HAPPY 74TH
Independence Day to India
India is today a mature nation with a vibrant democracy, an independent judiciary and a free press.
At the outset, please let me thank the Fiji Sun newspaper for bringing out a special supplement on the occasion of India’s 74th Independence Day to be celebrated on August 15, 2020, and my best wishes to all the readers.
As I write this message, the world has changed so drastically in these last few months. I would like to take this opportunity to also congratulate the Governments of all the seven countries of our jurisdiction for their splendid success in containing COVID-19 and keeping most of the region COVID-free or better expressed as COVID-contained.
India is today a mature nation with a vibrant democracy, an independent judiciary and a free press. Freedom for India came after a long and arduous struggle on the basis of Gandhian values.
India has established itself as a nation with strong democratic credentials where there is an equal place for all sections of its people.
Democracy
Indian democracy keeps helping several countries all over the world to strengthen their democratic roots.
Thanks to its Green, White, Blue and other Technological Revolutions, India has made great strides in areas such as science & technology, information technology, pharmaceuticals, the entertainment industry, space and nuclear energy.
India, with its state of the art medical facilities and highly skilled specialists in the field, is becoming a healing destination for the world.
COVID-19
During the COVID-19 epidemic, India became a reliable source of medicine for the world.
Several hundreds of patients from
Fiji and other Pacific Island Countries (PICs) travel to India seeking the benefits of the best medical facilities at affordable costs.
Initiatives
With several initiatives of the Government of India, even during this pandemic, India is confidently moving towards a self-reliant country with the Aatma Nirbhar Bharat (Self- Reliant India) movement announced by the Honorable Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi.
Farewell
As I complete my tour of duty in Fiji on August 31, 2020 and I leave for India, I convey my best wishes to all our readers in their endeavours. I shall cherish the time spent in Fiji and past wonderful memories which this supplements have overed vividly.