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EXCERPTS OF PRESIDENT OF INDIA’S ADDRESS TO THE NATION ON THE EVE OF REPUBLIC DAY ON 25 JANUARY, 2011 We are fortunate that we are the inheritors of the ideals and values of one of the world’s oldest civilizations, which has bequeathed to us a rich treasure of human experiences and thought. The concept of the human race being one, the importance of living in harmony with each other and with nature, the quest for knowledge and truth, find prominence in our age old culture. These ideas provided inspiration for our freedom movement and after our independence found a ready resonance in our Constitution. As citizens of this country each one of us, therefore, has a duty and a responsibility to demonstrate, that these principles have given to us the motivation and the strength to build our great nation. Among our remarkable accomplishments has been an unwavering adherence to democracy. The people of India have expressed their confidence by participating time and again in the electoral process. For us, democracy is an article of faith, important both as a basic pillar of our Republic and as a guarantor of our freedoms. Its sustenance is essential for the identity of India, hailed as the largest democracy in the world, and one that functions well even in situations of multiple complexities. We must not only reinforce democratic institutions and processes, but also refrain from any action, taken wittingly or unwittingly, that dilutes or is detrimental to democracy. As a nation, our aim is to grow and to create a just society. Our goal of poverty eradication and of inclusive growth that embraces the disadvantaged and marginalized sections of society can be achieved when our actions are guided by a social conscience and are not devoid of sensitivity. We are seeking good governance and a people-centric administration. In this, callous and casual attitudes in the sphere of public service are unacceptable. Delivery systems for schemes and programmes that promote the welfare of the people and spur economic growth should have inbuilt mechanisms for greater transparency and accountability. Education, health and skill building efforts will create productive human resources for the future. Urban and rural development schemes will make our cities and villages sustainable habitats. Programmes for women, the youth, the 12 | YATRA | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2011 girl child, the differentlyabled and marginalized sections of society will equip them to avail of opportunities and face the future with confidence. We need to address the problems of orphans and street children, as well as of the old and destitute. For the success of welfare schemes, the total sum of developmental funds must reach the intended beneficiaries. Corruption is the enemy of development and of good governance. Instead of getting lost in this mire, it is necessary to rise above it and seriously look at bringing systemic changes to deal more effectively with corruption. Financial institutions, the corporate world and civil society - all must uphold high standards of probity in their working. Only a genuine partnership between the Government and its people can bring about positive change to create a just society. In agriculture as in all other fields we need innovation more than ever before. This decade has been designated as the ‘Decade of Innovation’ in India. Our scientists and researchers have the talent and the capacity to look at highend technology as also at cost-effective, location-specific and affordable innovations for wider use in the country. Access to innovation is an integral part of their practical use. In a situation of rapidly moving global knowledge economy, our pace of research must accelerate. Larger funds should be allocated for science and technology so that such scientists can undertake in depth research in a wide range of subjects. Development and progress require an environment of stability and security. The work of our police and internal security agencies is critical in this field, as also is our cooperation and dialogue with our neighbours for stability in our region, and with the international community to create a peaceful world. Terrorism poses the single most detrimental threat to the progress of humankind. There is a crucial need for concerted action by all members of the international community to eradicate the threat of terrorism. India’s profile in global affairs is the focus of international attention today. As India assumes its seat as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, it will intensify efforts to effect concerted and collective global action against terrorism, and will also work with a deep sense of responsibility on all global issues. ❖ The High Commission of India in Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain
The High Commission of India in Trinidad and Tobago, Port of Spain FEATURE PRAVASI BHARATIYA DIVAS - 2011 A part from realizing his dream of installing a commemorative plaque at the port of Kolkata, Guyanese official, Ashook Ramsaran was one of fifteen to receive the prestigious Pravasi award in India recently. Ramsaran, along with eminent Diaspora historian and researcher Leela Gujadhar Sarup, spearheaded the international effort by the Global Indian Diaspora Heritage Society (GIDHS) for the emigration memorial and museum/resource center at a Kolkata site where Indian indentured laborers were housed prior to assignment to plantations in British colonies from 1834 to 1920. Ramsaran who is GOPIO <strong>International</strong> Executive Vice President visited Kolkata on January 11, along with Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs (MOIA) Mr. Vayalar Ravi and many other invitees from the Diaspora to unveil the plaque at the port of Kolkata. Former MOIA Joint Secretary and now Indian High Commissioner to TT, Malay Mishra was also present for this historic event. Mishra has been an early proponent of this effort and continues to be actively supportive. Ramsaran said, this is a fitting tribute of due recognition and an effort on behalf of the descendants of the thousands of Indian indentured laborers to erect an appropriate, long lasting physical connection in the land of our ancestors. This is a memorial and museum to physically as well as emotionally connect the descendants of those indentured workers with the story of their ancestors and their ancestral homeland. This will be our tribute to our ancestors and a lasting legacy to present and future generations". Mishra said the objective is for the memorial plaque to reflect the sentiments of the Diaspora to pay "honoured tribute, with due recognition, gratitude and lasting remembrance of all those who left these shores from 1834 - 1920 as Indian indentured labourers to far away lands seeking better livelihoods for themselves and their descendants; for their pioneering spirit, determination, resilience, endurance and perseverance amidst the extremely harsh and demeaning conditions they encountered; for their preservation of sense of origin, traditions, culture and religion, and their promotion of the Indian culture; for their achievements and successes despite insurmountable odds. India’s annual convention, the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, serving to connect with the 27-million strong Diaspora in over 150 countries concluded on 9 January with President Pratibha Patil honouring 15 individuals for their achievements and enhancing India’s image globally. The awardees included New Zealand Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, Canada-based Bharata Natyam dancer Lata Pada, Professor Veena Harbhagwan Sahajwalla, Director, sustainable materials processing research at the University of New South Wales, Australia, Harindrapal Singh Bangan from Hong Kong-China, Sheikh Mohammed Munir Hasan Ansari The Panel of Experts at the Session “Strengthening cultural bonds with the Global India” View of the audience, in the foreground is New Zealand’s Governor General, Sir Anand Satyanand from Israel, Upjit Singh Sachdev from Liberia, Tan Sri Dato Ajit Singh from Malaysia, Saleh Wahid from Netherlands, Nilangshu Dey, Dr. Mohiaddin Syed Karimuddin from Saudi Arabia, Mano Selvanathan from Sri Lanka, Mohan Jashanmal from United Arab Emirates, Baroness Sandip Verma from UK, and Ashook Ramsaran and Dr Rajiv Shah from the United States. The 9th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention in New Delhi, India, opened with conferences on the topics of health and education for those who are less fortunate in India and the Diaspora. The Minister of State for Health of India, Dinesh Trivedi said that 25 percent of the doctors of the world were of Indian descent. “While there has been tremendous development in medicine and pharmaceuticals in India and the outer world, through the years health care has not changed in my country,” he said. YATRA | JANUARY - FEBRUARY 2011 | 13
Page 2 and 3: YATRA (The Journey) Vol. 3, Issue 1
Page 4 and 5: BILATERAL HIGH COMMISSIONER’S VIS
Page 6 and 7: BILATERAL 6 | YATRA | JANUARY - FEB
Page 8 and 9: CULTURE On the eve of Republic Day
Page 10 and 11: BILATERAL - CULTURE TRIBAL FOLK ART
Page 14 and 15: FEATURE Also coming out of the conv
Page 16 and 17: ECONOMY America, Europe, Middle Eas
Page 18 and 19: SCIENCE India uses the sun to battl
Page 20 and 21: BIOGRAPHY laws was condemning peopl
Page 22 and 23: BIOGRAPHY physical, intellectual an
Page 24 and 25: DIASPORA View of the gathering at t
Page 26 and 27: DIASPORA The Global Indian Diaspora
Page 28 and 29: CULTURE Flying high: International
Page 30 and 31: HINDI SECTION 30 | YATRA | JANUARY

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