Visits

Detail

Remarks by External Affairs Minister at the Indian Community & Friends of India Reception

February 17, 2019

My Fellow Indians,
Persons of Indian Origin,
Friends and Well-wishers of India,
Namaskar !
Dober Den !


I am very pleased to see all of you early on this Sunday morning. While this is the first ever visit of an Indian External Affairs Minister to Bulgaria, it is my second visit to this beautiful country.

I recall the warmth with which I was received when I first visited in June 2003 while leading a 26-member Parliamentary delegation.

I was then as I am now, touched by the affection and feelings of genuine friendship, love and admiration with which I have been greeted everywhere.

I thank each one of you for your warm and joyful welcome. I was particularly looking forward to interacting with you.

You represent a microcosm of India in Bulgaria. You are Indians from various walks of life – doctors, engineers, students, teachers, entrepreneurs. Some of you came to this country, years ago and made it your own while others arrived only recently.

Many of you have married locally. I am happy that you have kept India in your hearts and Indian values and traditions alive in your lifestyle. Presence of Bulgarian friends today is especially heart-warming.

You are remarkable, for you have embraced Indian culture and ethos out of choice. We greatly value your admiration for India and the truly commendable role you play in enhancing engagement and understanding between India and Bulgaria.

Indians and Bulgarians share a close inexplicable bond dating back centuries. Since time immemorial, Indians have believed in living together in harmony. "Vasudhaiva Kutumbakum” has been our motto.

The same universal approach and openness is visible in Bulgaria. India and Bulgaria are robust democracies and vibrant, multi-religious, multi-ethnic societies. Pluralism, tolerance and social harmony define our national ethos.

There are surprising similarities between our Brahmi script and the Bulgarian script Glagolitsa , and between traditional Indian music and Bulgarian music.

The Bulgarian Revolutionary Georgi Sava Rakovski, while opposing British colonialism in India, went to the extent of declaring that the forefathers of Bulgarians belonged originally to India.

When Rabindranath Tagore visited Bulgaria in 1926, he received a hero’s welcome with queues of people lining up to hear him speak.

Several of Gurudev’s works and those of other Indian literary giants such as Premchand have been translated into Bulgarian.

The world-renowned Bulgarian artist Boris Georgiev was fascinated by India and immortalized his visit to India in numerous portraits, including notably of Mahatma Gandhi and Kasturba.

Today the Indian diaspora in Bulgaria constitutes a veritable bridge between our countries. Your numbers may be small but you and your contribution is greatly appreciated. Each one of you is an Ambassador of India.

You are a true reflection of India with its rich diversity, cultural heritage and traditions. We are proud of you and your achievements.

I must also express my deep appreciation for the Friends of India in Bulgaria who, through their sheer commitment and love for India, have created a vast network of cultural and academic institutions, dance and yoga schools, ayurveda clinics and stores selling Indian wares, which serve as torch bearers for all things Indian. Their activities have popularized India across the country and across all age groups.

This morning I had the privilege to lay flowers at the statue of Mahatma Gandhi in Sofia’s iconic South Park. The statue was created by Bulgarian sculptor Ivan Rusev and funded through local initiatives.

This magnificent gesture of homage by the people of Bulgaria to the Father of the Indian Nation to mark his 150th birth anniversary is truly noteworthy.

The Indology Department of Sofia University has made an outstanding contribution to the dissemination of Hindi, Sanskrit, Indian philosophy, history and culture in Bulgaria since its inception in 1983. I am delighted to learn that Professor Milena Bratoeva and Professor Gergana Ruseva recently translated 8 of the principal Upanishads from Sanskrit into Bulgarian.

I personally bestowed on Professor Galina Ruseva-Sokolova the Vishwa Hindi Samman during the Vishwa Hindi Sammelan in Mauritius in 2018.

I understand that Professor Vanya Gancheva has prolifically dubbed in Bulgarian Bollywood movies and Hindi TV serials which are immensely popular in Bulgaria.

We were delighted to receive this January a group of young Bulgarian students from Sofia University led by their Professor Mauna Kaushik who travelled to India to attend Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2019 as well as the Kumbh Mela and Republic Day parade.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations has sponsored a Hindi Chair at Sofia University for the last 35 years.

The Government of India has now also sent a Teacher of India Culture to Bulgaria. Our Embassy has started free Yoga, Hindi and Sanskrit classes in its premises, which I hope you, your families and friends will make full use of.

I am pleased that our Embassy works closely with Indian and India-focused organisations such as Association India, Friends of India Club, East West Indological Foundation, Devam Foundation, Indian Bulgarian Business Chamber, and Balkan India Business Association, to promote our shared aspirations.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

A unique transformation is underway in India in the economic and political realms.

India has become the fastest growing big economy in the world while being committed to the principle of inclusive growth.

Good governance, transparency, sustainable development and a ‘can do’ attitude have ushered in an era of rapid economic progress. Investment opportunities in government initiatives like Make in India, Digital India, Swachh Bharat, Clean Ganga Mission and 100 Smart Cities have drawn attention of business community globally.

Our overseas community is an integral part of India’s transformation and I invite all of you to come and join in these efforts and further our development agenda.

You have undoubtedly done well here but there are immense opportunities waiting for you in India. India today is a land of opportunity for those who want to connect, innovate, trade and invest. We welcome your participation in India’s transformative journey. A resurgent India awaits you.

There is a new vigour in our diaspora policy and outreach. The welfare of our citizens outside India is a top priority of our Government and me personally. We have taken many steps to connect you better with India. We have simplified the OCI scheme.

We have created a Pravasi Bharatiya Kendra in New Delhi as a one-stop resource centre for you and as your permanent home in India.

I have introduced in the Rajya Sabha a bill on NRI marriages to offer more protection against exploitation to Indian women married abroad.

Let me conclude by thanking the friendly people of Bulgaria for welcoming our citizens in their country. Over past few decades, Bulgarian economy has transformed itself into a steadily growing economy.

As friends of the Bulgarian people, we rejoice in your achievements and wish you every success for a peaceful and prosperous future.

India has always viewed Bulgaria as a true friend and shares the belief that our time-tested partnership will be further strengthened to mutual benefit in the coming years.

And let me once again express my appreciation to my fellow Indians and Indian origin brothers and sisters for your contribution to our motherland and your country of adoption. Continue making us proud.

I wish each one of you and your families the very best for your future endeavours and ever greater success and prosperity in the years ahead. May you continue to work for the progress and prosperity of India and Bulgaria.

Blagodarya Vi,
धन्यवाद !



Comments

Post A Comment

  • Name *
    E-mail *
  • Write Your Comment *
  • Verification Code * Verification Code