Indo British Scholars’ Association (IBSA) commemorated its Silver Jubilee celebration with a closing ceremony in Kolkata on 30 January 2023. The overarching theme for IBSA@25 was: LIVING BRIDGES: Knowledge and Sustainable Progress.
The Chief Guest at the Closing Ceremony, Lord Karan Bilimoria, Life Peer in the UK House of Lords and Chancellor, University of Birmingham gave a special address through video. Mr. Sanjiv Bajaj, President, CII, Ms. Christina Scott, British Deputy High Commissioner to India were Guests of Honour and Ms. Alison Barrett MBE, Director – British Council India graced the occasion virtually. Mr. Nick Low, British Deputy High Commissioner to Kolkata attended the event.
Mr. Subrata Paul, President, IBSA said: “The Closing Ceremony of IBSA Silver Jubilee Celebrations was held today at the Bengal Club, when Lord Karan Bilimoria, Immediate Past President of Confederation of British Industry and Chancellor of University of Birmingham and Alison Barret, Director, British Council India spoke on a virtual mode. We had Mr. Sanjiv Bajaj, President, CII and Christina Scott, Minister and Deputy British High Commissioner to India physically as Guest of Honour. Mr. Bajaj gave the key note address. IBSA had a yearlong Silver Jubilee Celebration from January 2022which included IBSA Scholars Delegation to UK in June 2022, wherein the delegation visited Imperial College, Ashbridge Business School, University of Birmingham, London Business School and Jenner Institute at Oxford, where the Covishield Vaccine was developed. During Jubilee celebrations IBSA had organized a very special webinar in collaboration with Imperial College and CII on “Building an Entrepreneurial Eco-system”.
Ms. Christina Scott, British Deputy High Commissioner to India said: “Congratulations to the Indo-British Scholars Association for a successful 25 years embodying the living bridge between the UK and India. Great to join your birthday celebrations in Kolkata.”
IBSA was inaugurated on the sidelines of the Confederation of Indian Industry’s (CII) Partnership Summit in January 1997 by the then Prime Minister John Major at the behest of the British Council. Ever since our inception, IBSA has been promoting enduring relations between India and the UK through Education, Arts, Culture, Science and Technology as also supporting social causes including providing scholarships to deserving students for courses at the British Council.
On this occasion IBSA recognised and honoured the leadership of its Past Presidents
