A Publication of the Embassy of India, Washington, D.C. November 1, 2012 I India RevieI w Vol. 8 Issue 11 www.indianembassy.org ‘Mahatma Gandhi’s importance timeless’ n India, US to deepen n Ambassador Rao n ‘King of Romance’ Yash economic cooperation inaugurates CGI Atlanta Chopra passes away Ambassador’s PAGE Global Leadership in 2020 I was invited to participate at a panel discussion at the Global Leadership Summit organized by the Meridian International Center on October 12, 2012 in Washington DC. I spoke at the Ambassador’s panel on ‘What a Good Global Leader (and Citizen) Looks Like in 2020’. eadership involves certain constants regardless of the era or time zone in which we L are placed. Human beings are not very different from each other regardless of the languages they speak or the cultures they belong to. Of course, the scale and extent of the challenges that humankind faces today is of a different order from even fifty years ago. When I was growing up in Bangalore, we would never have imagined the evil of suicide terrorism, or the rise of Al Qaeda. Today we have leaders and leaders. Leaders who advocate hate and violence have a larg - er following across the planet than ever before. Good leadership and good leaders have to develop effective Ambassador Nirupama Rao speaking at the first Meridian Global Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. on October 12. Also seen is Ambassador Stuart Holliday, President and CEO of Meridian strategies to overcome and vanquish International Center. this opposition, and the fear, ignorance and the alienation that fuels the people’s agenda in all our democ - violence and terror. The demand for better racies. Our leaders will have to listen It has been said before, and I would and read the faces well. They will have like to repeat it here, there has never education, for jobs and to be leaders who deliver. The people been greater need for an equal repre - livelihoods, for equality will ask for no less. sentation of women in positions of and inclusion and better If our people, especially our young, leadership and responsibility in govern - have to be global citizens with open, ment, in parliaments, in business, in opportunities, will be searching minds, we must have lead - the non-profits and NGOs, and in aca - topmost on the people’s ers with a global outlook. Leaders demics. It’s a fifty-fifty representation agenda in all our who value diversity, leaders who are we must aspire for. That should be the sensitive to the needs of minorities, mission for our century. democracies. Our leaders who propagate the importance of Everybody recognizes the need for will have to listen and education, the protection of the envi - inspirational leadership. The word read the faces well ronment, sustainability and conserva - 2 charisma is also a natural attachment tion, the need for a civil society that is to this definition. To be inspirational tolerant and not divisive, who pro - and charismatic means more than just In 2020, the revolution of rising mote inclusiveness and who eschew inspiring with words and flights of elo - expectations in the developing world is narrow and religiously intolerant quence. It is about walking the talk and going to define the character of our agendas. moving people to walk alongside you, times. The youth demographic in as Mahatma Gandhi did when he countries like India is going to acquire The full text of my speech can be defied the might of the British Raj in overriding importance. The demand viewed at: http://www.indianem - India, when he led thousands of people for better education, for jobs and liveli - bassy.org/prdetail2044/ambassado - to march to the seashores to harvest hoods, for equality and inclusion and randrsquo%3Bs-blog%3A-global- salt and defy the pernicious salt laws. better opportunities, will be topmost on leadership-in-2020 November 2012 India Review Cover STORY How would Gandhi have viewed the world of 21 st century? Ambassador Nirupama Rao dwells with several pertinent questions peaking on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth 3 anniversary at the Gandhi S Memorial Center in Bethesda, Maryland, on October 2, Ambassador Nirupama Rao under - lined the “timeless importance of Gandhian thought and values in our daily lives”. She said Mahatma Gandhi would continue to inspire political, social and religious wisdom to successive genera - tions across the world. “There is,” she Ambassador Nirupama Rao speaking at the Gandhi Memorial Center on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti said, “an undeniable and essential uni - on October 2. (Photo: Susan Hayden) versality about Gandhian ideas and ideals that were, are and will remain explaining, or searching for an answer, regime. He empowered his people, relevant across generations.” to these and myriad other challenges but told them never to hate their Ambassador Rao said Gandhi’s phi - the world confronts today? How do we oppressors. He ended apartheid by losophy showed the “immeasurable establish the relevance of his thoughts showing the power of courage and reserves of humility and compassion and ideals in this new century? truth, as he laid the foundations of a that exist within the human mind.” Let me begin by recalling five icon - new era in South Africa and promot - Leading a simple life, Gandhi worked ic individuals, who have believed in ed a path of reconciliation. tirelessly for the upliftment of the weak Gandhi ji ’s ideas. They were and are The third icon, who is admired in as part of the larger nation-building inspired by the Gandhian philosophy both India and the United States, and exercise, she said. of humanism, compassion and non- across the world, for her fearless non- violence. They showed courage and violent resistance is Nobel Laureate Excerpts from Ambassador Rao’s conviction in standing up to adversi - Aung San Suu Kyi who I was privi - speech on the occasion ty and embracing the truth. They, in leged to personally meet when I visit - As we remember Mahatma Gandhi their own way, became the change ed Yangon in June last year, when I and recall his principles and ideals they wanted to see in the world. was the Foreign Secretary of India. today, one question that crosses our And they did so decades after She has often acknowledged mind is — how would Gandhi ji have Gandhi ji had lived and walked on our Gandhi ji ’s influence in a life she has viewed the world of the 21 st century? planet. One of them dared to “have a dedicated to freedom and democracy. What would he write today in the dream” — of equality, opportunity Gandhi ji has been a great light for Indian Opinion or the Harijan — and liberty, and to heal a nation another great spiritual leader, who, journals where he often expressed his wounded by racial segregation. much like the Mahatma, uniquely inner voice? Can you visualize an elec - Inspired by Gandhi ji , Dr. Martin blends spiritualism with humanism, tronic version, or a Facebook or Twitter Luther King, Jr. saw the spirit of the religiosity with courage, and faith account for these journals? I certainly historic Salt March at Dandi resonat - with conviction. His Holiness the can, because Gandhi ji was a commu - ing in his own courageous Dalai Lama views the success of nicator par excellence. How would he Montgomery Bus Boycott. Gandhian philosophy in its most tan - have reflected on the Euro-zone crisis, Another man, lovingly called gible outcomes. or the Arab Spring, or the terrorist Madiba by his compatriots, and And finally, President Obama. attacks of 9/11 in this country and of whom the world knows as Nelson Speaking before India’s Parliament in 26/11 in Mumbai? Mandela, emulated Gandhi ji in November 2010 about how he was How would Gandhi ji apply the pre - choosing to suffer a long incarcera - influenced and inspired by Mahatma cepts of his ideals and values in tion in order to humble a tyrannical Gandhi, President Barack Obama November 2012 India Review Cover STORY 2 1 3 4 6 5 1. Srimati Kamala, Founder, Gandhi Memorial Center, addressing the gathering at the Gandhi Memorial Center 7 on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti on October 2 . 2. Carrie Trybulec, Director, Gandhi Memorial Center, speaking on the occasion. 3. From left, Krishna Ramdas, Rebecca Rahman, Renu Suri, Samia Mahbub Ahmad, Rashad Ullah, and Rishi Das presenting ‘Vaishnavajanato’. 4. Charu Narasimhan presenting a Bharatanatyam dance. 5. Supriya Dutt and Jeffery Bauer presenting ‘Jibon Jokhon’ 6. Sudeshna Basu and Jeffrey Bauer presenting ‘Aguner Poroshmoni’. 7. Guests in attendance. (Photos: Susan Hayden) 4 said, “I am mindful that I might not personalities, who embodied in one The full text of Ambassador be standing before you today, as way or the other Gandhi ji ’s ideas and Nirupama Rao’s speech on the President of the United States, had it ideals, were recognized — long after occasion can be viewed at: not been for Gandhi and the message the death of Mahatma Gandhi — for http://www. indianembassy.org/prde - he shared with and inspired America their contributions to global peace and tail2036/speech-by-ambassador- and the world”. harmony. Each of them went on to be nirupama-rao-at-gandhi-jayanti-cel - It is no coincidence that all these five a Nobel Peace Prize laureate. ebrations November 2012 India Review IMF-World Bank ANNUAL MEETINGS 5 Finance Minister P. Chidambaram addressing the press conference of the G-24 Ministerial Meeting in Tokyo, Japan, on October 11. (Photo: IMF) Expedite IMF quota reforms: India At the Annual Meetings of the IMF and the World Bank, India’s Finance Minister P.