HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, and Indian Ambassador Sanjiv Arora cut a cake as Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ director of protocol Ibrahim Yousuf Fakhroo and officials of Indian forums look on yesterday at a reception organised in co-operation with the Indian Cultural Centre to celebrate the 66th Republic Day of India. PICTURE: Jayan Orma
By Ramesh Mathew/Staff Reporter
Indian expatriates in Qatar celebrated their country’s 66th Republic Day at a function held at the Indian embassy yesterday.
Indian Ambassador Sanjiv Arora hoisted the national flag, followed by the rendering of the national anthem, led by a group of students from the Indian schools. Once the anthem concluded, community members raised the slogan “Vande Mataram,” which means “I praise thee, Mother.”
Soon after the flag-hoisting, Arora read out the speech delivered by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee to the nation on the eve of the celebrations.
In the speech, the copies of which were distributed to all, the ambassador recalled the developments that contributed to the formation of the Indian Republic on January 26, 1950. It specifically recalled that the Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi did not live to see the establishment of the Indian Republic as he had been assassinated two years earlier.
“However, the framework of the Indian constitution that made India a role model for today’s world was constructed out of Gandhiji’s philosophy and its essence lays in the four principles of democracy, freedom of faith, gender equality and economic upsurge for those trapped in the curse of dire poverty,” it was mentioned.
The address also recalled the roles of Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhai Patel, Subhash Chandra Bose, Bhagat Singh, Rabindranath Tagore and Subramaniya Bharati in raising the patriotism of the Indians, along with remembering several thousands of unsung heroes who sacrificed their lives during the freedom struggle.
The importance of protecting the honour of women from violence of any kind was stressed. “Only a nation that respects and empowers its women can become a global power”.
India’s achievement of 5% GDP growth in the first two quarters of 2014-15 found mention along with the prospect of a reversion to a high growth of 7 to 8% as witnessed some four years ago.
The address also highlighted the establishment of a government, giving majority to a single-party after nearly three decades.
The speech ended with the mention of an anecdote during Gandhiji’s visit of Kolkata in 1901 for attending the annual session of the Indian National Congress, where he reportedly took up a broom and cleaned the surroundings dirtied by fellow delegates, thus highlighting the importance of maintaining everywhere clean.
The students rendered patriotic songs, which were well received by the gathering. The ambassador and other embassy officials lauded them and their teachers. Chhaya Arora, the wife of the Indian envoy, also presented gifts to the children and teachers.
