THE SPECTACULAR launch of the online UK edition of Blitz India, in London on June 24, was a star-studded affair in every sense of the word. With the who’s who of Britain and India in attendance at the Royal Automobile Club, the Lords and the Ladies sat down at tables bedecked in crisp white linen and dainty crystal glasses. Candles burnt bright in silver candelabras and juices flowed freely, both literal and metaphorical, as speaker after speaker lauded the efforts of Blitz India Chairman & Editor-in-Chief Deepak Dwivedi in setting new standards in development journalism.
India’s Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who could not be physically present due to last-minute engagements back home, sent a video message which was played on the occasion. Mehta recalled his association with Blitz India and conveyed his best wishes on the London launch.
Hinduja Group Chairman Gopichand Hinduja highlighted the positive and constructive role being played by Blitz India through its focus on improved relationship between countries across the world, especially India and the UK. Indian businessman and columnist Suhel Seth invoked both Shakespeare’s Juliet Ceasar and Indian sage Manu’s Manusmriti to stress the importance of doing good, charitable work and then not making a song and dance about it. Lord Rami Ranger promised all support to Blitz India in becoming a publication with wide global footprint.
Among the high-profile guests in the packed hall were Sulabh International Founder Bindeshwar Pathak and spiritual leaders from Iskcon and other places of worship from India and the UK. Alongside, we publish excerpts from the key speeches:
TUSHAR MEHTA
Solicitor General of India
‘Unwavering commitment to development journalism’
I am pleased to express my heartfelt appreciation for Blitz India and the transformative work it has undertaken in the field of development journalism. It gives me great pleasure to learn about the launch of Blitz India’s first international edition from London, which marks a significant milestone in the realm of journalism, particularly in the post-Independence era.
Blitz India accords utmost sanctity to Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the UN blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all. While governments are working relentlessly to achieve these, media too must play a key role in the process.
Blitz India has consistently exemplified an unwavering commitment to development journalism and constructive writing, effectively underscoring the importance of constructive, inspirational, and promotional writing in propelling progress across various domains.
Bilateral relations:
One notable aspect that sets Blitz India apart is its emphasis on cultivating bilateral relations and its clear focus on comprehensive and sustainable development, energy exchange, climate change, and economic progress between nations.
It is crucial for individuals from all walks of life, be it business, industry, politics, or education, to acknowledge and support this commendable effort. We should wholeheartedly provide our assistance and cooperation to propel Blitz India onto the global stage celebrating India and celebrating Indians.
International editions:
I have recently learned about Blitz India’s plans to release international editions in the Middle East, Africa, Europe, America, and other regions following its successful launch in London. Achieving this vision will require widespread cooperation, and I wish Blitz India all the success.
I wish to extend my deepest admiration for the remarkable work carried out by Blitz India. Its undeniable impact in the field of development journalism, coupled with its vision for global expansion, serves as an inspiration for all.
The London launch of development-oriented newspaper, Blitz India, is without doubt a major milestone. I wish Blitz India a big success!
GOPICHAND HINDUJA
Chairperson, Hinduja Group
‘Remain focused on India and the UK
BLITZ INDIA is the first one to launch the media here. I always believe, India-UK relationship would be the best for both the countries. Although with the Prime Minister’s visit now in the US, he has developed a very good achievement with US; UK, US have a good relationship; so IndiaUK-USA can really become a great height in each and every respect. Blitz India is especially practicing positive and constructive journalism knowing inspirational and motivational writing has a big role to play today. Furthermore, Blitz India is the only newspaper in the world which talks about improved relationship between countries at the international level, including India and UK.
Free trade agreements:
UK and India are forging ever closer relations, especially as the UK goes global seeking bilateral free trade agreements, including with India. My great desire has been, for a long time, to see how the FTA can be signed at the earliest, which will be good for the economy of UK because India, in any case, is going to be the third- largest economy in the world, which I have been saying from 2019.
I am not an economist, I am not an expert, I am not a graduate, but I went in the University of UOL and in that UOL, I get instincts what are going to happen. I can also further add that Blitz India & UK can contribute positively to numerous issues covering to India-UK relation. Dwivedi Saheb, never forget this; and be more focused on India, UK, rather than anything else. Amongst them are the Roadmap 2030 promoting, business and trade, education healthcare and climate change.
Development goals:
Furthermore, Blitz India-UK can address issues concerning the UN Sustainable Development Goals such as good health, quality education, gender equality, affordable and clean energy, decent work, economic growth, industry innovation and infrastructure, reduce inequalities, sustainable cities and communities, responsible consumption and production, climate action peace, justice and strong institutions are all very important for each and every country Furthermore Blitz can add its voice and opinion to global issues, especially as the world faces enormous political, economic, security-related challenges and how this all impacts the Indo-UK relations. We should be proud Indian companies are UK’s secondlargest foreign investors and may this investment continue to grow. For the Hindujas, our footprint in UK continues to grow with our investments in electric buses, in Old War Office, in Hinduja Global. But more than that, we are focused on charitable activities.
About charity :
We love to do more and more charities in the sectors where we are and in that we knew one thing: do good and forget it, and if someone asks me how much I have spent, what I have done in the full year in the Foundation, I will never remember them because’ do good and forget’ is the best suggestion to all of you. Don’t go after getting honours or getting admiration of what you are achieving. Do good and forget.
I am also delighted the UK Government attaches such importance to relations with India. The UK-India Advisory Council under the chairmanship of Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon is drawing on Indian diaspora to understand more about India and the opportunities open to both countries to growth and success. The opportunities are enormous – from manufacturing to education, healthcare, newer industries such as renewables and cyber-security.
Deepak Dwivedi, congratulations on your thoughts, ideas and your new venture! I can only wish you good luck a nd I hope you focus on what you have planned, you will be successful. And all sitting here, they will give you full support.
LORD RAMI RANGER
Chairman, Sun Mark
A global phenomenon where news travels first
WE ARE here to celebrate the launch of Blitz. It’s a historic launch, in historical time, in a historical city, London. So, Blitz India, we wish you a very big success in your endeavour to become a global phenomenon where the news travels first, that you will be the first to bring the news to the diaspora all around the world.
One big mistake :
Indian diaspora is one of the largest diaspora and many of you will know that we came from a country with nearly 5-6,000-year-old civilisation. We were ahead in every field. We were ahead in science, medicine, astronomy, architecture. You just have to see a 2,000-yearold temple to see how far ahead we were. But there was one big mistake we made, we were not united; and we paid the price for nearly a thousand years. Those who don’t learn from the history have to repeat the history again and again and again. Therefore, we must remain united. We must remain a big force.
We are contributing a great deal to the world. Prime Minister Modi Ji received one of the greatest welcomes given to any world leader and India is a secular, democratic country with rule of law at the heart of governance.
Diversity is accepted, respected and celebrated, and also protected, if need be. There are laws against discrimination of every kind in India as well as in United Kingdom. Our partnership is made in heaven. We share each other’s values. Therefore, our friendship will go from strength to strength. We don’t have to watch each other’s back.
Important role :
On top of that, the Free Trade Agreement between the two countries will be the biggest in the history of the world; between the Number 4 and the 5th economy. Given the size of India, it’ll be huge. So, therefore, I look forward to the day when UK-India partnership goes from strength to strength and the Blitz plays a very important role in bringing those wonderful news stories to us. So, Mr. Dwivedi, I give you my full cooperation and support in your endeavor to make Blitz a global news vehicle!
SUHEL SETH
Columnist, Speaker, and Theatre Enthusiast
Blitz India will blaze a trail that will inspire
A S Mr Hinduja said, the purpose of society is to engender goodness; the purpose of society is not to engage, enrage and create any kinds of negativity that may have an adverse impact on the progress of humanity. But sadly, society has become that.
I’m delighted that Blitz, living up to the glorious traditions of its founder Russi Karanjia, has decided to transform itself into not just a beacon of hope but into that delivery mechanism that will allow people to share the good that exists within us We must remember Shakespeare, who, in Julius Caesar says the “good is often interred with the bones, the evil lives long after.” But we don’t need to follow Shakespeare so assiduously. Where I come from, which is India, we are predominantly a Hindu society but Hinduism is not a religion, it’s a way of life We’ve had years of legacy of civilisational advancement and as Mr Hinduja said, ‘Neki Kar Kuyen mein dal’ is an adaptation of the intrinsic thought.
Subhead Subhead: I don’t know how many of you know about Manu, but Manu wrote Manusmriti almost 3,900 years ago; and he talked about charity, he talked about daan, way before the Bill Gates and the Warren Buffetts decided to engage the world with it. Blitz will continue to blaze a trail, but it will blaze a trail of compassion, it’ll blaze a trail of empathy and it will blaze a trail that will inspire.
Societies are built on people who inspire, not on people who enrage. Humanity can only progress when amongst each one of us the goodness quotient is allowed to come out and spread its wings. To that end, congratulations Mr Dwivedi, to each one of you for being here!
India today is an amazing country at an amazing time. We are blessed because of our ancestral legacy, a little part that Britain played in it, not often glorious but still welcome, and we are delighted that today India is in the comity of nations and stands to be counted. It’s a tribute not only to every Indian but to each one of you here who believes in the idea of India and believes in the Indianness of thought. Thank you and have a splendid evening!
