London: The Queen Friday included three inspiring young Indians – Devika Malik, 24, Akshay Jadhao, 27, and Ashwini Angadi, 26 – in a notably religious Christmas message to the Commonwealth.
In a normal year, the Queen comes across thousands of people but she picked out the three who were among a group of prizewinners “under 29” to whom she presented the “Queen’s Young Leaders’ award” at a ceremony in Buckingham Palace last summer.
The Queen spoke of her visit to Malta for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, adding: “This year I met another group of leaders: the Queen’s Young Leaders, an inspirational group, each of them a symbol of hope in their own Commonwealth communities”.
Devika is an international para-athlete who helps run the Wheeling Happiness Foundation to assist and encourage other disabled people; Akshay has launched educational and skills courses for the weakest sections of the society in Maharashtra; and Angadi has used her own experiences as a visually impaired person to lobby for more braille and audio books for disabled students from rural areas.
At a time when Britain and most of Europe is becoming increasingly secular but coming under threat from militant groups like the Islamic State, the Queen’s message was more religious than in previous years.
The Queen, who holds the title, “Defender of the Faith and Supreme Governor of the Church of England”, said in a section that will be much analysed: “For Joseph and Mary, the circumstances of Jesus’s birth – in a stable – were far from ideal, but worse was to come as the family was forced to flee the country. It’s no surprise that such a human story still captures our imagination and continues to inspire all of us who are Christians, the world over.”
Although the RAF are bombing IS strongholds in Syria, the Queen said: “Despite being displaced and persecuted throughout his short life, Christ’s unchanging message was not one of revenge or violence but simply that we should love one another. Although it is not an easy message to follow, we shouldn’t be discouraged; rather, it inspires us to try harder: to be thankful for the people who bring love and happiness into our own lives, and to look for ways of spreading that love to others, whenever and wherever we can.”
Her message coincided with a warning from the Most Reverend Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury, that an Islamic State “apocalypse” has left Christianity facing “elimination” in the very region where the faith was born two millennia ago, Telegraph reported.
In a service at Canterbury Cathedral, he said the IS was “igniting a trail of fear, violence, hatred and determined oppression”.
“They hate difference, whether it is Muslims who think differently, Yazidis or Christians, and because of them the Christians face elimination in the very region in which Christian faith began,” he added. “This apocalypse is defined by themselves and heralded only by the angel of death.”
The archbishop received support from the Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, who said: “It has been reported that persecution of Christians persists in over a hundred countries, more than for any other religion. Faith communities have a responsibility to stand together to oppose discrimination and attacks on freedom of religious expression wherever they are to be found.”
Revellers in Calcutta’s Park Street may not realise this but the Queen had something to say to them. She said that if millions of people all over the world were decorating their Christmas trees, it was because of a tradition she claimed had been started by her own family.
“At this time of year, few sights evoke more feelings of cheer and goodwill than the twinkling lights of a Christmas tree,” she began.
“The popularity of a tree at Christmas is due in part to my great-great grandparents, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert,” she went on. “After this touching picture was published, many families wanted a Christmas tree of their own, and the custom soon spread. The customary decorations have changed little in the years since that picture of Victoria and Albert’s tree first appeared, although of course electric lights have replaced the candles.”
It is understood that Queen Charlotte, the German-born wife of George III (1738-1820), is credited with introducing the Christmas tree to Britain. But it was Albert, husband of Victoria (1819-1901), Empress of India, who popularised it, presenting large numbers to schools and army barracks. And while most people open their presents on Christmas Day, the Royal Family still keep to the German practice of unwrapping their gifts on Christmas Eve.
The Queen, who overtook Victoria as the UK’s longest serving sovereign this year, will turn 90 in 2016.
She risked a little joke: “I am looking forward to a busy 2016, though I have been warned I may have Happy Birthday sung to me more than once or twice.”
“It also allows us to reflect on the year that has passed, as we think of those who are far away or no longer with us,” she said. “Many people say the first Christmas after losing a loved one is particularly hard.”
This year the Indian community has lost Gulam Noon, 79, Saeed Jaffrey, 86, and, most tragically, Swraj Paul’s youngest son, Angad, who was only 45.
Referring to the birth in May of her fifth grandchild, Princess Charlotte, to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – they will be paying an official visit to India in the spring – the Queen commented: “One of the joys of living a long life is watching one’s children, then grandchildren, then great grandchildren, help decorate the Christmas tree. And this year my family has a new member to join in the fun!”