The 75th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and India was celebrated by the Thai Embassy in Delhi. It was an evening of cultural programs, drinks & dinner, and a lot of charm and cheer.
Relationship between India and Thailand
The friendship between India and Thailand goes back a long way. Our trade links date to at least as early as 500 BCE. The cultural exchange between the two countries dates back even earlier. Buddhism, the chef religion in Thailand spread from India.
Did you know that the epic Ramayana is called Ramakien? The influence of Ramayana and Mahabharata in Thailand’s music and dance is a clear indication of how close we have been historically. In fact, the Thai language is peppered with words from the Sanskrit language.
The diplomatic relationship between India and Thailand
India-Thailand relations, also known as Indo-Thai relations were established soon after India’s independence in 1947. India recently celebrated the 75th Independence Day on 15th August 2022. Hence it was the 75th Anniversary of the Establishment of Diplomatic Relations between Thailand and India. To commemorate the anniversary, an evening of cultural programs, presentations over drinks, and dinner were organised at The Oberoi, New Delhi.
Thailand’s rich cultural heritage recently charmed us again that evening. The Ambassador of Thailand, H E Ms. Pattarat Hongtong hosted the event. Smart presentations and colourful performances enthralled the guests all evening. Thai dancers, in their sparkling attire with elaborate gold crowns, set the stage on fire. Their soft graceful movements reminded us of the delicate Manipuri dance, a classical treasure of our country. Like India, red and gold seemed to be a favourite combination of the classical attire of Thailand.
The dinner menu was an exquisite melange of Thai dishes. Some known, some new, all the items were supremely flavourful and tasty. But this was no surprise. We knew that a team of highly-skilled chefs from Michelin Star restaurants were flown in from Thailand for this occasion. They curated the menu and supervised the food preparation.
From 30th July to 7th August 2022, the Oberoi Hotel, in collaboration with the Royal Thai Embassy, organized the Thai Food Week curated by the same group of chefs at the 360 restaurants. It was a rare opportunity for Thai food-lovers to try authentic fine Thai cuisine in New Delhi.
India-Thailand relations today
This evening reminded us of another charming exposure we had to the rich Thai culture. We had the good opportunity of dining with the erstwhile Thai Ambassador to India, His Excellency Mr. Chutintorn Gongsakdi as part of the Namaste Thailand project.
This was an endeavour by the Government of Thailand to introduce authentic Thai cuisine to select media in India. The dinner table discussion varied from food to art to politics.
It was sheer coincidence that the ambassador and we were wearing Ikat shirts. We had a hearty discussion about how the Ikat weave was a common heritage of both countries.
Not only culture and crafts, but a huge Indian diaspora also live and work in Thailand. Flight time between most Indian cities and Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, is a mere two and a half to three hours. Given the proximity of Thailand to India, it makes a perfect destination for Indian immigrants who do not want to move very far away from home.
Thailand is also a hotspot for tourism from India. A countless number of Indian tourists and honeymooners visit Thailand every year. The palaces, the Reclining Buddha, the beaches, and the cool shopping options draw us to this country.
It is therefore not surprising that the Government of Thailand has planned a host of programs to mark the 75th Anniversary of India- Thailand diplomatic ties.
Future programs to celebrate the 75th Anniversary of Indo-Thai ties
This was just the beginning of the celebration. To commemorate this long cherished strong partnership based on shared values, cultural relations, and people-to-people connectivity between the two countries, a series of events and activities have been planned throughout this year to reflect the multi-faceted cooperation between both sides including culture, tourism, economy, and food.
We are touched to be made a part of the inaugural evening and look forward to many more exchanges with our lovely neighbour Thailand.
It’s so good when countries can establish and maintain a good relationship. It’s essential and a good example, too!
I’ve been following what’s going on in that area quite a bit recently. With China trying to claim Thailand and its strong connection with India, it’s a dicey time.
So interesting to know about relationship between india and thailand. Thanks for sharing with us.
This is interesting, it’s a long time having a friendship. And hope it will last forever to have a good relationship!
Oh yeah, I’ve seen this in so many documentaries, at least! This was a good commemoration. And that food looks so delicious.
Thailand is a hot spot for tourism, for sure. Everyone who goes there seems to love it too. What I love is when we are all just getting along. Kudos to Thailand and India for being so smart.
What a wonderful way to celebrate! Our culture become richer because of the influences of our neighboring countries.
Wishing you more years of friendship!
What a good relationship and great example!