Hon’ble Mr. Otto Odermatt, Ladies and Gentlemen,
It gives me great pleasure to attend this Maharshi Gandharva Veda Indian Classical Musical event today. I bring greetings from the 1.3 billion Indians from the land of Vedas. I pay my homage to His Holiness on this occasion.
I recall reading an article captioned ‘Gods of Zero and Infinity’ by a renowned Indian writer. He writes about a story in ancient history, when Alexander the Macedonian, after having crossed Persia, came to India, met a sage on the banks of the river Indus, who he referred to as a wise man, in Greek. This sage sat on a rock and spent all day staring at the sky. Alexander asked him what he was doing and the sage replied, "Experiencing nothingness.” The sage asked Alexander what he was doing. Alexander replied, "I am conquering the world.” Both laughed. For Alexander, the sage was wasting his one and only life. For the sage, Alexander was wasting his time trying to conquer a world that has no limits, with a sense of urgency that made no sense when one lives infinite lives. Both could not understand each other.
Several centuries later, in 1896, Swami Vivekananda, a great sage of India, during his visit to Switzerland wrote, I quote, “I am in Switzerland - constantly on the move. It is a miniature Himalayas, and has the same effect of raising the mind up to the Self and driving away all earthly feelings and ties. I am intensely enjoying it. I feel so, so uplifted.” Unquote. I am told that one gets the same feel of raising of mind and uplift in the beautiful land of Switzerland, particularly when one comes across so many people irrespective of nationality and religion, practicing yoga, meditation and Ayurveda today.
Years later His Holiness came and established his Headquarters here in this most beautiful part of Switzerland.
Prime Minister Modi in his address in Davos in January this year highlighted the concept of "Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" (the world is one family). He said and I quote, “In the ancient books written thousands of years ago in Sanskrit, Indian philosophers have said: "Vasudhaiva kutumbakam" It means the whole world is one family. In essence, we all have been joined with each other like a family and our destiny links us with a common thread. Today, this concept of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family) is even more relevant in bridging the gaps and distances. But one of the serious challenges that we face today is lack of understanding among us to deal with the difficult challenges of this era.” unquote
This year is significant for India-Switzerland relationship when we celebrate the 70th anniversary of India-Switzerland Treaty of Friendship signed in 1948. During this year, I invite you to visit India and see for yourselves the transformation that India witnessed in recent years. I urge you all to keep connected with Embassy through the website and social media.
I am so happy to attend this event in this beautiful part of Switzerland representing the Land of Vedas on this year when we celebrate the 70th anniversary. I wish the Gandharva Veda Indian classical music concert all the best.
Thank you.
May 22, 2018
Seelisberg
