"We live in turbulant times..wherever you are in the world remember that if you sence calamity or danger you can return home to India and we will do everything we can to save our people irrespective of the color of your passport" said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the cheering auditorium of more than 10000 expatriate Indians who came to the Richo Coliseum in Toronto to greet him on Wednesday April 15th 2015..Though he was obviously referring to the recent events in Yemen..his was a message of reassurance from a Fatherly leader to his people spread over the world ..every word he said was greeted with cheers and jubilation..He then called on expatriates to never forget their Mother land but to remember that someone somewhere had given up their bit or made great sacrifices for their future and their successes. He called on all people of Indian origin to always stand up for their native land and support her in whatever way they could...
This was the View from the Richo Coliseum. Toronto As thousands
of people pushed and squashed against each other at 4 in the afternoon outside
the Ricoh Coliseum in Down Town Toronto I heard an elderly, white well-dressed
gentleman speak out aloud." This is the kind of stuff that happens when Rock
Stars show up: Wow this Prime Minister Modi must be some mega Rock Star” Meanwhile
song and dance routines were breaking out in the front of the stadium as `dholaks' ( drums) played and people chanted
Modi..Modi..all that was missing was a ceremonial Elephant to complete the
scene .
Under Cover security agents and Indian commandos were visible mingling in the crowds ( For me being a former crime and military beat reporter..its easy to spot them) As thousands
and thousands of people from the Indo Canadian community and Canadian
dignitaries all gathered outside the coliseum from 3 pm in the afternoon .
The
RCMP, Toronto police and Secret service were all around. After the extra
special security was cleared after a two or more hour wait to get in..we all watched
hours and hours of Dance and song…the dances and shows were amazing and reflected the mood of India..young..energetic..colorful and bold..the auditorium was quickly filling up and then just around 8 in the evening…a hush
fell over the auditorium and everybody ..10,000 strong stood up as Prime Minister Narendra Modi of India walked into the hall....The Canadian PM Stephen Harper and his wife Mrs Laureen
Harper followed him. Mrs Harper was dressed in a Black sari and looked beautiful.
The National Anthems of both Nations were followed by a brief introduction by Stephen Harper who acknowledged PM Modi as the man who had won an election with the largest mandate in world history…PM Stephen Harper described PM Modi as a modern" Vishwa Guru" world teacher.and .quoted the great Swami Vivekananda the “ ishta” of Narendra Modi with the immortal words“ Arise Awake and stop Not till the goal is reached”..He said Modi .was striving for and attaining all his Goals.. And then Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself took the stage….The man who was once a humble Tea stall owner at a railway station..who became the leader of the state of Gujarat in India and made it with his business acumen and keen intelligence one of the most prosperous states in the country.from there he won the greatest mandate in history during the 2014 elections..which makes it a world record.
Modi does not waste time in slamming the opposition or negative political rhetoric...He talks on positivism, development, sharing of Visions and dreams and giving back. to the world and taking India forward with the right leadership skills and a Far reaching Vision.,
The Key points he made were powerful.
- Canada and India are natural Friends and partners. Canada's immense natural resources and Indians human resources can combine to form a powerful formula of wealth for both. ( example the diamond industry)
- Indian military strength makes India a powerful Allie of Canada and any other Country she supports.
- In France, India announced that India will now produce Nuclear reactors and not depend on any country to make them. Canada will provide India with Uranium . Indian Reactors will only be for peaceful purposes because the land of Mahatma Gandhi has never till this day every been the first to strike or attack any nation in the world.( thunderous applause and shouts of Modi..Modi..)
- Indian power is its people..India has the greatest percentage of young people in the world..65% of Indians are below the age of 35 and within 15 years by 2030 when the world's developed nations have a larger number of senior citizens than a young working force- India will be in position to provide the world, with a young, highly trained and skilled work force.
- Since he has taken power..in ten months. The cleaner India drive has taken to new heights. Accountability and responsibility have become a way of life in Govermentt..Rich government officers cannot have subsidies and in stead Modi will use these to help the poorest of the poor.The Ganges and Kashi are being cleaned up..people across the nation are joining hands.
- He spoke about how his drive to provide Bank accounts to every person in the nation is succeeding and how within 10 months millions of poor people who were offered Zero balance bank accounts across the nation loved the idea. He said.." The Poor people showed great class when they deposited their hard earned money in the Indian banks and the National Reserve rose by millions.
- India was the first country to successfully send a Rocket to Mars that succeeded within the first attempt. The price of that Rocket's journey was less than the price of a Rickshaw ride ( per kilometer). There are only a handful of countries in the world that have had successful Mars missions.
- His 4 point program of using the four colors of the Indian Flag to drive 4 programs:
- Saffron ( Energy) for clean and environment friendly power such as Nuclear energy and Solar energy.
- White : For a new white revolution in which the Dairy industry will thrive.
- Green : The second Green revolution of agricultural growth and excellence.
- Blue ( the wheel) : Clean Blue skies and Oceans in India and around.
- He recognised that Indians needed to change their mind set and look on poor people with respect and acquire the Sense of Dignity in Labor which has made great people and great countries great.
Modi said his development goals include increasing the number of skilled workers in the country and growing the number of entrepreneurs. Indians, he said, should be creating jobs instead of seeking them.
He also talked about improving India's Image, saying he wants it to go from "scam India" to "skill India."
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Swami Vivekananda
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"Duniya Badal Gaya..Insaan Badal Gaya" ( the world has changed and people are changing for the better) "he said..which is a pun on a very famous old Hindi song which used to rant about how bad people had become the deluge of the world.. This was now changing to how there was a more Positive and creative spirit in India since he took to power
His final message almost brought tears to my eyes ( it was also an obvious dig at Stephen Harpers policies)..Modi promised and cautioned every Indian in the audience..
"Remember many events are taking place across the world..whenever you sense danger in a far away land ( such as recent events in Yemen)..return to India wherever you are..As Indians you will always be welcomed and we will not look at the color of your passports to decide whether you deserve to be rescued or not..our people are our own..we will not forsake you.
He then reminded every man and women in the audience to never forget their roots and Mother land to always think of the progress and strength of their Native land India as their own.." Do something for your country wherever you are he said. Whatever you became was because someone somewhere gave up his bit for you..some poor person had less to give you more.."
The Indian Prime Minsiter Modi stood
simple…dressed elegantly and Traditionally in his light Saffron Kurta and he
greeted everyone in the crowd….silver/grey hair brushed back..a smiling face ..humble
yet strong..and his eyes..One thing I have noticed since my childhood is that
people who are “ special’’have an incredible beautiful expression and look in
their eyes..as cannot be defined by words..it is a depth..a wisdom..a
compassion and a beauty that is from a source much higher than anything we
are..
He spoke in
Hindi..never before has this language sounded so beautiful and flowing as when
Modi speaks it..It creates a feeling of National pride..…and the greatest this
is every words he speaks is productive..thought provoking..unique and
touching..it is a sharing of ideas and accounting for everyday of his time in
Public office to his people around the world.It is of dreams and visions for
not just india and Indians..but her friends and partners such as Canada, US and others.
In the hall was a large group of Bohri Muslims..a peace loving business community that has contributed much to the Indian Sub Continent and the state of Guajarat They enthusiastically showed their support for Modi and were proof that those who accuse him of communal politics are wrong. The accusation is the tool of those who have their own hidden agendas..Modi is a Global Leader..un pretentious..Down To Earth..Bold and Staright Forward,his vision is development, wealth and building a prosperous future..He speaks `To you' and not `At you'.
How do some people become Rock Star leaders and others just leaders : Swami Vivekanda once spoke about the Secrets of winning the hearts of a Million people.
A Man with
such a vision can and is changing India..but also a world..Never in my
life even as a full-fledged journalist back in India..had I ever been a fan of any
politicians, I have covered every beat in journalism as a reporter except
Politics. Yet if I had ever wanted to meet any political leader in India..they
would have been Mahatma Gandhi..Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose..Lal Bahadur
Shastri..Sardar Patel and yes Narendra Modi. Except for Modi..all the others lived and died
before I was born..and so I am on the right track here..
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| Swami Kriapamayanada Maharaj |
Destiny and fate and the kindness of Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj brought me to this event since Swami K graciously invited me as well as a few other patriots too. Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj a senior Monk who is the head of the Vedanta Society of Toronto..which is part of the Ramakrishna Mission founded by Swami Vivekananda was also a special guest at the dinner hosted in honor of Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Stephan Harper of Canada The Swami said to the lucky few of us whom had invited to the sold out event "you love India and we all feel that Modi has the sincerity, honesty, love,skill and leadership to raise India so you are here"
I can totally relate to this Love story which is an india and Canada " special".
My parents came to Canada in the mid sixties. My Father the late Mr Kamal (Kam) Mukherji ) was an Engineer at Foster Wheelers Canada and initiated one of the first Industrial collaborations between Canada and India in the late 60s. This was with Walchandnagar Sugar Factories where my Grand Father J P Mukherji was the Chief Executive Engineer and he along with the Walchand family visited Canada. to seal the deal. The two companies collaborate till this day though the ones who initiated the bond such as my beloved Father have passed on...
In Canada I met my life partner who is my husband and True Love: Brian..and this beautiful relationship has shown me that you can truly Love two Nations as one..you can truly belong to the world..as my Mother often says..Vasudev Kutumbh..The world is your Family..the Love affair between Canada and India continues in many levels..and all Love that is Honest and based on respect and shared visions and goals is true.
My parents came to Canada in the mid sixties. My Father the late Mr Kamal (Kam) Mukherji ) was an Engineer at Foster Wheelers Canada and initiated one of the first Industrial collaborations between Canada and India in the late 60s. This was with Walchandnagar Sugar Factories where my Grand Father J P Mukherji was the Chief Executive Engineer and he along with the Walchand family visited Canada. to seal the deal. The two companies collaborate till this day though the ones who initiated the bond such as my beloved Father have passed on...
In Canada I met my life partner who is my husband and True Love: Brian..and this beautiful relationship has shown me that you can truly Love two Nations as one..you can truly belong to the world..as my Mother often says..Vasudev Kutumbh..The world is your Family..the Love affair between Canada and India continues in many levels..and all Love that is Honest and based on respect and shared visions and goals is true.
On my recent visit to India in 2014..I landed in India the day PM Modi was delivering a speech in Madison Square Gardens NY ,USA.
I was so enthralled watching him on TV and seeing the changes in India..my beloved Mother is his greatest fan and little did we both guess that less than 6 months later..I would be listening to PM Modi live in Canada...
This was my blog about him and India six months ago..the power of thoughts and the kindness of Swami Kripamayananda Maharaj brought me here yesterday :
http://lipimukherji.blogspot.ca/2014/11/mother-and-motherland-are-sweeter-than.html
News Update From PM Narendra Modi's Google Profile:
This Sunday I would be visiting the Belur Math. Belur Math has a very important place in my life. It is very closely associated with Ramakrishna Paramhans and Swami Vivekananda.
Here is a picture from my most recent visit there, back in 2013.
News Update From PM Narendra Modi's Google Profile:
This Sunday I would be visiting the Belur Math. Belur Math has a very important place in my life. It is very closely associated with Ramakrishna Paramhans and Swami Vivekananda.
Here is a picture from my most recent visit there, back in 2013.
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