Prepared by: Ina Stašević
INDIA CELEBRATES FREEDOM
Ambassador Goel: There are more and more Indian workers in Croatia. This year, India celebrates the 76th anniversary of the entry into force of its Constitution, the foundational document that affirms Republic Day, the historic anniversary of the entry into force of the foundational document that affirms the collective identity of Indians, the country's independence and unity in its vast diversity.
This festive event, Republic Day, was also celebrated at the Embassy of India in Zagreb. N. Exc. Arun Goel, Ambassador of India, unfurled the tricolor while chanting the national anthem, and then read a message from the President of India, Mrs. Droupadi Murma, about the incredible historical journey of independent India that has inspired many other nations. Among other things, he emphasized that Republic Day is truly a collective joy and pride of all citizens. Seventy-five years, someone will say, is just the blink of an eye in the life of a nation. No, I will say, not these past 75 years. This was the time when the long-dormant soul of India reawakened, taking steps to reclaim its rightful place in the society of nations. Among the oldest civilizations, India was once known as a source of knowledge and wisdom. However, a dark phase set in, and inhuman exploitation under colonial rule led to abject poverty. Today, we should first remember the brave souls who made great sacrifices to free the homeland from the shackles of foreign rule. Some were well known, while some remain little known to this day.
PAST AND PRESENT
To recall, after gaining independence on August 15, 1947, India remained a member of the British Commonwealth, with the monarch of the United Kingdom as head of state. But the leaders of India's independence movement, including Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, believed that the country should be a sovereign, democratic republic. After Nehru became the first Prime Minister of independent India, his government began drafting the Constitution.
Therefore, Republic Day, January 26, marks the anniversary of the official adoption of the Constitution of India in 1950, making India a sovereign republic with full self-government.
Republic Day is an occasion to celebrate India's democratic tradition, independence and its cultural and regional diversity. India's rich cultural diversity, military might, troop parade, air force have traditionally been the dominant themes in New Delhi. Among them are female pilots (female power) who enchanted the audience with their flying skills.
On that occasion, Prime Minister Modi said that in the last decade, 25 million Indians have been lifted out of poverty, which is a great success. He highlighted the unprecedented increase in the strength of the Indian Army and the growing role of India on the world stage, expressing the belief that the day is not far when India will become the world's third largest economy.
Of course, India has taken advantage of democracy, demography and a huge market and today plays an active and constructive role in the global community. Prime Minister Modi's government has given top priority to developing, connecting and deepening India's presence for many years. His "Make in India" campaign garnered respect from both the West and the East and reaped numerous economic and strategic benefits for India. In recent years, Modi has risen to the challenges, mobilized the spirit of the nation and raised India to a level where it can stand shoulder to shoulder with the superpowers of our time, the US and China. Speaking at an event in London back in November 2015, Modi said: "We don't need sympathy from the world for a long time, we want equality. If they want to unite (with us) then (it represents) a mutual gain, if they want to progress (with us) then (it represents) a march side by side, and for me it is a sign of a brighter future".
Among the series of great achievements, we will also mention one important aspect. At a time when the global economy is not looking so good the average daily number of digital transactions through UPI has crossed an impressive 500 million transactions according to data from the National Payments Corporation of India. UPI is a platform founded in 2016 that enables cashless/digital payments in various sectors, from buying sweets to cross-border transactions around the world. That platform brought efficiency to the payment system and became an important factor that strengthened the economy, facilitated trade and investment, accelerated connectivity and included urban and rural regions of the country and the world. It is widely accepted by the fact that UPI is used in seven countries (including France, the UAE and Singapore), which is proof that India is setting global standards in financial technology. The plan is to reach one billion transactions in the coming months, which is trillions of Indian rupees.
India, meanwhile, is celebrating the Kumbha Mela. It is a unique spiritual event, the Holy Days of Bathing at the mouth of the Ganges River that takes place every 144 years. The last such one was held in 1882, and the next one will be in 2169. The time of the Kumbha Mela is determined by the position of Jupiter and the Sun. This year's Kumbha Mela takes place from January 13 to February 26 in the Indian city of Prayagraj in the state of Uttar Pradesh, as the largest peaceful gathering of people on the planet. This spiritual event is expected to attract 400 million pilgrims/participants, accompanied by rituals. People gather believing that in this way they can wash away their sins, free themselves from greed and guilt, while celebrating the strength of collective faith, unity and presence in this cosmos of ours. The Chinese traveler, scholar, translator and Buddhist monk Xuanzang, who visited India in the 7th century, described Prayagraj as an area of immense and magnificent natural beauty and spiritual significance.
We need such places, Indians say, because the concerns about the future and the frustrations we see today are not limited to one territory, one region, the frustration is spread all over the world.
THE WORD OF THE AMBASSADOR
After addressing the Indian community in Croatia and friends of India, I asked a question to the Ambassador of India, His Excellency. Arun Goel, what is the priority for our two countries this year?
There has been a strong strengthening of our traditional friendly ties, based on the fact that 17,000 Indian workers work in Croatia in various sectors, infrastructure and services. In order to improve bilateral relations, we should conclude a Memorandum of Understanding, followed by two agreements, on employment and social security of people from India. On the basis of these agreements, workers could familiarize themselves with their future jobs before leaving India and start learning the Croatian language before arriving in Croatia. A strong system is needed to protect foreign workers and their wages, the ambassador concluded.