Speaking at the 33rd Rajiv Gandhi Memorial day meeting in honor of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi organised by the Rajiv Gandhi Awards Committee (RGAC) on May 21, 2024 at the residence of RGAC Chairman Markos Williams, Miss Snigdha Nambiar, a student of Bharathiya Vidya Bhavan said that Rajiv Gandhi made several significant contributions aimed at improving the lives of Indians, especially that of children. “His policies and initiatives that focused on education, technology and social welfare left a lasting impact on our country. Rajiv Gandhi introduced the National Policy on Education to modernize and expand education in India. It emphasized improving access to education, especially for underprivileged children, and introduced the concept of Operation Blackboard to provide essential facilities in primary schools” she declared. At the end of her speech Snigdha Nambiar quoted Rajiv Gandhi who said, “I am young, and I too have a dream. I dream of an India - strong, independent, self -reliant and in the front rank of the nations of the world in the service of mankind.”
The next speaker, Miss Mabel Ann Joby, a student of Carmel School, Kuwait said, “As India's youngest prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was the hope of millions. He guided the nation through a pivotal period of growth and spearheaded a technological revolution, envisioning a modern India by promoting computer education and advancing IT development. Tragically, his life was cut short by violence, but his visionary leadership continues to inspire future generations, emphasizing the lasting impact of his leadership in the development and progress of the New India which he envisaged. He laid emphasis on the Temples of Modern India like the IITs, IIMs, ISRO, DRDO among others.”
Another speaker Miss Divyanshi Dewra quoted Rajiv Gandhi who once said, “What has kept India together through thousands of years, despite periods of political turmoil, economic vicissitudes and even colonialism, has been the enduring values of our civilisation. Without these values, India would count for nothing, however fast our economic progress might be.”
She added that Rajiv Gandhi embraced technology as he felt that progress in India will only depend on our technological developments. The Indian National Congress fostered “Unity in Diversity” and Rajiv Gandhi was its torch bearer. Rajiv Gandhi’s life was a shining example of selfless service, humility, greatness and sacrifice, she concluded.
On her part Miss G.K. Nehtra a student of the Indian Public School, Kuwait said, “What makes Rajiv Gandhi unique when compared to the hordes of power hungry political aspirants is that Mr. Gandhi was a late and reluctant entrant into politics even though he belonged to an intensely political family that served India for generations, both during the freedom struggle and afterwards”.
She further pointed out that earlier today (21.5.2024) in India, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took to X (formerly Twitter) to remember his father and former prime minister, Rajiv Gandhi, on the day of his death anniversary. Rahul wrote on X, “Father, your dreams, my dreams. Your aspirations, my responsibilities. Your memories, today and always, in my heart.”
Following the speeches, the ANTI TERRORISM PLEDGE which is taken on the occasion was administered to the participants by Maegan Maria Joby. The Anti Terrorism pledge exhorts everyone “to work for the emotional oneness and harmony for all the people of India regardless of caste, creed, religion or language while undertaking to resolve all differences through dialogue and constitutional means without resorting to violence.
A unique aspect of Rajiv Gandhi’s 33rd Memorial Day meeting which was inaugurated by Dr. Roy Francis and Mr. Joby Scaria, was the participation of school children as speakers unlike in the past when senior members of the Indian community including diplomats, parliamentarians and Chief Ministers were the Speakers.
All participants paid floral tributes to late Shri Rajiv Gandhi at the conclusion of the Memorial Day event.