MESSAGE
On the joyous occasion of the 75th Republic Day of India, I extend my warm greetings and best wishes to my fellow Indians, persons of Indian-origin and friends of India in Thailand.
On the 26th of January 1950, the people of India adopted, enacted and gave to themselves a constitution, whereby the country was constituted as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. In the last 75 years, India has emerged as the world’s largest democracy and an inclusive and plural society which guarantees to all its citizens justice, social, economic and political freedoms; liberty of thought, expression, belief, faith and worship; equality of status and opportunity; and promotes fraternity amongst all.
India, an ancient civilization, but a relatively new country, emerged as an independent nation-state in 1947, after centuries of debilitating colonial rule. Today, India is the fifth largest and perhaps the fastest growing economy in the world. It is poised to become the third largest global economy by 2030. India is a scientific and technological powerhouse, with advanced Information Technology, Space and Nuclear programmes. It is already becoming known throughout the world as a fount of new & emerging and critical technologies.
As the world’s most populous country, with over 1.4 billion people, our unity as Indians, in the face of an unparalleled diversity of races, languages, religions and traditions, is an exemplar for the rest of the world, for peaceful coexistence, pluralism, tolerance and democratic ethos.
The India story, post-independence, is perhaps the greatest experiment in modern human history, wherein such a vast ocean of humanity, mired in every possible socio-economic and political challenge, has marched ahead on the path of peace, progress and prosperity into a modern, self-reliant nation-state within a democratic political framework. A significant credit for this goes to the founding covenant of our Republic, the ‘Constitution of India’, which gave us the fundamental laws and the organising principles of our state that is democratic, secular, based on rule of law and guarantees fundamental freedoms for all citizens. This is what we celebrate every year on the 26th of January, our ‘Republic Day’.
The Indian Constitution is unique even in matters of international relations as it commands the Indian State to (a) promote international peace and security; (b) maintain just and honourable relations between nations; (c) foster respect for international law; etc. In that context, India-Thailand relations standout as a beacon of these principles and of friendly and cooperative relations between two countries.
India-Thailand relations are civilizational and based on shared cultural heritage, common beliefs and traditions, and linguistic connections. As a maritime neighbour, India greatly values its strong and multifaceted partnership with Thailand. In contemporary times, India’s ‘Act East’ policy and Thailand’s ‘Act West’ policy provide a solid foundation for an ever-growing partnership in every aspect of our bilateral relations. Thailand is also an important partner for India in multilateral fora, including, ASEAN, BIMSTEC, IORA, ACD, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation and ACMECS, to name a few.
As India celebrates its 75th Republic Day, we look forward to building an ever closer and strategic partnership with Thailand, which will be in the interest of our two peoples, the region and beyond.
On this momentous occasion, I take this opportunity to express my deep gratitude to Their Majesties the King and Queen, members of the Royal family, the Royal Thai government and people of the Kingdom of Thailand for their blessings, support and friendship for our mutually beneficial endeavours towards strengthening India-Thailand relations. I also wish allthe best of health, happiness and prosperity.
(Nagesh Singh)
January 18, 2024
