REPORT OF UNIVERSAL BROTHERHOOD DAY 2009
Ms Divya Sharda played the role of MC and conducted the proceedings effectively and efficiently by her superlative skills in communication.
The programme began with the Welcome Address of Shri Sanjay Kelapure, President of VAK who highlighted the objectives of the VAK. He also introduced the dignitaries on stage. He mentioned that VAK organises the U B Day every year to foster friendship and goodwill with various consulates and foreign nationals in Mumbai.. He concluded that VAK aspires to become a think-tank that will provide alternative viewpoint on international issues with India-centric focus.
Shri Sanjay Hegde Executive Partner - PWC India and founding Director of Sewa Sahayog Foundation, Mumbai presided over the function. He complimented VAK for organizing the event every year to foster friendship and harmony. Though it was a small step it is a significant one he added. He felt that though Universal Brotherhood cannot be implanted sitting in an air conditioned auditorium and speaking for a few hours on the topic, the act is like sowing a seed that will germinate, become a plant and eventually a big tree that will be seen only later. He strongly felt that the virus of goodness should spread more than the virus of those doing bad things. He recalled that civilizations and new thoughts have arisen in many parts of the world but only in Bharat (India) new thoughts, ideas and change have been always welcome without resistance. Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (The world is one family) is a great heritage that we have inherited which we need to cherish and also preserve he said. He also stressed the need for practicing and thus preserving our priceless traditions and values.
Chief Guest of the function, Mr. Alexey Redkin, Consul at the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in Mumbai in his short speech thanked VAK for conducting the function at the Cultural Centre of Russia. "Rakshabandhan, in fact, has a much broader perspective and a universal outlook. The festival encompasses true sense of peace, trust and brotherhood" he said. Russians and Indians are like brothers stressed the Consul. He concluded by saying "It is very appropriate that efforts like observing Universal Brotherhood Day will make an important contribution in creating better appreciation of peace, cooperation and harmony in the world, particularly among the increasingly influential and extremely talented younger generation."
Ms Divya Sharda later gave details of the Paper Presentation Competition (PPC) which was held among students of Technology, Management and International Studies from 20 institutions of Mumbai on the topic 'India in centre stage of emerging i2i nations'. She also gave brief profiles of the judges of the PPC - Shri Ajay Pandey, Shri K. Narassimhan and Shri Sandeep Singh.
Dr. B. K. Modi later distributed certificates and cash prizes to the winners of PPC.
Shri Sagar Shenvi, final year student from IIT who bagged the first prize presented the synopsis of his paper. He felt that in the last century a thunderstorm of technology has poured on the world that has left mankind shocked and perplexed instead of bringing happiness. There is serious search for human values and principles that bring happiness. The remarkable thing about Indian civilization is that there is an undercurrent of good and positive values that families have nurtured and passed on to generations. At a time when West has conquered Science and is longing for value systems that will ensure peace, India has the same from tradition and legacy he concluded.
The Keynote Address was given by Dr. B. K. Modi - a global visionary, peace ambassador and a multi-faceted personality. Dr Modi said that universal outlook was inborn in every Indian. "We are all brought up hearing the verses vasudhaiva kutumbakam. We all earnestly look forward to the day when the world will understand the meaning of these verses and start living like a family" he said.
He reminded the audience that in 1938 Shri Aurobindo had predicted that once in 175 years there is a cycle that brings India in centre stage and in a leadership position in the world. "The birth of Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was the start of one such cycle that has commenced in 1836. In 1893 we have seen Swami Vivekananda proclaim the message of India to the world at the World Parliament of Religions at Chicago. The year 2011 will once again bring India to eminence and the world will be led by Indian thought" he said.
He recalled the events after the end of World War II in 1945 and dwelled on various issues that have had a profound influence on the world from then onwards.
"The UN was formed and 5 countries viz. USA, Russia, UK, France and China have become permanent members of the Security Council and since then dominated the global scene and influenced the world by various bodies of UN like IMF, World Bank etc.
Most of the countries in the i2i region (Israel to Indonesia) whereas attained freedom from colonies only after 1945. Unfortunately they have no role in decision making in the world today though they constitute the best talent in the world and have 37% of the population of the world living in this region.
300 years before now, India was a major force. Our greatest virtue has always been 'freedom of thought'. Avtars also came from time to time to reiterate the importance of the freedom of thinking process. The geographical area from Israel to Indonesia is strongly influenced by India. There is cultural link and most of the countries in this i2i belt look to India for their progress and prosperity. India therefore has a great responsibility to lead these countries.
We have seen Industrial Revolution in the 50s and later Agriculture Revolution. We are now in an era of new revolution - Knowledge Revolution. Human mind is the centre of this revolution. This revolution is leading to unprecedented wealth creation. TCS has more value that all other companies of Tata group. It is wealth creation that drives nations to leadership positions.
