UK: Indian-origin entrepreneur gets 800-year-old honour also given to Nehru - Freedom of City of London

A British-Indian entrepreneur has been conferred with the historic and prestigious Freedom of the City of London honour.

Manish Tiwari, founder of Here and Now 365 - a multicultural marketing agency - was bestowed with the honour earlier in January 2023.

The first Freedom of the City of London honour is believed to have been presented in 1237. The honour began as a recognition of a "Freeman's" right to trade in the Square Mile or financial heart of London.

The title of Freeman is more symbolic today and comes with certain corresponding duties associated with the Lord Mayor’s office.

Before 1996, the Freedom of the City was only open to British or Commonwealth Citizens and has since been extended globally and persons of any nationality may be admitted. Today, the honour is conferred upon individuals by the City of London Corporation to help celebrate a significant achievement, or to pay tribute to their outstanding contribution to London life or public life.

A previous Indian recipient of the honour is Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, and other prominent recipients include South African leader Nelson Mandela and Microsoft founder Bill Gates.

Tiwari became the latest to join the ranks at a solemn admission ceremony at the Chamberlain’s Court in the iconic Guildhall in London earlier this month.

(With agency inputs)