Title : Emperor Haile Selassie I in India

By UnionJah Observer | April 29, 2025

Haile Selassie I in India: A Royal Union of Ancient Civilizations

“From the highlands of Ethiopia to the plains of Hindustan, we honor truth, tradition, and the brotherhood of free nations.” — H.I.M.

Date of Visit: July 1956

• Locations: New Delhi, Mumbai (then Bombay), Hyderabad, Kolkata (then Calcutta), and Varanasi
• Welcomed by: President Dr. Rajendra Prasad and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru
• Purpose: Strengthen Afro-Asian relations, promote peace and independence, and affirm spiritual and cultural ties

Historical Significance

Haile Selassie’s 1956 visit to India was part of a broader Pan-Asian-African outreach:

• India had just emerged from British colonial rule and was shaping its non-aligned path.
• Ethiopia, having resisted colonization (except for the brief Italian occupation), was a beacon for African sovereignty.
• The visit symbolized mutual respect between two of the world’s oldest civilizations and spiritual nations.

Key Events of the Visit

1. State Welcome in New Delhi

• Received with full honors by President Rajendra Prasad at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
• Met with Prime Minister Nehru, discussing:
  • The Non-Aligned Movement
  • Decolonization efforts across Asia and Africa
  • Development cooperation and peace diplomacy

2. Speech at Parliament

• Haile Selassie addressed Indian lawmakers, emphasizing:
  • African independence
  • The legacy of Mahatma Gandhi
  • Moral leadership in world affairs

“India’s fight for freedom has lit the torch that now spreads across Africa,”
— Haile Selassie before the Lok Sabha

3. Cultural and Spiritual Visits

• Visited the holy city of Varanasi on the banks of the Ganges River.
• Paid respects at Gandhi’s Samadhi (memorial) in Raj Ghat.
• Met with Hindu sages, Muslim scholars, and Buddhist monks, demonstrating Ethiopia’s respect for religious diversity.

Diplomatic Impact

• Ethiopia and India signed agreements in:
  • Education (Indian scholarships for Ethiopian students)
  • Healthcare and agriculture
  • Railway technology and industry
• Established mutual embassies, strengthening a long-term alliance that would span decades

Spiritual and Pan-African Echoes

• Rastafarian thinkers saw this visit as a meeting of spiritual wisdoms—with Haile Selassie representing Zion and India representing the Eastern light.
• The Emperor’s presence in sacred Indian spaces affirmed his universal reverence beyond politics and race.

“India greeted the Lion of Judah not merely as a leader—but as a sage among sages.”

Visual Documentation

Photos and records of this visit can be found in:

• The Indian Ministry of External Affairs Archives
• Nehru Memorial Museum and Library
• Ethiopian National Archives
• Some newsreels available via Doordarshan Archives (India’s national broadcaster)