CIF E-Newsletter
| Volume 18 Issue #10 October 2025 |
Hello friends,
I’ve just returned from beautiful British Columbia, where the Canada India Foundation hosted a grand Diwali celebration alongside BCIBN’s 10th Anniversary. Just days before Diwali, when light begins to push away the shadows, we witnessed communities coming together with a shared resolve to move forward toward hope and healing. Over the past year, many in our Indo-Canadian community have endured a deep sense of strain – their unwavering loyalty to Canada and strong emotional connection to India tested as relations between the two nations faced challenges. But today, the light feels like it’s returning. This year, the Festival of Lights shines brighter, warmer, and more meaningful, reminding us that even after the darkest times, unity and goodwill can prevail.
At last, there’s a fresh wind of friendship and cooperation between Canada and India. Recent developments clearly show both nations turning the page and choosing dialogue, trust, and partnership over division. This moment deserves applause on both sides. We must commend the leadership in Ottawa and New Delhi for the maturity, empathy, and foresight that have made this renewed understanding possible.
Recently, the CIF members had met with India’s High Commissioner, H.E. Dinesh Patnaik, in Toronto. Though he was just days into his new role, he seemed to be brimming with hope and enthusiasm. He clearly sees the tremendous potential of this relationship if managed with sincerity. He shared his views with us on staying positive through challenges and building a resilient, stable, and mutually respectful relationship between both countries.
We hope that our own High Commissioner to India, Christopher Cooter, entrusted with a crucial file to advance Canada’s interest in India will be equally upbeat about the possibilities. We at CIF want to convey our best wishes to Mr. Cooter on his new assignment and look forward to meeting with him on my next trip to India.
This past week was the week of Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister in India, Anita Anand. As an original daughter of India, the red carpet rolled out for her was long and plush. She was welcomed with respect and friendship by Indian leaders, meeting with her counterpart, India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar; India’s Minister of Commerce, Piyush Goyal and yes, none other than the Prime Minister himself, Narendra Modi. Minister Goyal also had a substantial telephonic conversation with our own Minister of International Trade, Hon. Maninder Sidhu.
Following the meeting with Minister Anand, S. Jaishankar stated: “We also agreed on an ambitious cooperation roadmap. And to shepherd the process of rebuilding our cooperation so that it delivers on the expectation of our leaders and the interests of our people.”
The joint statement mentions several priorities that both countries will focus on in the coming months. These points, if you study them carefully, take into account not only the potential but also acknowledges the sensitivities of each country. (Read more)
Events
CIF Felicitates India’s Renowned Yoga Guru Dr. H R Nagendra
Toronto, September 26, 2025: Canada India Foundation hosted a reception for one of the most consequential figures in modern times who brought about fundamental changes in the way the world perceived yoga. Often referred to as ‘Yoga Guru to Prime Minister of Bharat’, Dr. H.R. Nagendra is a fascinating human being who began his professional life as a space scientist with NASA but decided to move back to his motherland Bharat in the early 1980s to devote his life to a deep study of yoga and a search for truth. He was instrumental in creating the world’s first formal educational institution in Bengaluru, dedicated to the study of yoga – Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana, abbreviated S-VYASA. (Read more)
Meeting with Indian High Commissioner
CIF Chair Mr. Ritesh Malik joined the visiting Indian delegation led by Dr. H. R. Nagendra to promote Yoga in Canada. The delegation visited the University Health Network (UHN), Toronto Metropolitan University, and several other organizations to explore opportunities for introducing Yoga as a tool for preventive healthcare.
Dr. H. R. Nagendra, Chancellor of S-VYASA University in Bengaluru, India, is a fascinating individual who began his professional journey as a space scientist with NASA. In the early 1980s, he chose to return to his motherland, Bharat, to dedicate his life to the deep study of Yoga and the pursuit of truth. He was instrumental in establishing the world’s first formal educational institution dedicated to the study of Yoga — Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (S-VYASA) in Bengaluru.
New Indian High Commissioner Welcomes CIF members
CIF members met with the new Indian High Commissioner to Canada, H.E. Dinesh K. Patnaik, in Toronto. H.E. Dinesh K. Patnaik is a distinguished career diplomat of the Indian Foreign Service with over 35 years of experience in diverse and high-level diplomatic assignments. He has served in Indian Missions in Geneva, Dhaka, Beijing, and Vienna, and has held key positions at the Ministry of External Affairs in the Europe West, Africa, UN, and External Publicity Divisions.
Mr. Pankaj Dave, National Convener of the Canada India Foundation (CIF), briefed the High Commissioner on the foundation’s various activities and programs undertaken since its inception to strengthen bilateral relations between Canada and India.
Canada India Joint Statement in Full
Following the breakthrough meeting of Prime Minister Mark Carney and India’s Prime Minister, Narendra Modi at the G-20, there has been a flurry of diplomatic activity pushing both countries into building a closer relationship for the benefit of their economies and the people. The joint statement issued after Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Anita Anand, met with India’s External Affairs Minister, S. Jaishankar, refer to the numerous opportunities available for cooperation in trade, investment, research, and people to people contacts. (Read more.)
AI Majors Rush to Benefit from India’s Talent Pool
The world’s leading AI players are all beating a path to India to incorporate the immense talent base available along with the huge market opportunities. Adani Enterprises Ltd., Alphabet Inc.’s Google and Bharti Airtel Ltd. have come together to build India’s largest AI data centre in Visakhapatnam, as part of the Gemini creator’s $15-billion push into India’s AI landscape. OpenAI and Amazon are not far behind. (Read more.)
India’s $77 Billion Strategic Power Plan
ndia’s Central Electricity Authority unveiled a $77 billion plan to transmit 76 GW of hydro power from the Brahmaputra basin flowing through its Northeastern states by 2047. The basin, spanning eight northeastern states, contains more than 80% of India’s untapped hydro potential. The plan comes amid rising tensions over China’s construction of a mega dam on the Yarlung Zangbo, upstream of India’s Arunachal Pradesh. (Read more.)
Indian Air Force Ranked Third in the World
Operation Sindoor has catapulted India Air Force to the top of the world’s most lethal air powers. A recent ranking by World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft (WDMMA), places India in the third spot after the US and Russia, and China at fourth. In recent years, air power has proven to be crucial to win conflicts and cause maximum damage on the adversary. (Read more.)
Harvard Study Finds Filter Coffee the Healthiest
Is the South Indian filter coffee the healthiest way to drink coffee? Though it does not mention the South India variation by name, a recent Harvard study found certain brewing methods may help you enjoy all the benefits such as improved alertness, metabolism, and heart health, while reducing potential risks linked to cholesterol and overconsumption. (Read more.)
Nine UK Universities to Open Campuses in India
In his first visit to India after the UK and India formalized a Free Trade Agreement in July, Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has been able to stitch up several joint agreements, which range from technology partnerships to security arrangements. Starmer was accompanied by the largest ever delegation from the UK education sector to India, as nine UK universities are opening campuses in India. (Read more.)
Mumbai’s Second Airport Goes on Stream
Mumbai, India’s financial centre and one of the world’s most prosperous cities, just got a brand-new airport to accommodate its current and future air traffic requirements. Passengers headed to Mumbai from now on must specify the destination airport to avoid travel hassles. The Navi Mumbai International Airport (NMIA), built at a cost of around CAD3 Billion plus, when fully completed, will serve 90 million passengers annually. (Read more.)
Who Is Paul Kapur?
The US President Donald Trump’s pick for the post of Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Paul Kapur, has been confirmed to hold this critical position that influences all matters relating to South Asia, especially India and Pakistan. Born to an Indian father and American mother in New Delhi, he is known to be a staunch supporter of the US-India strategic ties. During the confirmation hearings in the US Senate, he had said, “If confirmed, I will work to further advance US-India relations and put our partnership on course to realise its tremendous promise.” (Read more.)
Pharma Giant, Eli Lilly, to Invest $1 Billion in India
Eli Lilly, the US Pharma giant, plans to invest over $1 billion in India to bolster the company’s manufacturing and supply capacity by collaborating with local drugmakers. The drugmaker is now preparing to face increased competition from India’s generic drugmakers, who are racing to launch cheaper versions of the famous weight-loss drugs once their main chemical ingredient, semaglutide, goes off patent next year.
