By Dario Poli and Mara Lemanis.“How would you like your coffee, sir?”
The words recently spoken by a London waitress to Kennie, our friend of longstanding from South Africa.
“Just black, thank you,” he replied without a second thought, gazing at his daily newspaper in a London coffee shop.
“Sorry sir, you can’t say that here”.
Kennie looked up, surprised by the words he heard ringing in his ears, their reprimanding tone, delivered to him with a considerable righteousness, distracting him from his interesting read. “I would like a black coffee,” he replied again, mildly annoyed…Once again the waitress addressed him. “Sir, you can only ask for coffee without milk, not black coffee.”
Shocked by this problem of simply ordering a coffee, he demanded to speak to the manager, who dutifully arrived, heard the story, and without further ado, ordered the waitress to deliver Kennie,“a cup of coffee without milk”.
Kennie sipped his coffee without milk (black coffee), pondering the social changes that are taking place in the Western nations, ushering in a new world order of political correctness.
Dario Poli
Then he realised that this very evening, he would be playing his favourite game of chess on a board where each square is coloured black and white…problems ahead, he wondered?
Looking up, he noticed at the far end of the shop was an ethnic African man, who had just seated himself. Suddenly, a wry smile spreading across his face, Kennie wondered if he would ask for a white coffee, and if he too would be reprimanded by the same waitress?
Or, spotlighting the point, what if this man ordered a black coffee and refused to use the milk word?
Mara Lemanis.
Would he resort to sign language? Stick his finger to his forehead, ask the waitress if she noticed that his head is black, and tell her he wants coffee in the same colour? Since this kind of event has also been reported east of London, in the community of Southend-on-Sea, where the Borough Council is prohibiting requests for black coffee, we noticed a curious feature there:
Among 173 thousand residents only 3 thousand of them are black.
Could implementing this censorship be an attempt to colonize white residents’ minds with milk less images of blacks?
–Could it be a way to still fears by inducing white people to feel that if they never mention the black word, black uprisings will never happen in their midst? Or could this just be an ingenious way to ensure white supremacy?
But whatever may be the motive for the fiat on black coffee, it could easily expand and affect businesses down the street. The photography studio, for instance. Suppose instead of a colour print we wanted a black-and-white photo. Would we be told it was not allowed? Would we only be able to ask for a white-and-non white picture?
But non white can carry the connotation of off-white, beige, or grey, so we might not at all be able to get a plain back-and-white print. And we would have to remember when visiting a haberdashery that ordering an outfit for a black-tie affair would be out of the question. Only a Without Milk Tie, if you please.
Considering the implications from Kennie’s account, we then pondered on the direction of our social world and its future, now enmeshed in political correctness that in some cases have become legally instituted. Would it become illegal for black persons to carry placards stating, “Black is Beautiful,” in celebration of Nelson Mandela’s birthday, and would people in the Black Lives Matter movement have their posters struck away by an official from the sensitivity patrol?
At once, the great bard’s prophetic words effortlessly jumped into our heads.
“When we are born we cry that we are come to this great stage of fools”…William Shakespeare
By His Excellency Mr. Dirk Brengelmann, Ambassador of Germany in the Netherlands.
Over 30 years ago, my wife Brigitte and I visited The Hague (and the German Embassy and Huis Schuylenburch, the German Ambassador’s Residence in the city centre), as part of the training programme of our Foreign Service Academy. The late Ambassador Otto von der Gablentz, a beacon of Dutch-German relations, received us and the other participants in the programme.
He described the challenges of his job, given many people’s memories of World War II, but also the wonderful experience of working with the people of the Netherlands to foster relations between our two countries. It was his dream job, he said. My wife and I concluded that this could be a future posting for us…It just took a little time.
And it is still a dream job for any German Ambassador today. German-Dutch relations cover every aspect of international cooperation, but go beyond that to include the regional and local level, in particular cross-border cooperation/Euregios, etc.
One aspect of the work of Otto von der Gablentz has changed: the shadows and tensions in the aftermath of World War II have largely faded away. However, it is still part of my work to attend important herdenking events, to make sure we remember and give testimony.
As I mentioned, German-Dutch relations touch every aspect, and some facts are hardly known to either the Germans or Dutch:
In 2017, goods worth 177 billion euros were traded between Germany and the Netherlands. German imports from the Netherlands amounted to 91.2 billion, while German exports to the Netherlands totalled 85.7 billion. The Netherlands was thus Germany’s second most important trading partner, right after China. Germany has been the main holiday destination for the Dutch for the past eleven years– and the Dutch are very much no. 1 in terms of foreign visitors to Germany.
The Dutch and German armies are integrating on many levels, well beyond the 1 (German-Netherlands) Corps in Münster. New projects are being planned. In most of our missions abroad we are teaming up with the Netherlands and this cooperation is very important to us.
In foreign policy and in the European Union our two countries are far more often than not “like-minded” and work closely together. This is true from the top level right to the very practical cooperation between our capitals, across the border and abroad.
The Dutch very much like this to take place at Augenhöhe, that is, on an equal footing. And given their status as a strong economic and political player, they have every reason for this.
At the Frankfurter Buchmesse in 2016 the Netherlands and Flanders were the Guest of Honour. I was amazed to see how many Dutch books appeal to a German audience. We are interested in the literature, history and politics of the Netherlands – some even say the country is a bellwether state for upcoming developments.
Ambassador Brengelmann.
Are there aspects which I think could be better? Yes, indeed, I believe it would be very good if Dutch school children learned more German (again). Language skills are important for communication, better mutual understanding, business, travel etc.
We also strive for more Dutch language education in Germany – and it works well, mainly in the western border areas.
I have often been asked what I like most about the Netherlands. My answers would include:
the open and professional way of doing business in the Netherlands. The country’spolitical system is very transparent. The Kamerbrief instrument is indicative of the relationship between the executive and the legislative. And it is a treasure for the reporting needs of any diplomat!
the good mix of old Dutch towns and remarkable modern architecture, even next to the motorway
the beaches in Scheveningen and Wassenaar (as I write it is 38 °C outside…) and biking in the dunes.
I am also asked if there is anything I do not like or where I disagree. As Ambassador one is naturally cautious, but let me try:
I have not become the greatest fan of broodjes lunch, but there are excellent restaurants here, no doubt.
Some Dutch argue they are basically free of hierarchical structures. However, I can quickly sense a certain hierarchical order, but it is more informal than in other countries.
Many observers say that it is always a good idea to mix German and Dutch colleagues, talents etc. After two years in The Hague, I can only agree.
By His Excellency Laurence Lenayapa, Ambassador of the Republic of Kenya.
Since arriving in the Netherlands in August, I have been very pleased to enjoy the Dutch hospitality and I look forward to making this my home for the next few years. I also look forward to visiting various parts of the country in the course of my duty as well as to simply enjoy the beauty the country has to offer.
The Hague, where the Embassy is situated presents the opportunity to work in a very international environment with the presence of several other embassies, international organisations and various nationalities of people who work here.
In my new role as Ambassador, I intend to prioritise my focus on Kenya’s developmental agenda that is guided by H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya. The Agenda, commonly known as the Big Four Agenda, will focus on moving Kenya forward in the areas of Manufacturing, Universal Healthcare, Housing and Food security.
Manufacturing
The government plans to increase manufacturing from 9.2 per cent to 20 per cent by 2022. The major focus is put on among others cotton production and textile industry. The country will then realize greater value from export by controlling the value chain and making something of the raw materials that are produced. It is anticipated that the bigger the economy, the increased employment opportunity and wider shared prosperity.
Universal healthcare
Our government appreciates that a healthy people ensures effective production and hence increase in wealth by reducing pressure. The government therefore will seek to deal with preventable diseases like malaria which will ensure a healthy nation, apart from reducing pressure in hospitals. The government also puts emphasis on tracking medicine from manufacturing to consumption by patients, conducting census and getting the National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF) functioning at its optimum.
The Big Four Agenda lists five innovative initiatives which are purposed to drive NHIF scale up. These include activating community health worker network, legalizing reforms to align NHIF to universal healthcare, redefining NHIF to include Multi-Tier benefit packages and digitizing NHIF.
H.E. Mr. Lawrence Ntoye Lenayapa, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Kenya to the OPCW, presented his credentials to the Director-General H. E. Ambassador Fernando Arias on 30 August 2018.Food security
The country plans to invest in infrastructure which will allow for distribution of food from one part of the country to others, being open to producing food for other countries and producing cost effective foods as well as addressing mismatch in food production.
Affordable housing
Plans are underway to set up a Kenya Mortgage Refinancing Company (KMRC) to manage low cost liquidity for mortgages. The government plans to build affordable homes through mechanisms including partnerships with other agencies.
The Big Four Agenda will closely follow the implementation of Kenya’s Vision 2030. The two important agendas with their correlating pillars are considered the long-term development blueprint for Kenya, which is motivated by a collective aspiration for a better society by the year 2030. Their main objective is to create a globally competitive and prosperous country with a high quality of life by 2030.
H.E. Laurence Lenayapa, Ambassador of Kenya.
With this in mind, I will capitalise on the already existing good bilateral relations between Kenya and the Netherlands. I will seek to maximise on the opportunities available through the Aid-to-Trade policy of the Netherlands by actively seeking out Dutch investors for direct investments or to work through public private partnerships (PPP). The Dutch Companies can take advantage of the favourable conditions in Kenya such as a solid infrastructure, ideal climate, and a deep pool of educated and skilled manpower amongst others. Also, Kenya’s fully liberalised economy has no restrictions on domestic and foreign borrowing by residents and non-residents. Kenya’s strategic location allows investors to easily access the countries in the region.
In addition to focusing on Kenya’s development agenda, I am committed to ensure Kenya fulfils its obligations emanating from its membership to international organisations based in the Netherlands. Kenya’s robust participation in these organisations will demonstrate the commitment to invest in programs aimed at promoting the rule of law, international peace and stability and innovative diplomacy to contribute to a just and peaceful world.
I will therefore ensure that Kenya continues taking part in conversations of a complex nature that will always be guided by law, state practice and multilateralism.
By Jan Dop.What can you do to prevent sexual harassment on the work floor? And what do you, as an employer, have to do if it does occur unexpectedly?
Sexual harassment by managers continues to concern us, as can be seen from the Dutch TV broadcast “M”. The TV program dealt with men that are concerned about the consequences of their past conduct for their reputation. Actions glossed over ten or fifteen years ago are now no longer accepted. When allegations – whether right or wrong – are published, the genie is out of the bottle and cannot be put back in. How can companies deal with it?
Establish a clear policy
It is vital for companies to establish clear rules. What one person sees as sexual harassment, the other might not have intended at all. By setting out rules in the staff manual, employees know what is expected from them and are familiar with the procedure that is followed and the sanctions for violations of the rules. It is also advisable to appoint a counsellor the harassed employee can confide in.
Establish the facts
Before taking definite measures, the facts will have to be investigated. There are several significant problems in this respect, for instance if there are no witnesses to the incident.
To ensure that the incident can be assessed objectively external experts can be engaged who can immediately start investigations to reconstruct what happened, for instance by taking statements and checking the circumstances. The company has to take into account that the whole truth will never be uncovered but that it will have to take a decision regarding the employment relation.
Do not just deal with it internally
It is tempting to keep the matter behind closed doors in order to uphold the good reputation of your company. However, concealing your knowledge of criminal acts can be a criminal offence too. Therefore, it is advisable to seek legal advice concerning the matter. Also, if the facts will later become known to the public it won’t be good for your reputation if it turns out that you have concealed the matter. Therefore, you are well-advised to specify in your staff manual that the company can file a report with the police in the event of transgressive behaviour at work. This will also help the victim.
Follow your own rules
It is important to not just stipulate these guidelines but also to abide by them. Prorail, the company responsible for the maintenance of the Dutch railway network, presumed that in the #MeToo age the establishment of the fact that an employee under the influence of alcohol had become intimate with and insulted a female colleague was sufficient for dismissal with immediate effect. However, the court ruled the employee had indeed performed culpable action but they were not sufficient to sustain the dismissal with immediate effect. Why?
Prorail had made procedural errors. For example, the employee was not reminded of the option to submit a written statement.
The employee stopped the intimacies after the victim had indicated not to appreciate them.
The victim had indicated the wish to clear up the matter with the offender and the offender had said he had regrets and would like to offer his apologies.
The consequences for the 58-year-old employee with over 40 years of service and impeccable record of service had not been considered.
Prorail referred to the matter as “an incident”, which indicated that it had not been a structural problem.
Prorail had not considered the option to impose less severe measures, such as suspension.
Despite the #MeToo movement, which Prorail explicitly referred to, the court will consider all circumstances of the matter, thus also the internal procedure and the consequences for the employee. Therefore, Prorail has to reinstate the employee and pay wage arrears, including a statutory increase that was brought back to 25%. Taking hasty measures in fear of public opinion therefore can result in significant costs for companies.
Our advice
Ensure that there is a clear policy regarding unwanted conduct on the workfloor and specify this policy in a staff manual.
In the event of allegations of sexual harassment, investigate the facts. Preferably, have an independent expert do this.
If necessary file a report with the police.
Enforce the rules and abide by them yourself.
More information:
Would you like us to devise a protocol on how to deal with unwanted conduct? Are you confronted with (sexual) harassment or other unwanted conduct within your company? Russell Advocaten can not just help you with the assessment of the facts and the judicial follow-up. We can also call in a multidisciplinary team, including a specialist in reputation management and communication strategy and a forensic psychiatrist via Henneman Strategies. After all, unwanted conduct is not just a legal issue but may also cause damage to companies and persons, such as harm to reputation and infringement of personal integrity.
By Dario Poli and Mara Lemanis.
Highly likely sat on a wall and highly likely had a great fall
All the kings’ soldiers and all the king’s men,
Could not put highly likely together again.
Ever since former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned by the military-grade nerve agent, Novichok, the British PM, the Foreign Secretary, and numerous EU countries along with the US maintain it is “highly likely” that Russia was responsible for the March 2018 attack in Salisbury.
Issuing a unified statement, the leaders of France, Germany, the United States, and the United Kingdomall stated that it was “highly likely that Russia was responsible,” requesting Russia to provide complete disclosure to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) concerning its Novichok nerve agent program.
The European Union also condemned the attack, declaring it “takes extremely seriously the UK Government’s assessment that it is highly likely that the Russian Federation is responsible.”
European Council President Donald Tusk said 16 EU countries in all were expelling Russian diplomats and warned that further measures could be taken in the coming weeks and months.
…But we must ask–Where are the internationally accepted norms of diplomatic efforts that are first engaged before such drastic actions?
British authorities have asserted that Russia was highly likely to have been behind the incident but have not been able to provide any evidence.
Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Russia was “ready to cooperate” and demanded access to the samples of the nerve-agent allegedly used to poison Skripal.
But the British government rejected that request.
The world is holding its collective breath, waiting to see the irrefutable evidence that for the time being does not seem to be arriving from the accusers—neither the UK, the EU, nor the US.
…We only hear the constant expression: Highly likely Moscow behind attack.
The OPCW is the international body banning the acquisition and use of chemical weapons and requiring state parties to destroy existing stocks and production facilities.
And yet state parties have been allowed to produce small quantities of chemical agents for the sake of developing countermeasures to them. This implies that Porton Down possesses samples of Novichok…
Of considerable relevance is the November 2017 address before the OPCW by the UK Ambassador Peter Wilson, praising Director-General Üzümcü and listing his achievements during the year. It is noteworthy that these included: “the completion of the verified destruction of Russia’s declared chemical weapons programme.”
Gary Aitkenhead, chief executive of the Porton Down defence laboratory, told Britain’s Sky News that analysts had identified it as military-grade Novichok, but they had not proved it was made in Russia.
He added, “it is not our job to say where it was manufactured.”
Mr. Aitkenhead did express that “extremely sophisticated methods” were needed to create the nerve agent, and that was “something only in the capabilities of a state actor.”
But what about the consensus–innocent till proven guilty? Is this legal tenet still applicable? Or has it disappeared, without warning, from international laws and legal norms?
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights, article 11 states:
Everyone charged with a penal offence has the right to be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law in a public trial at which he has had all the guarantees necessary for his defence.
What has happened to the legally valid and accepted procedures that legislators, lawyers and police rely on as jurisprudence?
As far back as the sixth century a code known as the Digest of Justinian (22.3.2) proclaims this general rule of evidence:
Ei incumbit probatio qui dicit, non qui negat—Proof lies on him who asserts, not on him who denies.
In accord with the Roman code, Islamic law also holds the principle that the onus of proof is on the accuser or claimant based on a hadith documented by Imam Nawawi.
But in the accusation against Russia and President Putin, this highly important legal obligation has been imperiously and ruthlessly pushed aside.
And still to date we have no highly likely proof of evidence, though Russia’s U.N. ambassador called for a special session of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons and requested an open meeting of the U.N. Security Council.
It was not so long ago that the world witnessed the hazards stemming from actions based on unverified assumptions.
The 2003 Iraq invasion stunningly exposed the danger.
Saddam Hussein had neither WMDs nor connections to Islamist fundamentalists. It was the result of his government getting overthrown and his country laid waste that gave Jihadists the opportunity to exploit the devastation.
Anytime intel is scanty or absent, it is certain to become “highly likely” that deadly mistakes will follow.
Even under an ostensibly benign policy, such as America’s “Responsibility to Protect” beleaguered peoples, when information is flawed or inadequate, crises ensue.
In 1992 the US launched a military coalition called, “Operation Restore Hope” in Somalia, a failed state with which it had no diplomatic mission. The result was the downing of Blackhawk helicopters and the killing of pilots, soldiers, and civilians. A badly planned and misunderstood adventure turned disastrous.
The infamous 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion also took place between countries with no diplomatic bodies in place. America’s attempt to derail Cuba’s rival regime ended in the Soviets (Krushchev) planting nuclear missiles there to ward off further attempts at invasion.
The interesting upshot from this did lead to a very cautious and effective crisis management by President Kennedy. Instead of heeding the advice of his Joint Chiefs of Staff, who wanted air strikes over Cuba followed by a ground invasion, Kennedy ordered a naval “quarantine” against Soviet ships entering Cuban ports.
This semantic euphemism—“quarantine”—was a stroke of diplomatic inspiration. Had he called it a “blockade” the implication would have been the existence of a state of war. The softened rhetoric also persuaded the Organization of American States (OAS) to voice their support of the US.
We are reminded that Britain’s most senior chemical warfare expert, Professor Alastair Hay, went as far as advising media it could take “months” to confirm suspicions of a nerve agent.Britain’s top investigators at Scotland Yard also confirmed that timeline.
As Anatoly Antonov, Russia’s ambassador to the US, has said: “The scale of inflicted damage and the preceding information campaign speak of the fact that it had been planned beforehand – simply postponed for the right moment.”
Questions about these dramatic actions before solid evidence has been presented,of course does not absolve Russia as a possible suspect responsiblefor those abhorrent actions…
But if accusations alone become the basis for retribution, that rationale opens the gate to presumptive acts across the social spectrum. Actionable offenses, such as the expulsion of diplomats, reduce the safeguards of civilization and subvert our legal systems.
Irrefutable evidence is a necessity if the world’s jurisprudence is to be upheld. Short of investigative procedures and valid depositions, what is highly likely is that the global community declines into cycles of distrust, consigned to life on the edge of self-extinction.
Then highly likelywill have a great fall…
Each summer, The International Holland Music Sessions attracts over 100 young musical talents from all over the world. During the five-week festival, talents receive lessons and give over 150 concerts throughout the Netherlands.
The 2018 edition welcomed 14 Hungarian musicians. On 8 August, the representatives of the Embassy of Hungary attended a TIHMS event in Bergen. This included a concert by the Pál Hermann Ensemble and a lecture by the Leo Smit Foundation.
During the lecture, the Leo Smit Foundation introduced the unknown repertoire of composers who were persecuted during the Second World War. The focus was on composers who lived and worked in the Netherlands in the pre-war period, among which four were Hungarian; Pál Hermann, Zoltán Székely, Géza Frid and Ferenc Weisz.
The lecture was alternated by short performances by the Pál Hermann Ensemble, which played pieces by Pál Hermann. His daughter, Corrie Hermann was also present during the event.
On the picture H.E. Andras Kocsis (wearing t-shirt 7) together with the team.
Several Hungarian athletes competed in the Netherlands in July.
The Hungarian national women’s team competed in the ParaVolley Sitting Volleyball World Championships 2018, which was attended by Ambassador Andras Kocsis. The Hungarian national women’s team played at a world championship for the first time. On 19 July, it achieved a historic victory against Egypt.
On the same day, the presidents of the Hungarian Paralympic Committee and the ParaVolleyball Europe signed a contract on the basis of which Hungary will host the 2019 European Sitting Volleyball Championship for Men & Women in Budapest.
In the same week, Hungarian tennis player, AttilaBalázs won several matches in the ATP Challenger The Hague Open. Ambassador Kocsis visited the tournament on 17 July. In the first round Balázs beat the Dutch Jelle Snels in two straight sets with 6-3 and 7-6. He also won the second round against the Spanish Nicola Kuhn with 6-3 and 6-4.
Wednesday 26 September, 18.30-20.00
Lan fân Taal, Prinsentuin 1, Leeuwarden
On the European Day of Languages, everyone is invited to come and ‘speak-date’ in the Language Pavilion MeM – Livingroom of Languages and Tresoar in Leeuwarden. Visitors can get introduced to over 20 different languages and minority languages from Europe.
In short and interactive lessons of five minutes you will get to know some of the European languages in a fun way. The evening is organized by EUNIC, the partnership of national cultural institutes, in collaboration with the European Commission, Lân fan Taal, Europeesk Buro foar Lytse Talen and Afûk.
The European Day of Languages is a European initiative for the preservation of cultural heritage, the promotion of language teaching and intercultural understanding. Participation is free.
The Ambassador of India, His Excellency Venu Rajamony, also in the picture his spouse, Dr. Saroj Thapa.By Roy Lie Atjam.
Open House at the residence of the Indian Ambassador
On August 15, 2018, India celebrates its 72nd Independence Day. The Embassy of India will mark this memorable event by a special flag hoisting ceremony at ‘India House’ in Wassenaar.
Invited to the special flag hoisting ceremony were: all members of the Indian community, people of Indian origin and friends of India.
The event will start with the hoisting of the Indian flag by the Ambassador, singing of the Indian national anthem and reading by the Ambassador of the address to the nation by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind.Address to the Nation by the President of India, Shri Ram Nath Kovind, on the eve of India’s 72nd Independence Day
Excerpts from what H.E. Ambassador Venu Rajamony has read follows hereby.
Ambassador Rajamony and Dr. Saroj Thapa together with the Ambassador of Bangladesh, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed Belal and the Ambassador of South Africa, His Excellency Bruce Koloane and many other guests.
“Dear Fellow Citizens
My greetings to you as we complete 71 years as an independent nation. Tomorrow we will commemorate our 72nd Independence Day. For every Indian, whether living at home or anywhere else in the world, August 15 is sacred. It is marked on our calendars as a celebration of our sovereignty. We unfurl our national flag with great joy and enthusiasm in workplaces, municipalities, panchayats, colleges, schools, homes and neighborhoods. Our Tricolor is a symbol of our national pride. It is a constant reminder of our striving and our self-belief. It is a day to look back with satisfaction and gratitude for what we have been able to achieve due to the efforts of successive generations of our elders. And it is a day to renew our resolve to fill the gaps that still remain in our nation building project – gaps that our talented young people will no doubt fill.
Freedom came to our country on the Midnight of August 14-15, 1947. It was the result of years and decades and centuries of sacrifice and valour on the part of our ancestors and our revered freedom fighters. These were men and women of rare courage and foresight. They came from all regions of the country, all sections of society, all communities and all social and economic groups. They could easily have compromised and settled for some personal benefit, but they did not. Their commitment to India – to a free, sovereign, plural and egalitarian India – was absolute. It was my privilege to honour these freedom fighters on the anniversary of ‘Quit India Day’ on 9th August in Rashtrapati Bhavan.
We are fortunate that we have inherited the legacy of such remarkable patriots. They left us with a free India, but they also left us with unfinished tasks for the development of our society, for the empowerment of the proverbial last person, for their liberation from poverty, and social and economic inequality. Every breath in our collective life as a nation is a tribute to our freedom fighters – and a commitment to accomplish whatever is still unaccomplished.
Women have a special role in our society. The expansion of freedom in our country in many senses amounts to the expansion of freedom for women in our country. This is true whether we see them as mothers, sisters, daughters or simply as women who are entitled to a life of their choosing – and deserving of the opportunity and the security to fulfil their potential. They could do this as sheet-anchors of our families or as absolutely critical entrants to our institutions of higher learning and our workforce. The choice is theirs; as a nation and as a society we must ensure that they have the right and the ability to exercise that choice.
Independence Day is always special, but this year there is anunusual significance attached to it. In a few weeks, on 2nd October, we will begin the commemoration of the 150th birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. Gandhiji did not just lead our freedom struggle. He was and still is our moral compass. In my capacity as the President of India, I have been fortunate to have travelled around the world, particularly to a few countries of Africa. Everywhere, across continents, Gandhiji is mentioned, cherished and remembered as an icon for all humanity. He is the embodiment of India.
India Independence Day.
Dear Fellow Citizens
In my engagements with students and university authorities all over India, I have urged students to spend a few days – maybe four or five days in a year – in a village. Undertaken as part of what may be termed “University Social Responsibility”, this will help students understand our country. It will allow them to observe and participate in social welfare programmes and see how they are making an impact. It will be of benefit to the individual student and to the village, as well as to the country. It will also invoke the fervour of our freedom struggle, and the identification of every citizen with the national mission.
I am gratified by the idealism and the passion of our young people. There is a spirit to achieve something for oneself, for one’s family, for wider society and for our country. This is the most moral education we can wish for. The outcome of education is not merely a degree or a diploma, but the commitment to help improve the life of another in a way that is sustainable. This is empathy and fraternity in action. This is the Indian spirit. This is India, because India belongs to the people of India – not just to the Government.
Together we can help every citizen in our country. Together we can conserve our forests and natural heritage, we can safeguard our monuments for future generations, we can renew our rural and urban habitats. Together, we can eliminate poverty, illiteracy and inequality. We can and we must do this together. The government has a leading role but not the sole role. Let us use the government’s programmes and projects to further our own efforts. Let us make that sense of ownership our motivation.
With those words, I once again wish you and your families all the best for Independence Day and best wishes for a bright future.”
Indian artists during Independence Day celebrations at the India residence.A quote by H.E. Ambassador Venu Rajamony
“India and the Netherlands have a long history of friendly bilateral relations going back to more than 400 years, encompassing many areas of shared interest. We share common ideals of democracy, pluralism, multiculturalism and the rule of law. There is great momentum in our bilateral ties following the visit of Prime Minister Mark Rutte to India in May 2018 along with the largest ever Dutch trade mission to India. I am confident that we will see renewed efforts from the Governments and peoples of both our countries towards further strengthening our robust ties and raising them to new heights in the coming days. I welcome you to join us in celebrating India’s 72nd Independence Day.”
Additionally Ambassador Venu Rajamony mentioned the upcoming International Day of Non-Violence and invited to join the ‘Gandhi March’ in The Hague on September 30, 2018 at Peace Palace.
The celebration72nd Independence Day concluded with a cultural program and refreshments.
