The Unveiling of Gandhiji’s bust

Inauguration of Gandhi exhibition

Global Rainbow Foundation

16 August 2019

Remarks by High Commissioner Tanmaya Lal

Prof. Armoogum Parsuramen, Founder Chairman, Global Rainbow Foundation

Ms. Nishtha Ghurburrun heading Dr. Mrs Prabhavati Ghurburrun Charitable Trust

Mr. Jadoo, former Minister

Mr. Vinayak Muzumdar, General Manager of Ajanta Pharma Ltd.

Ms. Annuradha Manna, Chief Manager of LIC

I thank you for inviting me here today.

It is a great honor for me as the representative of India to join you for the unveiling of the bust of Mahatma Gandhi in this 150^th Anniversary of his birth Anniversary.

I have just seen the remarkable work and service that is being done by the Global Rainbow Foundation here. It is really touching the lives of so many people who are in need.

I would like to start by commending the excellent and impactful work that the Foundation has been doing to help the needy in the society.

Gandhiji is a global icon. He is remembered as a Mahatma or a great soul. He was not only a wise man but a very practical man. He was a man of the people and he was a Leader.

Gandhiji visited Mauritius in 1901. His visit and his message to the people of Mauritius especially regarding his empowerment through education is still vividly remembered.

Gandhiji was a deeply perceptive thinker and looked for practical solutions for the discriminatory situations whether social, religious or political.

He not only resisted the colonial rule and mobilized the hundreds of millions of Indian masses irrespective of their diversity, he employed non-violence and civil disobedience as effective tools with moral force in this struggle. This was not easy but the Indian pe0ple had faith in his fearless leadership

But his leadership was not only limited to the political sphere.

He worked tirelessly to raise awareness of his fellow citizens about such basic issues as the need to do one’s own work, imbibing the culture of cleanliness, treating fellow human beings with empathy and care irrespective of their background and status, building a more harmonious society, supporting local skills and handicrafts, working to prevent degradation of environment and looking for sustainable practices also in the economic sphere.

Most of these were far reaching ideas steeped in ancient wisdom but also based on practical observation and common sense. They continue to hold appeal even today, more than seven decades after his death.

His ideas on sustainable development and harmony with nature are finding resonance in the global community today when they speak about SDGs and climate change.

His emphasis on non-violent struggle continues to be relevant as the world grapples with violent conflicts and terrorism.

Friends,

I thank the organisers for this gesture of installing Gandhiji’s bust here and putting up exhibition of some of his sayings which reflect the breadth of the interest and concern as he looked at the condition of society around him.

I again commend the Global Rainbow Foundation for working directly with people to find practical solutions for challenges being faced by different sections of society such as physical disability among individuals. Their work with the Jaipur Foot empowers individuals who are faced with severe handicaps.

Civil society organisations such as the Global Rainbow Foundation and Dr. Mrs. Prabhavathi Ghurburrun Charitable Trust are performing a huge task and in many ways compliment the efforts of governments in reaching out to help individuals and society.

I also thank the partners of today’s event Ajanta Pharma and the LIC of India for their support to this cause.

I wish you the very best in your noble endeavors.

Thank you.