Welcome to the October 2025 edition of India Empire, a volume that captures the depth and diversity of India’s global engagement—from the Pacific to the Caribbean, from Southeast Asia to Africa. This issue weaves together narratives of heritage, diplomacy, and enterprise, underscoring India’s evolving role as a trusted global partner and the enduring spirit of its diaspora.

Our cover feature focuses on the Republic of Fiji, where history and modern ambition converge. In an exclusive interview, Professor Biman Chand Prasad, Fiji’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, shares his vision of economic resilience and transformation. A proud descendant of the Girmitiyas, the Indian indentured labourers who arrived in Fiji between 1879 and 1916, Professor Prasad embodies a lineage of perseverance. His leadership aligns with Fiji’s 2050 National Development Plan, which seeks to transform the island nation into a high-income economy through reforms in education, technology, trade, and renewable energy.

From Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka’s visit to India to the vibrant Ganesh Visarjan celebrations in Suva, the India–Fiji relationship thrives on shared values and living traditions. Professor Prasad’s call for an International Girmit Day is particularly significant—an effort to globally honour the sacrifices of over a million indentured labourers who helped build the foundations of so many societies across the world. It is an initiative that India Empire proudly supports.

This theme of shared heritage continues through compelling stories that span continents. Jessica Mourtont’s essay on the French West Indies takes readers to Guadeloupe and Martinique, where nearly 68,000 Indians arrived between 1853 and 1889 in the wake of France’s abolition of slavery. These men and women, bound by the same system of indenture that carried their compatriots to Fiji, Mauritius, and elsewhere, endured extraordinary hardship. Yet, as Jessica reminds us, their legacy lives on—in the fusion of languages, the rhythms of music, the aromas of Indian spices in Creole kitchens, and the quiet resilience of faith and community.

Meanwhile, Raksha Daryanani Thani’s journey through Malaysia vividly illustrates shared cultural ties and mutual warmth. From the bustling streets of George Town with its temples, mosques, and Chinese influences, to the vibrant Indian enclaves of Penang and Kuala Lumpur, she uncovers the deep-rooted traditions preserved by Malaysians of Indian origin. Their festivals, food, and faith mirror home, a beautiful testament to resilience and cultural continuity abroad. Her stories remind us how culture remains a bridge—uniting people across continents and generations.

Also not to be missed is Dr. Kumar Mahabir’s insightful piece, Voices Through Magazines, which explores how cultural publications within the Indian diaspora serve not just as chronicles of experience but as vital instruments of identity—anchoring communities in shared heritage and memory.

Across the Caribbean, we spotlight Guyana, where Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated President Irfaan Ali, and Trinidad and Tobago, where the Indo-Caribbean identity continues to thrive in politics, the arts, and cultural expression. Closer home, in Ireland, we note the government’s firm stance against racial discrimination—a reminder that diaspora engagement must also be about dignity, safety, and inclusion.

On the diplomatic front, India’s footprint continues to expand across all continents. We feature an interview with 

H.E. Mr. Karlito Nunes, Ambassador of Timor-Leste to India, who reflects on the deepening partnership following the first-ever State Visit by the President of India in 2024. With Timor-Leste’s accession to ASEAN, new vistas have opened in trade, IT, healthcare, and infrastructure—further strengthening India’s Act East policy and connecting two dynamic regions through shared goals.

Elsewhere, this issue chronicles India’s growing strategic engagements with Mauritius, Mongolia, Sri Lanka, Argentina, and Seychelles. We trace the reaffirmation of the India–Uzbekistan Strategic Partnership, the ongoing negotiations toward a UK–India FTA, and the flourishing cooperation between India and the USA in defence, technology, and investment diversification. From Hong Kong to the UAE, and from Singapore to Ghana, each story reaffirms India’s steady rise as a responsible global power rooted in the timeless ideal of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family.

From the Pacific’s island nations to the Caribbean’s Creole heartlands, from Southeast Asia’s bustling hubs to Africa’s emerging economies, this issue celebrates the shared journey of people, partnership, and progress. The Indian diaspora—now more than 32 million strong—remains India’s enduring bridge to the world: preserving its heritage, expanding its influence, and strengthening its global narrative.

Through these pages, India Empire continues its mission to chronicle the Indian story wherever it unfolds—one of resilience, renewal, and responsibility. Each article in this issue, in its own way, reminds us that India’s story is inseparable from the story of its people—at home and abroad. We invite readers to immerse themselves in these stories of heritage and hope, as together we shape an interconnected world inspired by India’s global family.

Sayantan Chakravarty
sayantanc@gmail.com