In the picture the Ambassador of India, H.E. Venu Rajamony welcome hundreds of guests at the Indian residence in Wassenaar.
His Excellency Ambassador Mr. Venu Rajamony celebrated the Republic of India’s 73rdIndependence Day, at the India House in Wassenaar on Wednesday, August 15. Hundreds of enthusiastic guests from the region joined him to mark his nation’s 73rd year of freedom. Guests included senior members of the diplomatic community, his compatriots and scores of international “friends of India.”
Local Dutch government officials, including the Deputy Mayor of Wassenaar, Caroline Klaver-Bouman, and former Deputy Mayor of The Hague, Rabin Baldewsingh, were also in attendance.
The morning program, began with the raising of the flag and the singing of the “Jana Gana Mana”, India’s national anthem. Ambassador Rajamony read the Honorable President’s Ram Nath Kovind’s moving address to the nation, while copies of the address were widely distributed to the many hundreds who had gathered under the flag to hear their president’s inspiring words.
President Ram Nath Kovind’s address emphasized the foresight of Mahatma Gandi’s advocacy of “sustainability, ecological sensitivity and living in harmony with nature” and he called upon his fellow citizens to embrace a “Gandian philosophy” in striving to meet today’s global challenges.
The President also called for effective and transparent governance and urged his nation’s 1.3 billion culturally and linguistically diverse citizens to cultivate a “culture of creativity”—a necessary spirit required for meeting the vast young nation’s ambitious goal of accelerated development.
After reading the address, Ambassador Rajamony announced that His Majesty King Willem-Alexander and Her Majesty Queen Maxima of the Netherlands will be making their first state visit, from October 14-18, 2020, to the Republic of India at the invitation of President Ram Nath Kovind. The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stef Blok, will be accompanying them.
The Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigrid Kaag, the Minister for Healthcare, Bruno Bruins, and the State Secretary for Economic Affairs and Climate Policy, Mona Keijzer, will head a broad parallel trade mission, of some 200 plus representatives. Ambassador Rajamony noted that the Dutch trade mission is expected to be the largest ever and Dutch interest in the trade mission continues to grow.
Ambassador Rajamony also recognized the many women amongst the crowd by noting that “Rakshabandhan”, the annual Hindi Festival, celebrating “sisters” coincided this year with Independence Day.
A “Unity in Diversity” cultural program of song, dance, poetry, celebrating the multi-cultural republic’s freedom concluded the morning event.
Four vocalists sang “Vande Mataram”, the national song of India, and followed with a medley of Hindi and Bengali songs. This was followed by three dances performed to the songs of “Ai mere vatan”, Mile sur mera tumhara” and the widely popular “Jai Ho” composed and sung by the producer, composer, singer and songwriter, A.R. Rahman.
“Jai Ho.” In 2010, the song gained even wider global recognition when Rahman was selected to sing the piece for the Nobel Peace Prize Committee accompanied by Indian musicians and dancers.
Following the cultural program, guests were invited to enjoy traditional Indian vegetarian late morning snack of Chai (spiced tea), Chapati (flatbread), fragrant Pilau Rice (spiced rice) and Channa Masala (chickpea stew).
It was a fitting way to conclude a festive morning with Ambassador Rajamony and some of the 220,000 members of the Indian community residing in the Netherlands.
President’s address to the nation: https://presidentofindia.nic.in/speeches-detail.htm?695
