Barry Gardiner founded and was the chairman of the Labor Friends of India (LFIN) group
London:
British MP Barry Gardiner and the late British theater director Peter Brook formally received their Padma Shri Awards in a special ceremony at India House in London.
Gardiner, an opposition Labor Party MP for Brent North in London, was awarded one of India’s prestigious civilian honors in 2020 for his contributions to public affairs, but was unable to receive his award from the president due to the COVID lockdown.
A memorable evening: honor #PadmaShri winners @Barry Gardiner MP (2020) for public service and theater genius, the late Peter Brook (2021). Barry helped deepen the friendship and Mr. Brook brought Mahabharata to the world. HC presented the awards to Simon Brook & Barry Gardiner. pic.twitter.com/nl01c4oihK
— India in the UK (@HCI_London) June 24, 2023
Theater director Peter Brook, best known in India for his epic adaptation of ‘The Mahabharata’, received his award for contributions to the art field in 2021. His son, Simon Brook, accepted the award on behalf of his late father aged 97 last year.
“We congratulate two very distinguished friends of India; to honor them for their friendship and long years of service to the friendship of our peoples and to promoting greater understanding,” India’s High Commissioner told Britain’s Vikram Doraiswami, who attended Friday night’s meeting at the High Commission of India in London. addressed.
“Unfortunately, the 2020 and 2021 prices fell during the COVID pandemic. So, unfortunately, a large number of dignitaries could not travel to be honored appropriately, as the President of India should have done at the Presidential Palace in Delhi. However, that gives us the opportunity to offer this simple ceremony,” he said.
Gardiner, 66, founder and chairman of the Labor Friends of India (LFIN) group for many years, spoke of his great affinity for India when he accepted his Padma Shri.
“India is the most extraordinary democracy in a part of the world where democracies are unfortunately all too uncommon. Not just now the largest population of any country, overtaking China, but a democracy that is vibrant,” he said.
The former shadow cabinet minister, who has advocated closer relations between India and the UK under a future Labor Party-led government, expressed hope for a transformation in the security relationship between the two countries.
“India should be the guarantor of global security in that part of the world. It’s been a long time since I said that India should be on the Permanent Security Council, that should happen. India is vital to the UK as a security partner,” he said.
“I think this is the most important relationship we can develop. I’ve felt that way for over 25 years; and I am humbled by this award,” he added.
Director Simon Brook, who had traveled from Paris to receive the Padma Shri presented to Peter Brook, spoke of his father’s great love for India.
“He was a very good friend of India, very inspired by India, and I think India changed his life,” he said.
Simon Brook, the director behind films like ‘Indian Summer’, went on to tell how his father, the legendary theater director, came into contact with the ‘Mahabharata’ while learning Sanskrit.
“As a teenager I was lucky enough to join him on those first trips to India many moons ago, to go see the local productions, meet people and travel around… India itself,” he shared.
“My dad always thought most things take too long, plays take too long, people’s speeches take too long. And that didn’t stop him from putting on a nine-hour production,” he added, referring to Peter Brook’s famous play ‘Le Mahabharat’ that went around the world in the 1980s.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NewsMadura staff and is being published from a syndicated feed.)
