India ha s reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening cooperation with Malawi, saying development support will continue to build on the historical contribution of the Sikh community in the country.
Indian High Commissioner Amararam Gujar made the remarks yesterday in Blantyre where he joined the Indian community in Baisakhi celebrations held at Sikh Temple Limbe.
He said the cel ebrations reflected the long-standing cultural and historical ties between India and Malawi, which continue to be strengthened through community and development cooperation.
He said: “The presence of the Sikh community in Malawi continues to symbolise a shared heritage dating back to the colonial era.
the celebration. | Kondwani Nyondo
“And India will continue to build on this historical contribution by supporting Malawi’s development in different sectors. We will expand these areas of cooperation in line with Malawi’s development priorities.”
The Sikh presence in Malawi dates back to when members of the community arrived during the colonial period through the King’s African Rifles.
Their role later expanded into inf rast ructure development , particularly railway construction, where Sikh engineers contributed to projects across East Africa, including Malawi.
Baisakhi is an annual Indian festival observed between April 13 and 15 each year where Indians celebrate the harvest and mark the Punjabi New Year, giving thanks for agricultural abundance.
However, this year’s celebrations in Malawi were held yesterday to align with the unveiling ceremony.
Sikh Association of Malawi chairperson Manwinder Singh said the decision was intended to give the event greater significance.
“We decided to celebrate on April 19 so that we combine Baisakhi with the unveiling of the bust of Maharaja Ranjit Singh, making the occasion more significant for our community,” he said.
Blantyre City mayor Jomo Osman said India continues to play an important role in the city’s development through investment and business partnerships.
“India has been a key partner in the development of Blantyre, and their continued support through business and investment is helping the city to grow,” he said.
The celebrations featured p rayer s, mu s i c and ki r t an performances, bringing together members of the Sikh and Hindu communities in joint cultural and religious observance
