‘The Bharat Connection’ will document the journeys and contributions of Indian-origin personalities in Kenya, with industrialist Manu Chandaria set to feature in the first episode
The High Commission of India in Nairobi has launched an oral history podcast series titled ‘The Bharat Connection: Living Memories, Shared History’ to document the experiences, achievements and heritage of the Indian-origin community in Kenya.
The initiative aims to preserve the stories of prominent members of the diaspora and highlight the historical links between India and Kenya, shaped by generations of people who crossed the Indian Ocean and established new lives in East Africa.
Indian High Commissioner to Kenya Adarsh Swaika said the community had played an important role in Kenya’s national life, contributing to business, industry, healthcare, education, public service, sports, the arts and philanthropy.
He said many accounts of migration, settlement, enterprise and community service remained preserved in family conversations, photographs and letters. Recording these experiences would help future generations understand their heritage and the community’s contribution to Kenya.
The podcast will explore the journeys of earlier generations, including their reasons for moving to Kenya, the challenges they faced in establishing themselves, their connections with India and the lessons they wish to pass on
The conversations will be hosted by Kenneth Ombongi, Professor of History at the University of Nairobi, who has a longstanding association with India.
The inaugural episode will feature industrialist and philanthropist Manu Chandaria, who has received the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman and Kenya’s Chief of the Order of the Burning Spear and National Heroes awards.
The series is expected to bring together voices from different backgrounds within the Indian diaspora, creating an audiovisual record accessible to audiences in Kenya, India and elsewhere.
Swaika also encouraged younger members of the community to engage with their family histories by speaking to parents and grandparents and documenting their experiences.
The episodes will be released periodically on the social media platforms of the Indian High Commission in Nairobi.
The initiative seeks to strengthen awareness of the Indian diaspora’s heritage while preserving its role in the shared history and relations between the two countries.
