RIYADH/JEDDAH, 16 August 2007 — On the occasion of the 61st Independence Day of India, colorful flag hoisting ceremonies were held at the premises of the Embassy of India and the Consulate General of India yesterday.
Indian Ambassador M.O.H. Farook and Consul General Ausaf Sayeed read out President Pratibha Patil’s maiden Independence Day message, respectively in Riyadh and Jeddah.
The president’s address touched upon all aspects of the country’s developments and progress and said: “Let us all hold our heads high with pride and confidence and look ahead with optimism toward a better and brighter future for our great nation.”
She said: “We stand for friendship with all nations and will continue to work for international peace and security. We should also continue to intensify cooperation to fight the global challenges of terrorism, poverty, ignorance, disease and climate change.”
“Today, India is poised to take flight into this open sky of success and perfection and as loyal citizens for this country it is our duty as individuals and as a nation to ensure that we do not let this unprecedented moment in time go unutilized for the dream of a strong, robust and prosperous India.”
“A significant feature of our changing society is the transformation taking place in the country’s demographic profile. As a people, we are growing younger. Youth in India constitute a sizable, vibrant and resourceful segment of our society who are fired with the desire to scale greater heights. Children and youth are our hope for tomorrow. There can be no greater cause, no better investment, no greater priority for development consensus than bringing the needs, rights and expectations of the youth to the center-stage of development concern. It is our duty to kindle the imagination of our youth so that the nation surges ahead with added strength and vigor.”
International Indian School-Jeddah children sang patriotic songs to the delight of the large gathering of Indian nationals.
