India is forging bilateral ties with the international community to make the country Vishwaguru, says Meenakshi Lekhi
New Delhi: Facilitating top diplomats from seven countries, including Kazakhstan and Mongolia, Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Mrs Meenakshi Lekhi told them that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has stepped up efforts to forge mutually beneficial bilateral ties with the international community to make India a “Vishwaguru” (global leader).
In a video message from New Delhi for a meeting of ambassadors from countries like Mongolia, Rwanda, Guyana, Peru, Surinam, Trinidad and Tobago, and Kazakhstan; at Sathya Sai Grama, Muddenahalli, near Bengaluru, the Union Minister applauded the role of Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence, whose Trust runs multiple free health and educational centres across the globe and India.
“The Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of External Affairs have been working extensively as part of the government to nurture and promote the cultural uniqueness of India and take pride in developing a new India spiritually, economically, and militarily,” the Minister told the group of international diplomats, adding that following in the footsteps of spiritual gurus and that of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, India has now become a Vishwaguru.
The Minister described Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence as the flag bearers of India’s message of spirituality and well-being to the entire world, adding that the “Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Gurukulam Group of Institutions provides free education to 5,000 children from rural hinterlands in its 27 campuses.”
“Development of spirituality, practise of yoga and meditation, and development of conscience is key to creating responsible young citizens who would value their own lives and also take care of society and build this nation,” the Union Minister added.
The Minister said that as India moves ahead to emerge as one of the world’s most influential countries economically and militarily, we also need to be deeply connected once again with our spiritual heritage and philosophies to have a better understanding of the world and the essence of being born a human being.
The Minister praised the role of Sri Sathya Sai Loka Seva Institutions in the work for human welfare and said that the institutions are “focused on healthcare, education, and nutrition.” Sri Sathya Sai’s Annapoorna Morning Nutrition Programme serves free nutrition to about 5 million children across 6,500 government centres.
The Union Minister acknowledged that Sri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence is also setting up the first free medical college in Karnataka, and wished the “very best” to the institution for its future endeavours.
H. E. Ms Jacqueline Mukangira, High Commissioner, Republic of Rwanda; H. E. Mr. Charrandass Persaud, High Commissioner, Co-operative Republic of Guyana; and Ms Monica Cecilia Campos Fernandez, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of the Republic of Peru listened to the Union Minister and applauded the country’s and spiritual gurus’ efforts to promote international peace and security – “I am impressed with the way Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai is carrying out many noble tasks along with his band of selfless volunteers. I want to see him soon in Mongolia. ” H.E. Mr. Ganbold Dambajav, Ambassador-Designate, Embassy of Mongolia, told the gathering.
Other foreign diplomats and high embassy officials who took part in the event were Ms Ria A. Sital, Chargé d’Affaires, Embassy of the Republic of Suriname; H. E. Dr Roger Gopaul, High Commissioner, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago; and Ardak Kakimzhanov, First Secretary of the Embassy of Kazakhstan in India.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLj0pnWF8g0 (Video Link)
