ADDRESS BY HON'BLE PRESIDENT OF INDIA AT ESCUELA REPUBLICA DE LA INDIA

Santiago, Chile, 22nd April 2008

Hon'ble Principal,

Excellencies and

Dear Students

I am delighted to visit the Escuela Republica da la India, a school for the elementary children of Quinta Normal. We have had a relationship with this school since 1960. Our late Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi visited this school in 1968 and I am told that there are still teachers here who were pupils then, who recall the event. It is indeed wonderful that we have been able to create this beautiful bridge connecting young minds of Chile with India. We appreciate the continuing interest in our culture and the respect shown for India as evinced by the singing of the Indian national anthem everyday.

This opportunity to meet you the students of the school is one of the high points of my visit to Chile. Children are the future and represent hope for the progress of humanity. I, therefore, consider my interaction with you special.

I encourage the students of Escuela Republica de la India to give full expression to their creativity, inventiveness and spirit of curiosity. In schools, young minds must be given the opportunity for the blossoming of their many talents.

Our quest for knowledge has immensely benefited from technology and scientific discovery. New secrets and wonders are being unraveled every day - not only about celestial bodies in outer space but also bio-technology and nano-technology. Scientific discovery and innovation will continue to play an important role in our lives. I am very happy, therefore, that this school has decided to set up a Science Laboratory for its students.

I am deeply committed to the cause of education and for me it is a matter of great satisfaction, therefore, to inaugurate today the Science Laboratory for the students of this school. I am happy that we are dedicating the laboratory to the memory of India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Nothing was closer to the heart of Pandit Nehru than children whom he considered the biggest asset of the nation. He also believed that there was no greater tool than science to shape the destiny of humankind. He would say and I quote, "science is the spirit of the age and the dominating factor of the modern world. Even more than the present, the future belongs to science and to those who make friends with science and seek its help for the advancement of humanity." Unquote.

In conclusion, I would like to thank the Government of Chile, the Municipality of Quinta Normal and the Escuela Republica de la India for organizing this event.

A los ninos mis deseos que sigan sonriendo.

(To the children, my wishes that you keep smiling.)