SPEECH BY SHRI ABHISHEK SINGH, AMBASSADOR OF INDIA TO
VENEZUELA ON THE OCCASION OF 150TH BIRTH ANNIVERSARY OF MAHATMA
GANDHI AT GANDHI SQUARE CARICUAO ON 2 OCTOBER 2020
His
Excellency Ruben Dario Molina, Vice Minister for Asia, Middle East and Oceania
Representatives
of the Local Community Council,
Friends,
Ladies and
Gentlemen.
Let
me, at the outset, convey how privileged I feel to be in Caricuao. Moments ago, we paid tribute at the bust of
Mahatma Gandhi. It is truly a matter of
immense satisfaction for us that we are celebrating the birth anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi. Today, also marks the
grand finale of the 150th birth anniversary celebration of Mahatma
Gandhi.
2. Father
of my nation - Mahatma Gandhi remains one of the most respected figures in the
human history. The reason for this is
the impact that his philosophy had on the people of India and the countless
millions across the world. Gandhiji
transformed the way people thought. His teachings were not merely theoretical but
practical and action oriented. He
changed the way onelooked at strength and weakness per se.What may seem as a
symbol of strength,actually may be a great reflection of weakness and vice
versa. This transformational thought
process was experimented by him. In the
process, it changed him, then it changed India and finally it changed the
world. Luckily, this transformational thought
process continues to deeply impact and guide the world.
3. Gandhiji
was a philosopher, political personality, strategist, humanist, saint and much
more. I cannot recall any one human
being to embody such qualities. We are
so blessed that Gandhiji stepped on this planet in 1869 and transformed it for all
times to come.
4. Gandhiji’s
views on non-violence, civil disobedience, gender equality, self-reliance, cleanlinesscontinues
to guide people and nations. It is no
wonder that people across the world celebrate Gandhji and his philosophy of
non-violence. The great lesson from
Gandhiji is that finally truth and ahimsa or non-violencetriumphs as in the
words of Gandhiji ‘truth and non-violence are as old as hills’.
5. When
several parts of the world areembroiled in conflict due to parochial interests,
the solution to these problems does not lie in violence but Gandhiji philosophy
of non-violence. Gandhiji had famously
said that ‘eye for an eye will make the whole world blind’.
6. We
need to avoid the temptation for quick resolution of issues by force. One, it will not happen. Secondly, even if it seems to happen, it will
be short lived and notdurable. Gandhiji’s
philosophy is more relevant today than ever before.
7. As
we celebrate the grand finale of the 150th birth anniversary,let’s
hope that following his ideals, we are able to make this earth better, greener
and a place where peace and harmony coexist on a sustainable basis. Let us do our best making Gandhiji’s dream
ofpeaceful coexistence of all a reality.
8. Long
live India-Venezuela friendship.
9. Long
live the great legacy of Mahatma Gandhi.
10. Jai Hind.
****
