India’s 76th Republic Day was marked with a grand reception hosted by Muktesh Pardeshi, the Indian Ambassador to Ankara.
M. Ferhat Yüksel
A glamorous reception at the Hilton Hotel saw the presence of Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Ayşe Berris Ekinci, ambassadors, and numerous distinguished guests. The event commenced with the national anthems of both countries, followed by a speech from Ambassador Pardeshi.
“Today, we celebrate the collective achievements of a nation that thrives as the world’s largest, most vibrant, and successful democracy. Embracing diverse religions, languages, and cultures while preserving unity is a testament to India’s strength,” Pardeshi stated during his address.
A Shared History of Resilience
Pardeshi highlighted the deep historical connection between India and Türkiye, forged a century ago through shared struggles against foreign powers.
He recalled: “In the 1920s, the Indian people supported Türkiye’s War of Independence and the founding of its Republic. The Khilafat Movement, initiated by Indian nationalist leaders between 1919 and 1922, was a political campaign opposing Britain’s policies toward Türkiye and the dismemberment of the Ottoman Empire by Allied forces after World War I. Mahatma Gandhi supported this movement as part of his opposition to the British Empire and his broader non-cooperation movement.”
Pardeshi also revealed an intriguing historical detail: “Financial donations from Indians were sent directly to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, and these contributions became part of the initial capital for İş Bank in August 1924.”
A $10 Billion Trade Partnership
On economic ties, Pardeshi noted that annual trade between the two nations has reached $10 billion. “There’s mutual interest in boosting bilateral investments,” he said. “Our relationship is built on historical connections, shared values like democracy and liberal economies, and growing people-to-people ties. Tourism and education hold immense potential, with the number of Indian tourists visiting Türkiye increasing yearly.”
9,000 Shared Words
Deputy Foreign Minister Ayşe Berris Ekinci touched on the linguistic bonds between the two nations, mentioning approximately 9,000 shared words born from historical ties.
Ekinci remarked, “As two G20 nations with expanding influence on the global stage, Türkiye and India are well-positioned to advance their relations across various sectors while promoting peace and prosperity internationally. This vision was reaffirmed during the recent G20 Summit in New Delhi, where President Erdoğan and Prime Minister Modi emphasized their commitment to deepening bilateral ties.”
She further emphasized the potential for collaboration in infrastructure development, tourism, civil aviation, space exploration, IT, healthcare, education, e-commerce, and renewable energy. “Dialogue and interaction are the cornerstones of effective regional cooperation. Our Re-Asia Initiative is rooted in this principle, and we aspire to work more closely with India to secure the prosperity of South Asia,” Ekinci concluded, noting the remarkable progress in economic and trade relations over the past 25 years.
This event showcased the shared history and the promising future of India-Türkiye relations.
