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Interfaith Remembrance Assembly to Mark the Armistice Centenary, UK

16 Nov 2018

Interfaith Remembrance Assembly

Guests arriving for the remembrance assembly

Kamlesh Patel, a BAPS volunteer, introduced the proceedings with a moving preamble

Sikh, Christian, Hindu, Muslim, Zoroastrian and Buddhist faith leaders inaugurated the assembly by performing the traditional deep pragatya (lighting of lamps)

Ben Wong played a stirring rendition of the 'Colonel Bogey March' and 'Qadam Qadam Badhaye Ja' - marches of the British and Indian armies

Children holding flags of all 53 Commonwealth nations filed into the hall

Flags of the 53 Commonwealth nations honoured the sacrifices of all who served during World War One

Nitin Palan MBE welcomed the attendees on behalf of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha

The audience stood as the trumpeter played the British and Indian national anthems

Leaders of Hindu sampradays offered the mantrapushpanjali - an ancient Hindu floral tribute - to the departed souls

HE Euripides L. Evriviades <br>High Commissioner of Cyprus to the United Kingdom <br>Chair of the Commonwealth Board of Governors

HE Euripides L. Evriviades
High Commissioner of Cyprus to the United Kingdom
Chair of the Commonwealth Board of Governors

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon <br>Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN <br>Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon
Minister of State for the Commonwealth and the UN
Prime Minister’s Special Envoy on Freedom of Religion or Belief

Lord Ahmad called the evening 'an incredible demonstration of the unity of mankind, the unity of remembrance'

Air Commodore Anil Sabharwal <br>On Behalf of the High Commission of India to the United Kingdom

Air Commodore Anil Sabharwal
On Behalf of the High Commission of India to the United Kingdom

Over 1,000 guests had gathered for the assembly

Guests had gathered from all parts of the United Kingdom

Two children recited 'Gift of India', a poem by Sarojini Naidu

Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) was regarded as the 'Nightingale of India'

Several prominent government officials and civic leaders had attended the assembly

Rt. Hon. Tom Tugendhat MP <br>Chair of Foreign Affairs Select Committee

Rt. Hon. Tom Tugendhat MP
Chair of Foreign Affairs Select Committee

Staff Sergeant Sohail Ashraf MBE explained how Wilfred Owen, renowned British war poet, was inspired by Indian Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore's 'Gitanjali'

Air Trooper Vivek Sangani recited Poem 96 from Tagore's 'Gitanjali'

Lord Gadhia of Northwood explained the significance of the khadi poppy, recognising the 'outsized contribution of soldiers from undivided India' and the support of Mahatma Gandhi during the War

Swamis and volunteers performed Narsinh Mehta's 'Vaishnava Jana To', one of Gandhi's favourite bhajans

Several attendees followed the proceedings with the order of service booklet provided

Guests from all faiths and backgrounds had come together as one to honour the sacrifices of so many

Revd Dr R. F. Leão Neto <br>Harlesden Methodist Church

Revd Dr R. F. Leão Neto
Harlesden Methodist Church

Imam Mohammed Mahmoud <br>Finsbury Park Mosque

Imam Mohammed Mahmoud
Finsbury Park Mosque

Sardar Sulakhan Singh <br>Honorary President of the Namdhari Sikh Sangat UK

Sardar Sulakhan Singh
Honorary President of the Namdhari Sikh Sangat UK

Malcolm Minoo Deboo <br>President of Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe

Malcolm Minoo Deboo
President of Zoroastrian Trust Funds of Europe

Sadhu Yogvivekdas <br>Head of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK & Europe

Sadhu Yogvivekdas
Head of BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, UK & Europe

Yogvivekdas Swami conveyed an uplifting message of peace, hope and unity from HH Mahant Swami Maharaj

The evening concluded with the playing of 'The Last Post'

The exhortation for 'The Last Post' was led by Warrant Officer Balbir Singh Flora MBE

Everyone joined in two minutes of respectful silence at the end of 'The Last Post'

Several esteemed members of the British and Indian armed forces and government had participated in the evening