Epic encounters – Indians who fell in love with London

Touchdown at Heathrow and the first realization that pulls the quilts off the drowsy mind is that it is time for the subconscious to expect unfamiliar accents. The subconscious remains bewildered for the first few minutes but then, as is with most literate Indians, it eases into a different mode and marches along with the native speakers with a disarming smile.

By the time one leaves the airport and rushes hurriedly to catch the Queen Elizabeth Line, he has already begun calling it Lizzie Line. My thirty month old grandson calls it the purple train and so I was not surprised to find a lot of Londoners call it The Purp! Some old timers still think of Crossrail, though this word is already on the verge of losing out. London enters your being as fast as this.

A day spent in London, and you know you are walking on streets that have seen centuries of events, from royal processions to literary revolutions. You stand on the Queen’s Walk you are mesmerized to see architectural wonders from the past like the Tower Bridge, Tower of London, and St Kathrine Docks rubbing shoulders with Cheesegrater, Shard, and Gherkin… and this is just the start. The architectural layering where each era has left its unique signature to walk along with everything contemporary is an incredibly striking feature of this city. London allows emotions to time travel through centuries even as one watches an Uber Boat of TFL gliding on the Thames to the next pier. Virat Kohli, for instance, loved the vibrant decibels at Lord’s just as much as he appreciated the peacefulness of Notting Hill. He said he loved London’s effortless elegance and that it “makes you feel alive in a way no other place does.” Priyanka Chopra Jones admits having fallen in love with London’s blend of history and modernity, its amazing restaurants, and the the omnipresent multicultural vibes. No wonder then she said in an interview: “London has a soul—where tradition meets the future, where every corner has a story, and where creativity has no limits. I could get lost here and still feel at home.” Now that we are talking about modern day celebrities from India, even Shah Rukh Khan once said: “There’s something magical about London—the energy of its people, the charm of its streets, and the way the Thames whispers stories of the past. Every time I come here, I feel like I’m in a movie.” Well, he claims he loved visiting Hyde Park and the West End theatres, but I am sure there must be plenty of other places he goes to while he is here.

London is not just about architectural beauty and culinary delights… it is a city known for academic excellence and systematic governance. Dr B R Ambedkar, the architect of India’s Constitution studied at the London School of Economics and admired the rule of law and the priority given to freedom of thought. These facets still rule the city, and like Ambedkar, any tourist coming from any country might say things that sound exactly like what he once said: “London, with its learned institutions and democratic spirit, is a beacon of progress for those who seek to shape a just society.” Rabindranath Tagore found the artistic and literary circles here to be appreciative of every global nuance and it is not surprising to that he wrote: “London, in its mist and majesty, holds a rhythm of beauty that echoes in the hearts of those who seek inspiration.” Even Mahatma Gandhi called London a “remarkable city where one can find knowledge flowing through its streets as much as its fog” and the reason was his appreciation of the efficiency of public transport, the rich intellectual atmosphere, and the discipline of the British people.

The modern tourist has no reason to stay away from the charms of this city. His attention is constantly hopping from iconic landmarks to history and culture to take a sharp turn towards the diverse food scene and then glide into beautiful parks and gardens and then drop exhausted into the lap of London’s vibrant entertainment and nightlife. Metaphorically, the distance from Big ben and Buckingham palace to Soho and Shoreditch takes small turns and digestive digressions through China Town, Brick Lane, Boroughs market and Camden market. Though a few famous Indians have been quoted in this short article, there would be thousands of other tourists from India who have equally interesting observations about London. If you keep reading this series of posts on London, I know you will know that I am one of those unknown souls who is madly in love with London.
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Arvind Passey
Uploaded on 05 April 2025
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