Celebrate India: Naidu to diaspora
Vice-president Venkaiah Naidu on Saturday urged the Indian diaspora in the United States not to “forget your mother and the motherland” and participate in the India growth story while abiding by the laws of their adoptive country.
“In America, you must follow American rules, customs, regulations and systems and you have to be loyal citizens of the country where you are living,” the vice-president said switching to english from a speech largely delivered in Telugu to members and representatives of 21 Telugu associations based in the US.
“That is a duty,” he went on to say. But “while doing that duty don’t forget the mother and the motherland and manu samskriti (manu culture).”
The vice-president is in the US on a two-day visit to deliver the closing remarks at the second World Hindu Congress at Chicago, Illinois, to commemorate the 125th Anniversary of Swami Vivekananda’s historic speech at the Parliament of the World’s Religions in 1893. His speech is scheduled for later Sunday.
Naidu complimented the community for their achievements in chosen professions and urged them to participate in India’s growth. “I would like all of you to join in fast-tracking India’s growth story,” he said.
The entire world is “looking towards India”, he said.
“All ratings (credit rating agencies) are doing datings (sic) with India,” he said to laughter and applause.
“I was minister for urban development till recently. Thirty-five to 40 Ambassadors met me. They all wanted to invest in India,” Naidu said, detailing the impact of reforms and changes.
Enumerating the ways in which overseas Indians could help the country, he suggested that they could each adopt a village and develop it .
The vice-president urged them to always remain rooted to India’s rich cultural heritage and traditions while assimilating the best practices from around the world.
“We need to celebrate our festivals and uphold our customs,” he said, according an english translation released by his office. Speaking of himself, the vice-president said he is out of politics but not out of public life. And he wants to focus on the youth and know their aspiration and motivate them. And his second “target” is science, research and universities.