SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF INDIA, SMT. PRATIBHA DEVISINGH PATIL, AT THE PRESENTATION OF THE JAWAHARLAL NEHRU AWARD FOR INTERNATIONAL UNDERSTANDING - 1995

Kamal Mahal, Hotel ITC Maurya, New Delhi, 18th November 2008

Ladies and Gentlemen,

It gives me great pleasure to confer the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for the year 1995 on His Excellency, Mr. Mohamed Hosny Mubarak, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt. An elder statesman of our times, President Mubarak's insights and counsel are held in high esteem and his guidance is valued.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru was one of the great leaders of India's freedom movement and as the first Prime Minister of free India, his contributions to building the nation were monumental. His vision guided the development of India's agriculture, industry and infrastructure. It was his strong conviction that a progressive nation requires educated people with a scientific temper while being rooted in their cultural heritage. He was not only the builder of independent India but was a world statesman who understood the dynamics of global events and their inter-linkages. A deep conviction of the oneness of the world permeated the thinking of Pandit Nehru and was reflected in his role in global affairs.

In his very first address to the nation as Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru said, "Peace has been said to be indivisible; so is freedom, so is prosperity now, and so also is disaster in this One World that can no longer be split into isolated fragments." Pandit Nehru recognized that India's freedom struggle was not an event in isolation. He viewed and placed it in the global context. He and other leaders of our independence movement reached out to peoples and other countries under colonial bondage. The re-awakening of the peoples of Asia and Africa was transformed into a wider movement for freedom.

Subsequently, Pandit Nehru had the foresight to see that post-war conflicts and tensions would not only undermine the hard-won freedom and sovereignty of the newly independent countries and impede their socio-economic development, but also threaten world peace and stability. Non-alignment and Panchsheel were Nehru's alternatives to the emerging division of the world into opposing blocs. Pandit Nehru's internationalism incorporated the belief that the enlightened pursuit of national interest required it be combined with the larger goals of peace, security and development. He was a leader who believed in the welfare of humanity at large. His faith in the triumph of cooperation over conflict was unwavering. India's commitment then, as it is today, is for peaceful co-existence, cooperative partnership and for an equitable global order.

Jawaharlal Nehru shared bonds of deep friendship with many of his contemporaries including President Nasser. The magic of the Nehru-Nasser era reinforced age-old civilisational relations between India and Egypt while, at the same time, leaving an indelible imprint on world history.

President Mubarak took over the reins of government amidst challenging circumstances. Combining patience with caution, firmness with flexibility and steadfastness with vision, President Mubarak has brought to Egypt progress with stability. He has been a strong advocate of moderation and gradualism in politics. He has underscored the dangers posed by terrorism and extremism. President Mubarak has worked tirelessly and in the face of great odds to promote peace in his region. He has worked incessantly to bridge differences.

President Mubarak's unflinching commitment to peace as a considered choice for the West Asian region is well recognized. His moderation and pragmatism, openness to reasonable and balanced compromises, and perseverance in the search for peaceful solutions have been valuable assets in efforts to reduce regional tension.

India values the contribution of President Mubarak to the efforts of the Non-aligned and the developing world for achieving peace, justice and equality in the world. We have in President Mubarak an outstanding world leader who symbolizes the aspirations of Non-aligned and developing countries. We have in President Mubarak a friend of India, with whom we have worked and look forward to working, to strengthen the historical bonds of friendship and cooperation shared between our two countries, which are two ancient civilizations. As an Egyptian poet has said when Egypt and India meet it is a union of the Nile and the Ganges.

Excellency, you have stated in your acceptance letter for this Award that the fate of India and Egypt are interlocked to strive for a better future for all peoples. We too believe in this and are confident that our ties, described by Pandit Nehru as intimate, will continue to grow.

Excellency, the conferment of this Award is recognition of your untiring pursuit of international understanding. We are delighted that you have been able to accept it in person.

Thank you.