Remarks
by Ambassador of India to Venezuela Shri Abhishek Singh on the occasion of
inauguration ceremony of ‘Centro Gandhi’ in Caracas
Mrs.
Veronica de Guruceaga, President of Mahatma Gandhi Venezuela
Mrs.
Natalia Castanon, Rector Incharge, Universidad Metropolitana
Friends
Ladies
and Gentlemen
Let me at the outset thank Veronica de
Guruceaga, President of Mahatma Gandhi Venezuela for inviting me as the Guest
of Honour for opening ceremony of ‘Centro Gandhi’. This is truly a special day. We are today inaugurating
the Centro Gandhi dedicated to the spread of Gandhian philosophy in Venezuela
on the 152nd birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
2. The last several months have been very
difficult for the world due to COVID pandemic and we have had restricted mobility
due to COVID pandemic. The world has realized all the more the philosophy of
Gandhiji during the pandemic. We have
lived with limited resources in pandemic butevery one also has realized that we
can do with putting restriction on the material needs that we have on day to
day basis.
3. I want to compliment Mahatma Gandhi
Venezuela for its efforts in promoting Gandhian philosophy and values in
Venezuela. We have several things lined
up for the next few months when we will collaborate with Mahatma Gandhi
Venezuela to spread the main elements of Gandhian philosophy on this important
occasion of the 75th anniversary of India’s independence.
Friends,
4. After staying in Venezuela for more than a
year I have realized that like in other parts of the world, Father of my Nation
Mahatma Gandhi is a hugely respected and admired personality in Venezuela. Everywhere that I visited in Venezuela,
people have shown tremendous love and respect for the great humanist that Mahatma
Gandhi was. With starting of the ‘Centro
Gandhi’, we will have an institutional place where several things related to
Gandhiji and his philosophy would be discussed on a regular basis. I am particularly happy for the inauguration
also of the library of Centro Gandhi for which the Embassy of India, Caracas is
contributing books about India, Indian culture and also Gandhian
philosophy. I am sure as we get back to
normalcy, the library of Centro Gandhi will be more frequented by people who
want to know more about Gandhiji and India.
Embassy of India, Caracas would do its best to help in further
strengthening the understanding of Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy and its
relevance in the world today.
Friends,
5. Everything has been difficult in the COVID
pandemic.Even for the inauguration of the ‘Centro Gandhi’, Mahatma Gandhi
Venezuela has been planning for several months but finally all the efforts of
the dynamic President of Mahatma Gandhi Venezuela Veronica de Guruceaga and her
team has fructified today on the special day of the birth anniversary of
Mahatma Gandhi. This is the second time
that I have been privileged to be associated with an important occasion related
to Mahatma Gandhi organised by the Mahatma Gandhi Venezuela. Exactly one year ago, I was privileged to
unveil the first statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Venezuala along with President of
Mahatma Gandhi Venezuela and today I have been bestowed the honour to
inaugurate ‘Centro Gandhi’. These are
some very important events as we are building institutions which will continue
to promote the Gandhian philosophy of peace and non-violence, sustainable
development and most importantly the need to care for each other, the need to
care for humanity.
6. In conclusion, I would like to thank once
again the organisers of today’s event and all participants who have been able
to join us for the inauguration of the ‘Centro Gandhi’.
7. I would like to wish ‘Centro Gandhi’ and
Mahatma Gandhi Venezuela the very best in their endeavours and sincerely hope
that the‘Centro Gandhi’ would become stronger and bigger in months and years to
come.
Thank you.
