Remarks by Ambassador
of India to Venezuela Shri Abhishek Singh on the occasion of birth anniversary
of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Square Caricuao on 2 October 2021.
Her Excellency Capaya
Rodriguez, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs
Representatives of
Local Community Council
Members of the Indian
community in Venezuela
Friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen
Today is a very special day as it is
Mahatma Gandhi’s 152nd birth anniversary. It also happens to be the
year when India is celebrating 75 years of independence which was made possible
under the leadership of the visionary Mahatma Gandhi.
2. I am truly privileged to be at the Gandhi
Square Caricuaofor the second time in my tenure while we celebrate the birth
anniversary of Father of our Nation Mahatma Gandhi. It is also time for us to reflect on the
great philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and also to put in more effort to spread the
message of peace and non-violence far and wide.
3. Last year and half, the world has witnessed
unprecedented sufferings due to COVID pandemic.
Our lives have turned upside down and many were isolated in their homes
for a long time. With the process of vaccination, we are taking steps in the
direction of normalcy but we need to be cautious.
Friends,
4. Gandhiji’s philosophy and his various
experiments of leading simple and meaningful life is more relevant than ever
before. Things which were dear to
Gandhiji’s life like cleanliness and sustaining one’s life with minimum basic
material requirements are being realized by everyone during the COVID
pandemic. When the resources have been
restricted and the mobility is limited one sees the true meaning of what
Gandhiji said ‘there is enough for human need but not for human greed’.
Amigos,
5. Despite COVID pandemic, in several parts of
the world there has been unrest and violence.
If people are not able to achieve their objectives, they resort to
violent means. This is
unacceptable.Gandhiji’s emphasis on peace and non-violence is even more
relevant today. Gandhiji had shown to
the world that by following the path of non-violence even brute force can be
convinced to concede. Certainly, it is
not an easy path but a path which will have durable results and will in the end
promote togetherness for the humanity.
6. In the 75th year of India’s
independence, the Embassy of India in Caracas has been doing several events to
promote Indian culture and achievements in various fields. The next 2 years, the celebrations of India’s
independence would continue in Venezuela and today’s event in Caricuao is very
special as it happens duringan important milestone year of India.
Excellency,
7. We have always believed in the philosophy
of ‘Vasudeva Kutumbukam’ which means ‘world is one family’. Gandhiji was one of the strongest proponent
of this philosophy and through our various events in Caracas and beyond we are
living this philosophy on adaily basis.
Friends,
8. Let us on this significant day resolve to
understand the philosophy of Mahatma Gandhi and try to implement his important
message of peace and non-violence. We
also owe it to the future generations to pass on the significance of Mahatma
Gandhi’s philosophy so that we contribute in making this world a better place
to live.
Friends,
9. In conclusion, I would like to thank the
representatives of Local Community Council, Her Excellency Capaya Rodriguez,
Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and all the friends of India who have
assembled here to celebrate the birth anniversary of one of the greatest
humanist and visionary that the world ever seen - Mahatma Gandhi.
Thank you all.
