Westminster: A Launch in the Heart of Parliament

Details: Published: 09 February 2026

The recent Westminster reception in Parliament marked an important milestone for the Freedom Fountain project. Bringing together parliamentarians, historians, community leaders, and supporters, the event launched a wider national conversation about remembrance, education, and the responsibility to tell stories that have too often gone unheard. The project aims to create a national monument honouring the more than four million soldiers of the United British Indian Army who served during the First and Second World Wars.

Held in Parliament, the Westminster gathering brought together an exceptional mix of attendees: people influential in charities and the wider sphere of remembrance and memory, alongside representatives from government and public life. What stood out most was the breadth of support in the room — and the sense that this story matters across communities, generations, and political lines.

A Parliamentary welcome — and cross-party support

We were honoured to have the event hosted in the House, with strong cross-party backing. We are especially grateful to the Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, whose support helped make the occasion possible, and to our local MPs Daniel Zeichner and Pippa Heylings, who sponsored and supported the event from the outset. You can find video of Sir Lindsay Hoyle's speech below.

It also meant a great deal to see Cambridge represented so strongly — including support from councillors and our wider local network — demonstrating that Westminster and the regions can come together around shared remembrance and shared responsibility.

^{Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Cambridge MPs Daniel Zeichner and Pippa Heylings. Click to enlarge.}

Why this launch mattered

The Westminster launch was designed to “showcase the Freedom Fountain and the story it seeks to honour” — but the purpose of the evening went beyond any single presentation. Again and again, the discussion returned to a simple, urgent point: the importance of honouring and understanding the contribution of more than 4 million United British Indian Army soldiers who served across the First and Second World Wars.

We spoke about why this history has not been properly understood by the current generation — and why silence, however “delicate” the subject may have felt in past decades, is not the legacy we want to leave behind. If these stories remain unknown, future generations lose the opportunity to learn from them. And if we fail to learn from history, we risk repeating the same mistakes.

^{Freedom Fountain team members Capt (Ret) Yavar Abbas and Abdul-Kayum.Arain. Click to enlarge.}

In a world where political tensions feel ever-present — nationally and internationally — the evening was also a reminder that remembrance is not only about looking back, but it is about the values we choose to protect now: peace, restraint, dignity, and a commitment to avoid conflict wherever possible.

^{Freedom Fountain team members Piero D'Angelico, Mihail Stoyanov and Colleen McLaughlin Barlow. Click to enlarge.}

Moments that captured the meaning of the night

Alongside the formal speeches, there were moments of genuine emotion — the kind that cut through talking points and remind everyone why events like this matter.

One such moment centred on our Honorary National Chair, Captain (Retired) Yavar Abbas, whose presence made the evening deeply personal. At 105 years old, Captain Abbas represents a living link to the generation whose sacrifices the project seeks to honour.

“We must remember not only what was done, but why it mattered.”

We were also fortunate to be joined by historians including Dr. Tajpal Singh Rammil, whose family history connects directly to the story being told. In an extraordinary gesture, Dr. Tajpal presented Captain Abbas with regimental buttons to replace ones Captain Abbas had lost — a gift tied to a photograph of him from nearly 80 years ago. It was moving, not only because of the objects themselves, but because it symbolised something larger: people recognising each other’s journeys and taking active steps to preserve memory rather than letting it fade.

^{Dr. Tejpal Singh Ralmill and Captain Yavar Abbas. Click to enlarge.}

International solidarity — and a delegation from Italy

We were proud to welcome a delegation from Italy, including recognition presented from the Metropolitan City of Naples by Director Renata Monda, representing the Metropolitan City of Naples and the international “Movement of Kindness” initiative. We were also honoured by the presence of Colonel Alvio Girolamo, and Sir Pasquale Marchese, who represents 29 municipalities in Puglia. Their attendance underscored a point we returned to repeatedly: remembrance does not stop at borders — and nor should gratitude.

The team behind the scenes and the next generation stepping forward

If Westminster was a public-facing moment, it was powered by a great deal of work behind the scenes.

Our Cambridge team travelled in strength — over 20 people working to make the evening run smoothly. That team included long-standing campaigners, supporters from many walks of life, and — importantly — younger members who brought energy, professionalism, and hope for what comes next.

^{Freedom Fountain team members Waseem Oulfki, Mohammad Arslan, Qasim Arain, Sameer Sharma, Waseem Oulfkih, Isabel D'Angelico. Click to enlarge.}

We want to recognise that contribution clearly. Seeing young people in their late teens and early twenties step forward to help deliver a parliamentary event with confidence and pride was one of the most encouraging aspects of the evening.

^{Freedom Fountain team members Todor Stoyanov, Bart Fajer, John Preston, Mihail Stoyanov and Julian Clobber. Click to enlarge.}

With gratitude

We are grateful to everyone who attended, supported, and contributed — including MPs, Lords, Ministers, community leaders, historians, and supporters who gave their time and presence.

^{Lynda Atkins (Royal British Legion),Adam Moghadas, Ashley Whitaker, Cllr Baiju Thittala. Click to enlarge.}

Most of all, we are grateful for the shared understanding in the room: that remembrance has to be active, stories have to be told clearly, and future generations deserve the truth — not fragments, and not silence.

This Westminster launch was the start of a new chapter. And we intend to keep turning the pages.

The Freedom Fountain is not yet built — it exists today because of the belief and generosity of individuals who feel this history deserves a permanent place in our national landscape. Every step forward, including moments like the Westminster reception, brings the project closer to becoming a lasting place of remembrance for future generations.

As the Freedom Fountain project moves forward, public support remains essential. Every contribution helps bring the monument closer to reality and ensures that the shared sacrifices it represents are properly remembered.