Abhishek Sinha
Dublin, November 4, 2025:
India’s Ambassador to Ireland, Shri Akhilesh Mishra, accompanied by his wife Mrs. Reeti Mishra, paid a courtesy call on the President of Ireland, H.E. Dr. Michael D. Higgins. The special audience came just days before President Higgins’ historic completion of his second term.
Ambassador Mishra conveyed deep appreciation for the President’s long-standing warmth toward India and the Indian community in Ireland, recalling Dr. Higgins’ strong public statement condemning “despicable attacks on members of the Indian community” and acknowledging “the deep sense of gratitude we all in Ireland owe to the Indian community.”
The Ambassador also lauded President Higgins’ far-sighted political leadership and global thought-leadership, noting the significance of his ideas for India. He highlighted the President’s advocacy of food security through traditional crop diversity, drawing a parallel with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s millet initiative and the UN’s International Year of Millets 2023.
Ambassador Mishra further praised President Higgins’ landmark contributions as Ireland’s first Minister of Culture, including efforts that helped the Irish language achieve official EU status—an experience he said resonates with India’s National Education Policy focus on promoting Indian languages. Ambassador Mishra has previously authored a monograph titled, “Echoes of Vedic Philosophy in the Poetry of President Michael D. Higgins,” reflecting the influence of the President’s multifaceted scholarship and poetry.
President Higgins spoke about the centrality of philosophy, solidarity, and inclusion, and said he will continue to work on food security while focusing on reading and writing in his post-presidential pursuits. He conveyed his heartfelt blessings to Ambassador and Mrs. Mishra, and, through them, to the people of India.
