UK Diaspora Group's 101st Virtual Concert Honors Bollywood Icon Kishore Kumar

In July 2025, the UK-based diaspora organization Essex Indians celebrated its 101st virtual concert, a tribute to legendary Bollywood vocalist, actor-director, and music director Kishore Kumar. The group had started these "global bonding virtual concerts" during the COVID-19 pandemic to keep the medical fraternity's spirits high as they grappled with the crisis.

The 101st e-concert, attended by doctors from around the world, was titled "Kishore Ki Shor." Essex Indians' journey began in the early days of the pandemic when these online celebrations helped rejuvenate the mental well-being of participating doctors facing the most difficult period of their lives. Even in the post-pandemic era, the group has continued hosting these webinars and e-concerts, reminiscing about the challenges they overcame and the lives lost to COVID-19.

Since 2020, the concerts have paid tribute to various Bengali legends, as well as celebrated the lives of renowned artists who passed away during the pandemic, including Bhupinder, Irrfaan, Bappi Lahiri, and others. The group has also virtually commemorated major festivals like Independence Day, Durga Puja, and Diwali. The 101st concert featured performances by Kolkata doctors, engineers, teachers, and students from India, the UK, the USA, Australia, and beyond, all coming together to honor Kishore Kumar's enduring legacy.