In October 1969 a meeting was held in West London. About 50 people attended it and it was decided to form Indian Overseas Congress UK with Mr. HS Ruprah, Mr. TS Toor and Mr. DL Kalhan as its President, General Secretary and Executive Secretary respectively. An Executive Committee was also formed with M/s KS Dhillon, MS Dhillon, AS Chahal, AA Beg and others.

A constitution was later approved. It would hold seminars to bring disparate nationalist elements together, arrange meetings with visiting dignitaries from India and other countries, develop contacts with local MP's etc. and interact with the High Commission of India for the allaying the problems, which Indians generally felt.

In due course its relations developed with parent organisation in India. Its office-holders would attend various annual sessions of AICC by invitation with notable mention of sessions in Chandigarh of 1975, Bombay of 1985 and Bangalore of 2002.

IOC had the privilege to invite Mrs. Indira Gandhi to the UK from 12 to 19 November 1978. The purpose was to give her international exposure as against her hounding by the then Janata Government in India was considered to be against Indian ethos and norms.

IOC, by its efforts, has created quite a stir for Mrs. Indira Gandhi in UK and Europe. Her visit was very successful in spite of many obstacles by the British Governments, Indian High Commission, our leftist friends and other foes. We had the distinction to holding a sit down dinner in her honour, which was attended by 1,500 persons, still a record to this day.

Mrs. Indira Gandhi came to power in the general elections of January 1980. Every thing looked rosy for future of India. A delegation from the IOC met her in London on 26 October 1981 on her return journey from Cancun (in Mexico) where she attended an international conference of world leaders. IOC again met her in May 1982 in Geneva on her invitation.

Then came the dark days of terrorism in Punjab and Kashmir. Some religious fanatics and disgruntled elements in Punjab were bent upon spreading violence in the state. It was beginning of a new phenomenon of what is now known as 'international terrorism based on religious fanaticism'. Punjab suffered its worst brunt for two decades of this separatist violence.

Mrs. Indira Gandhi was assassinated on 31 October 1984. The Indian community in UK was inveigled too as it could not remain untouched by the bloody events back home. The Indian Overseas Congress in UK was also to suffer at the hands of assassins when its General Secretary was shot dead. Threats were issued to other office bearers of IOC but they stood steadfast.

In June 1992 Mr. Balwant Kapoor and Mr. DL Kalhan became the President and the General Secretary of the Indian Overseas Congress UK. Since they took the helm the IOC has not looked back.

Since its inception IOC is known to celebrate India's Independence Days and Republic Days every year with the full co-operation from the High Commission of India and a very large population of our compatriots. To mark these important days in the annals of Indian history, it has been publishing since 1992 twice a year a high quality colour brochure. Incidentally, these are the only public functions of this nature where all are welcome regardless of their political beliefs, creed or conviction.