Prof.Dr.Ngo Thi Phoung Lan, President of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City
Most Venerable Thich Giac Toan, President of Vietnam Buddhist Research Institute
Consul General of India, Dr.K.Srikar Reddy,
Distinguished Guests and delegates,
Faculty members and students of USSH,
Members of the Indian Community,
Friends from the Media,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good Morning/ Xin Chao
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1. It gives me immense pleasure to be with all of you today at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City for this Conference on 'Vietnam-India Heritage: Cross-Cultural Relations' being held to mark the 150th birth anniversary celebrations of Mahatma Gandhi, Father of our Nation.
2. I would like to place on record my sincere appreciation to USSH and the Vietnam Buddhist Research Institute in Ho Chi Minh City for organizing this Conference with the support of the Consulate General of India in Ho Chi Minh City. I also congratulate delegates who have submitted their papers for this Conference on the relevance of Mahatma Gandhi's Philosophy in the 21st century and on the cultural linkages between India and Vietnam.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
3. India is one of the world's oldest civilizations.India is also the birthplace of some of the world's major religions. In the early years of the first millennium, around 1st and 2nd century AD, monks and traders brought the religions that originated in India, especially Hinduism and Buddhism, to other countries in Asia, including Vietnam. These historical and civilizational linkages between India and Vietnam over the last two millennia are a part of our shared history, showcased by the magnificent Cham towers and Buddhist pagodas in several provinces of Vietnam, as also by several Vietnamese Buddhist pagodas in India, including in Bodh Gaya.
4. During the French Colonial rule in Vietnam, many Indians, mainly from South India, came to Vietnam. In the early 20th century, they built several temples and a mosque in Ho Chi Minh City, which still stand today as a mark of close cultural affinity between our two countries.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
5. The edifice of the modern-day relationship between India and Vietnam is built upon the strong foundations of mutual friendship and empathy laid by our founding fathers. During the common struggle for liberation from foreign rule and the national struggle for independence, the founding fathers of our two countries drew inspiration from each other.
6. As you are aware, we are celebrating the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. 'Mahatma' means "the great soul". The Indian Independence Movement in the 20th century led by Mahatma Gandhi, which was inspired by his vision of truth and non-violence, also inspired freedom struggles of many countries in Asia and Africa, including Vietnam. When President Ho Chi Minh visited India in 1958, he said, "I and others may be revolutionaries, but are disciples of Mahatma Gandhi, directly or indirectly, nothing more nothing less".
7. While Mahatma Gandhi was a born Hindu, he was deeply influenced by other religions, especially Buddhism. He himself acknowledged that he owed a great deal to the inspiration that he had derived from the life of the Enlightened One, Lord Buddha.
8. Just two days ago, in Hanoi, we celebrated with the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha, the 60th anniversary of the planting of the Bodhi Tree sapling at the Tran Quoc Pagoda by India’s first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad and President Ho Chi Minh, when our President visited Vietnam in 1959.The sapling of the Bodhi Tree under which Lord Buddha attained enlightenment in Bodhgaya some 2600 years ago, today stands as a glorious Tree in the heart of Hanoi city, symbolising of millennia-old cultural and civilizational connection between India and Vietnam.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
9. The values of peace, compassion, non-violence and tolerance espoused by Mahatma Gandhi continue to provide us with a path to combat global challenges of violence, extremism and terrorism.In 2007, the United Nations declared the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi on 02 October every year to be observed as the International Day of Non-Violence. About 140 countries, including Vietnam, co-sponsored the UN resolution for this declaration, showcasing the universal respect and the enduring relevance that Mahatma Gandhi's ideals and visions command.
10. Mahatma Gandhi was also a social reformer and a visionary. He was one of the first global leaders who spoke about sustainable development. He famously said that there is enough on Earth for everybody's need, but not enough for everybody's greed. Mahatma Gandhi also said, "The Earth, the air, the land and the water are not an inheritance from our forefathers but on loan from our children. So we have to hand over to them at least as it was handed over to us." Lord Buddha also talked of controlling 'Trishna', the thirst, which, in turn, stems from greed, which has led to over-exploitation and degradation of our environment.
11. It is also a recognition of the enduring relevance of Mahatma Gandhi’s vision of harmony with naturethat to deal with today’s global challenges such as climate change, the global community is increasingly understanding the value of sustainable development, including in India and Vietnam, by promoting renewable energy, sustainable agricultural practices and conservation of biodiversity, in line with the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030 adopted by the United Nations.
12. Mahatma Gandhi was also an internationalist. His vision of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – that is, the whole world is one single family, presaged by many years our modern-day aspiration for a globalized, interconnected world. This also embodies India’s global outlook.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
13. Let me take this opportunity to congratulate the Vietnam-India Friendship Association (VIFA) in HCMC, which is celebrating an important milestonethis year – 30th anniversary of its founding. Since its establishment on 08 November 1989, VIFA in HCMC played a vital role in promoting mutual understanding between people of India and Vietnam. I appreciate VIFA's support to the Indian Consulate and the Indian Community in HCMC in celebrating Indian festivals and organizing various cultural events, including various events during the past year to commemorate the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.
14. I sincerely thank VIFA's team led by Dr. Huynh Thanh Lap for their support to the Consulate and the Indian community in HCMC. I understand that VIFA's 30th-anniversary celebrations will be held at this very auditorium at USSH on the 8thof next month along with the special event to commemorate the 71stRepublic Day of India and the International Hindi Day. Due to my prior commitments in Hanoi at that time, I will not be able to personally join. Therefore, allow me today to extend my warm wishes in advance to all the VIFA members in HCMC on the occasion of VIFA’s 30th anniversary celebrations on 8th January 2020.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
15. In 2020, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities will also be celebrating one important milestone –the20 years of establishment of the Centre for India studies under the faculty of Oriental Studies at the USSH in HCMC. USSH in HCMC is the only University in Vietnam where Hindi, the Indian National language, is taught to Vietnamese students. One of the alumni of the USSH’s Indian Studies Centre, Mr.Pham Dinh Huong, authored a Hindi-Vietnamese dictionary along with Mrs. Sadhana Saxena, Hindi teacher at this University. I am happy to share with you that Mr. Huong is representing Vietnam at various international Conferences on Hindi.
16. I encourage more Vietnamese students who are learning Hindi at this University to emulate Mr.Huong in reaching similar proficiency in Hindi. I assure the USSH in HCMC all support from the Embassy of India in Hanoi and the Indian Consulate in HCMC for celebrating the "20 years of Indian studies in Southern Vietnam" in a befitting manner in May 2020. We are also willing to work with the USSH on theproposal of organizing a Cultural Exchange festival, “Vietnam-India Lotus Festival 2020", at USSH in October 2020. I look forward to hearing more about the proposal from the delegate who will be presenting it at this Conference in a short while from now.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
17. As you are aware, direct flights between India and Vietnam were launched recently. Now, two Indian Cities, New Delhi and Kolkata, and two Vietnamese cities, Hanoi and HCMC, are connected with daily flights. In this context, I consider it is very timely that this important conference is being organized by the USSH and the Vietnam Buddhist Research Institute in HCMC with the support of the Indian Consulate. I hope that such conferences through the research papers presented by Scholars will enhance understanding among people of our two countries about our shared cultural heritage of over two millennia and boost bilateral exchanges in the fields of education, culture and tourism.
18. I wish all the participants a Merry Christmas,a Happy New Year and a joyful Tet Festival. May the New Year bring good health, happiness and prosperity to all of you.
19. Thank you! I wish you all a productive deliberation and a successful Conference.
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