Remarks by Amb Sibi George at the event to welcome Mata Amritandamayi to Switzerland, October 18, 2019
Amma, Distinguished guests, Ladies and Gentlemen, Good Morning,
It is a proud moment for any Ambassador to welcome the great sons and daughters of your home country at your country of accreditation. It becomes the happiest moment of your life, when that great person who happens to be the one whom you admired, respected and loved since your childhood.
As a child born in Amma’s own land of Kerala, I have grown up hearing stories of, how Amma opened the hearts of millions around the world. How Amma taught the world on how love can bring us together, regardless of race, religion or nationality.
Today, as Ambassador of India to Switzerland I bring to you greetings from 1.3 billion people of India. In India, this 1.3 billion of us speak several hundred languages, we worship different Gods, we eat different foods, we wear different clothes, but there is a feeling of oneness and common consciousness, a civilizational bond, that keeps us together, make us proud as India. Every diverse culture in India flourishes, every region in India flourishes. We have a constitution which guarantees liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; equality of status and of opportunity. Why I mentioned this is to emphasise that in Amma, in this great daughter of India, we see an embodiment all that India represents, its civilisation, its tradition, its spirituality, values, its mantra of Vasudev Kudumbakam, world is one family. A message of understanding and compassion. And also Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas and Sabka Vishwas, A message of togetherness with all, development of all, and trust of all.
As a diplomat of India, for the last twenty five years, I have seen how Amma connected the East and the West through her message of love and peace. Today through her life and Mission Amma teaches the world that Manava Sewa is Madhava Sewa.
I quote Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi who said about Amma, “She is the guiding light for millions of devotees. Not only that, she has become the synonym of life for many devotees. Like a real Maa, she nurtures her devotees through direct and indirect acts; visible and invisible hands.” Unquote.
Switzerland, the land of Alps, have always welcomed India and its values and traditions and its heroes. To this land of Alps, Swami Vivekananda brought message of India’s spirituality in 1896. It is to this land that Mahatma Gandhi came in 1931 whose 150th birth anniversary celebrates this year.
Today, this land of serene Alps, Switzerland is welcoming Amma.
Amma, we welcome you to this land of Alps.
Thank you Amma. Thank you all.
