India’s 80th Independence Day celebrated in Maseru with call for deeper ties

Diplomatic event highlights growing partnership between India and Lesotho, as both nations reaffirm commitment to cooperation in trade, education, and digital development

SEHLOMENG LABANE

MASERU — The Indian community in Lesotho, led by Honorary Consul Dr Biju Abraham Korah, joined Indians worldwide in celebrating India’s 80th Independence Day in Maseru last Saturday, an occasion that also served to underscore the deepening friendship between India and the Kingdom of Lesotho.

India celebrates its independence from British colonial rule every August 15, with the day marked by flag-raising ceremonies, parades, and cultural activities.

In New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hoisted the national flag at the historic Red Fort and addressed the nation, while celebrations in Maseru brought together diplomats, government officials, and members of the Indian community for a ceremony that blended patriotic commemoration with diplomatic dialogue.

The event at Maseru was attended by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, ‘Makatleho Motsoasele, Principal Secretary Thabang Lekhela, Chinese Embassy Counsellor Lu Hui, and US Embassy Chargé d’Affaires Thomas Hines, reflecting the broad diplomatic interest in India-Lesotho relations.

Dr Korah, who was appointed India’s Honorary Consul in Lesotho earlier this year after a six-year vacancy, reflected on India’s journey since independence in 1947, highlighting its transformation into a vibrant democracy and global partner.

He paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of India’s freedom fighters, saying their legacy continues to inspire efforts to build a developed India, or Viksit Bharat.

“Democracy is strengthened through dialogue, interaction, and relationships that build trust among people from different social, economic, and political backgrounds,” Dr Korah said.

The celebration took place against a backdrop of strengthening bilateral relations between India and Lesotho, which established diplomatic ties on June 8, 1971.

India’s diplomatic representation to Lesotho has been concurrently accredited through its High Commission in Pretoria since 1996, while Lesotho opened a resident Mission in New Delhi in 2005 following a visit by Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili to India in August 2003.

Recent developments have given fresh impetus to the relationship. The appointment of Dr Korah as Honorary Consul after a six-year vacancy has been hailed by Lesotho as “a new chapter in the long-standing friendship between Lesotho and India,” with cooperation expanding beyond diplomacy to include education, healthcare, agriculture, information technology, and skills development.

Just weeks before the Independence Day celebration, the two countries held the sixth meeting of the Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation (JBCC) in New Delhi on July 30, reviewing the full spectrum of their bilateral engagement, including trade, development partnership, skilling, and capacity building. Both sides advanced discussions on several proposed Memoranda of Understanding and agreed to sign them at the earliest opportunity.

India also reiterated its invitation for Lesotho to join the International Solar Alliance and the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, highlighting opportunities for cooperation in renewable energy and resilient infrastructure.

India’s assistance to Lesotho has been substantial and varied. An Indian Army Training Team was established in Lesotho in 2001, providing training programmes for the Lesotho Defence Force until 2017, with Lesotho forces now trained under the ITEC programme in Indian defence institutions.

The India-Lesotho Centre for Advanced Education in Information Technology was established at Lerotholi Polytechnic in Maseru on November 29, 2017, as a fully funded Government of India project.

In April 2025, India donated 1 000 metric tonnes of rice and 1 000 metric tonnes of sorghum to Lesotho as a gesture of goodwill.

Speaking on behalf of the Lesotho government, Law Minister Richard Ramoeletsi said the celebration was both a commemoration of history and an opportunity to recognize India’s contributions to global peace, education, and innovation. He praised India’s spirit of solidarity towards Lesotho and highlighted bilateral cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, and communication.

The minister also appreciated India’s scholarship programmes, which he said have contributed to the development of Basotho. According to recent reports, 40 Basotho students have been awarded fully funded scholarships by the Government of India through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) for the 2026/2027 academic year, making Lesotho one of the largest beneficiaries of the programme.

The Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) programme has also provided capacity-building opportunities for Lesotho civil servants, with the Government of Lesotho hailing it for equipping employees with critical skills that enhance public service delivery.

President of the Indian Association of Lesotho, Salman Mohammed, thanked the Government and people of Lesotho for their continued friendship, support, and goodwill towards the Indian community. He called for continued commitment to the values of unity, peace, diversity, and friendship between India and Lesotho.

About 4 000 Indian expatriates live in Lesotho, working as teachers, accountants, and other professionals, with some also engaged in business. The Indian Association organises periodic functions and has hosted cultural performances by troupes sent by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.

India’s 80th Independence Day in 2026 marks 79 years since independence in 1947, with the occasion counted as the 80th celebration because the first Independence Day is included in the numbering. This year’s theme is “Yuva Shakti for Viksit Bharat@2047,” focusing on the role of young people in technological development, green energy, defence self-reliance, and innovation.

The celebrations also commemorated 150 years of Vande Mataram, the national song associated with India’s freedom struggle, which for the first time was sung from the ramparts of the Red Fort during the Independence Day ceremony in New Delhi.

As both nations look to the future, the 7th Session of the Joint Bilateral Commission for Cooperation is scheduled to be convened in Maseru in 2027, promising continued strengthening of ties between India and Lesotho. The relationship, built on mutual trust and shared aspirations for development, continues to grow from strength to strength.