India, March 16 -- St Patrick's Day is an opportunity for tens of millions of people with Irish heritage around the world - and many more friends of Ireland around the world - to join in a celebration of Ireland and the literature, music, culture, history and an outlook on life that have helped to shape our island.

India has been one such friend to Ireland. Our shared struggle for independence brought together not just our leaders but also our people as they travelled from Ireland to India as missionaries, educators and doctors. Our freedom struggles, a joint admiration of literature and culture, and an acceptance and tolerance for others have created a strong bond between our two nations.

Two-way trade between Ireland and India continu...