Indian High Commissioner Mr. Ranjan Mathai met ELSA UK – an alumni group of the prestigious Lady Shri Ram College for Women in New Delhi.
The topics of discussion ranged from bilateral relations between the UK and India to the role of Indians in British society and the contribution of Asian women to the country.
Hosted at India House, the High Commissioner spoke of the entrepreneurial spirit of Indians abroad and how high-achieving ELSAs can impact the British Indian diaspora. Speaking to an audience of women from diverse walks of life, he highlighted the estimates that Indians who make 2% of the British population contribute about 6% of the British GDP. He further commented, “Indians are now recognised in British society for their significant contribution towards the UK economy. As many as 700 Indian companies have currently invested in the UK. Tata’s are today known to be the largest manufacturing employer in the UK.”
The High Commissioner concluded on a candid note praising the LSR alumni network in UK for their initiative and motivation in working for the cause of furthering their alma mater in foreign land. He then handed over the floor to eminent professionals in the group doing extraordinary work in supporting Indian origin women in distress, in association with the High Commission and other charity organizations. Many ELSA’s shared personal experiences of working with victims of domestic violence, rehabilitating women in distress and the group had a scintillating discussion on how they can further aid this worthy cause together as leading lights of the Asian women diaspora in the UK.
ELSAs shared that their inspiration for this group came from their passion for Lady Sri Ram College and their passion for India. Lady Sri Ram has played a significant role in shaping the lives of ELSA’s across the globe and it is their passion for the college and their pride and passion for India that motivates them to give back to their country and their college in every way possible, no matter where they live across the world.
The ELSA UK chapter was introduced in 2014 and since then has hosted various events to bring together an eclectic group of LSR women from myriad backgrounds on one common platform.