Pandit Shyamaji Krishnavarma is a forgotten hero, an inspiring character from the Indian diaspora who spent a large part of his life attempting to make India free from the clutches of British rule. On our cover, we have an article on this gallant soul—a freedom fighter, Sanskrit scholar and philanthropist—rolled into one. He inspired Indian youth to take on the force of the British empire while living in its very heart—at Highgate, London. Forced to flee after the secret service was tasked to arrest him for treason, Shyamaji reached Paris, where began a fresh chapter of his freedom struggle.

While in England he had set up a hostel for Indian students called India House. He established the Indian Home Rule Society at his residence in Highgate. He also started the anti-colonial newspaper, The Indian Sociologist.

Following his tour to the USA, Prime Minister Mr Narendra Modi received rock-star treatment in Australia where he spent five days in November attending among others the G-20 Summit alongside world leaders. He was the most sought after political face at the Summit, and went on to address a joint session of Australian Parliament. He spoke at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground, the declared venue for the World Cup cricket final of 2015. He also addressed the Indian diaspora at the Allphones Arena in Sydeny. Subsequently he left for Fiji. He became the first Indian PM in 28 years to visit Australia, and the first Indian PM in 33 years to visit Fiji. Interestingly, the last PMs to visit Australia and Fiji were the late Mr Rajiv Gandhi and his mother, the late Mrs Indira Gandhi.

Pathway to Peace is an Interfaith Conference that was organized in Chicago by the Sikh Religious Society at Palatine, Illinois. The conference featured 11 speakers representing streams of religious and spiritual perspectives.

And in London, U.K., over 500 distinguished guests were in attendance at the British Sikh Association annual dinner. Dr Virander Paul, India’s Deputy High Commissioner to the U.K. paid tribute to the British Sikh community for excelling in all walks of life, and for having turned into one of the most prominent ethnic communities within the United Kingdom.

Happy reading.

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