi-faith traditions during his early days is sharing his special Eid meals with friends from other faiths He recalls: “I shared my Lucknow Biryani, Murg Musallam, Sheermal, and kebabs with them In turn, I looked forward to their vegetarian delights during Diwali and Holi ”

Javed recalls fondly his own family’s role in raising funds for a Bhairav Mandir in Lucknow, India He says: “Initially it was the Nawab’s of Lucknow who played an active role After that my father took over the responsibility of raising funds for the annual prayer service of the temple After my father’s demise my brother continued the tradition That was my family’s role in nurturing communal harmony in the community

“This upbringing taught me the importance of diversity and inclusion at an early age I learned to appreciate and respect people from different backgrounds and to celebrate our differences This experience has stayed with me throughout my life and has constantly informed my work in promoting diversity and inclusion at Mediareach

“I firmly believe that by embracing diversity and inclusion, we can create a more vibrant and dynamic society where everyone can thrive ”

Advertising journey

Javed co-founded Mediareach Advertising in the late 80s, bringing together key skills to become the first full-service advertising agency targeting ethnic markets He was instrumental in raising awareness of the potential that the then untapped ethnic markets in the UK offered to mainstream brands He has created bespoke campaigns and has won several awards earning him the title ‘Godfather of multicultural media in the UK and Europe’

A passionate speaker and sought after media consultant, Javed has helped brands to adapt to the changing face of Europe, as diversity became a mandatory requirement for many brands and organizations He was a strategic advisor on multiculturalism to the London 2012 Olympics committee, GLA and the UK government

Regarding advertising and marketing communications, Javed feels that very often brands follow a broadbrush approach when it comes to targeting diverse communities He bemoans, “In the name of diversity advertising messages are created with a sprinkling of people of colour in them but there’s no real insight into creating them There is no holistic understanding of who the real customer is As a result, brands do not cater to the real target audience There is a mismatch between brands and end users ”

The project is led by two Guinness World Record-holder artists, Jignesh Patel and Yash Patel of Indian origin who have

Jignesh told Asian Voice, “One very old white lady came down when we painting and told me“ I was leaving in Hounslow all my life and I see press only when there is murder or rape for the first time This many years now press is coming for positive news ”

A Baker’s Confession on Coronation

Janannie Rangaswamy owns a sm all bu si ness na med ‘A Baker’s Conf essi o n ’ in Basingstoke and specialises in Cus tom Celebrati ons Cakes , Engagement Cakes, Wedding Cakes, Sculpted Cakes and all things sweet

Speaking to Asian Voice, she said that at the end of last year, she decided to offer treat boxes for all the occasions/celebrations for the first half of 2023 beginning with Valentine's Day “I was absolutely certain to offer treat boxes for the King's Coronation though the details were not worked out then At the beginning of April, I was jotting down ideas for treat boxes for the King's Coronation and I was inspired by the storm of embossers and acrylic charms available for the Coronation by other local small businesses I wanted to offer something simple so that my Clients could enjoy with their family and friends during this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity whilst I would be able to bake, decorate and do the packaging in large numbers So I decided to offer Cupcakes and Bento Box Cakes,”

Janannie said

“By mid of April, I decided to offer a Box of 3 and a Box of 6 for a small family or small group of people can enjoy and Bento Sharing Box(Serves 16) which has a 5 inch Cake and 6 Cupcake which can be shared by a large group of people or at a street party,” she added She kept the Red, Blue and Beige colours of the frosting in line with the Traditional British colour scheme and decorated the cupcakes and cake with Gold sprinkles, flag toppers and Fondant Toppers with embossed Charles Rex and God Save The King The Treat Boxes came out as beautifully as planned and the Preorders were open from 24th April till 1st May

“I had an amazing response to the Coronation cupcakes compared to other holidays this year, which shows the true British spirit and rich culture,” she further added

British High Commission celebrates the coronation in New Delhi

The British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis hosted a reception and screening of the Coronation of Their Majesties King Charles III and the Queen, at his residence in New Delhi This historic milestone is being celebrated in the UK over a special long weekend with events to bring the UK together, and celebrations and events taking place at 2 80 diploma tic mis sion s ar oun d the world

The reception was attended by a wide range of dignitaries from the Government of India, representatives from Commonwealth nations, business leaders, and other eminent personalities The High Commissioner also joined Chef Shaun Kenworthy in the kitchen to prepare the ‘Coronation Quiche’ for the guests Alex Ellis, British High Commissioner to India, said: “The

Coronation of Their Majesties The King and The Queen is a historic event Today’s ceremony reflected a modern and diverse UK, with representatives from many faithsincluding Hinduism, Sikhism, and Islam –carrying the Coronation Regalia “His Majesty has had a long and enduring love for India and it is my privilege to celebrate this moment with friends here in Delhi ”