Montenegro Celebrates National Day In India; Honours Dr Janice Darbari’s 17 Years Of Diplomacy

The celebration of Montenegro’s National Day began with glamour and the presence of prominent global figures.

Ambassadors, High Commissioners, and Diplomats based in India attended the event, welcoming Montenegro’s growing goodwill on the world stage.

The Dean of the Diplomatic Corps from Eritrea and the Deputy Dean from Bhutan joined representatives from the Arab League, AARDO, and many other countries, adding to the evening’s global resonance.

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Representing the Government of India, Chief Guest Pooja Kapur, nominated by the Ministry of External Affairs, commended the strengthening bilateral relations between India and Montenegro.

She praised the ongoing trade partnerships and growing tourism exchanges between the two nations.

In her keynote address, HE Dr Janice Darbari, the Honorary Consul General of Montenegro in India, emphasised democratic values and the importance of dialogue in resolving global conflicts.

She highlighted Montenegro’s historic 2006 referendum, applauded at the time by former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, as a shining example of peaceful democratic transition.

Dr Darbari also released a promo of her upcoming feature film, created in collaboration with PTC Television, as part of her continuous efforts to promote world peace.

She revealed her vision of producing a film titled ‘The Real Story – The Administrator: Jagdishwar Nigam ICS vs The British Raj’, co-authored by Sheila Darbari, Dr Janice Darbari, and Dr Raj Darbari.

The film, however, aims to portray a true story of courage and patriotism.

Delegates from Ballia, Uttar Pradesh, including Professor Sudhanshu Mishra of Purnanand High School, Birendra Mali, and Arun Kumar from the Indian Express News Group, expressed immense pride in their region’s historical relevance.

They applauded Dr Darbari’s emotional connection to Ballia, the birthplace of her grandfather, Jagdishwar Nigam, an ICS officer from the 1923 batch who declared freedom in Ballia and drafted a transition policy from Imperialism to Democracy.

Ramvichar Panday, a 95-year-old eyewitness to Ballia’s declaration of independence on August 19, 1942, received heartfelt applause for his presence and legacy.

Delegates from Uttarakhand share gratitude

Representatives from Uttarakhand, including Kshitij Doval (Founder & CEO, Unhu Innovation Centre), Dr Geeta Khanna (Chairperson, Uttarakhand State Commission for Protection of Child Rights and FICCI FLO), thanked the Consul General for the opportunity to attend a diplomatic celebration and interact with delegates from nearly 80 countries.

The event brought together influential media personalities such as Neville Lazarus (Sky News), Narayan (PTC Punjab Television), Maroof Raza (Editor-in-Chief, News Media 24×7), Ashok Srivastava (Doordarshan), and Shahid Sayeed (ANI News).

They praised the cultural experience, highlighting the lucky draw prizes from ‘Tatha – The Vedic Collection’ by Divita Kannoria, and the authentic Montenegrin cuisine prepared by Chef Sanjay Babu Dasari of Ashok Hotel.

The evening culminated in vibrant Montenegrin music that transitioned into the classic Lara’s Theme, while ballroom dancers mesmerised the audience in outfits designed by Rosy Ahluwalia.

The event, conceptualised and brought to life by Raj Darbari – author, writer, and filmmaker – left attendees with an unforgettable impression of Montenegro’s culture, diplomacy, and spirit of peace.

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