India’s role as peacemaker since independence discussed at NY meeting of GOPIO

- ADVERTISEMENT -

The Global Organization of People of Indian Origin (New York Chapter), Indian Diaspora Center and the Indian American Kerala Center organized a talk titled ‘India’s Role as a Peacemaker Since Independence,’ headlined by former Ambassador T.P. Sreenivasan at the Dr. Thomas Abraham Library Hall in the Kerala Center.

The event celebrated the 77^th Anniversary of India’s Independence and was attended by community leaders representing several organizations, a press release from GOPIO said.

Kerala Center Secretary Raju Thomas welcomed attendees. GOPIO Chairman Dr. Thomas Abraham, who chaired the session spoke on the accomplishments of GOPIO in the last 35 years and that its initial goal of bringing the Diaspora community to political mainstream has been achieved.

T.P. Sreenivasan told the meeting that in the complex world of the 21st century, marked by the absence of a defined global order, international mediation to end conflicts was extremely hazardous. India had emerged on the world as a messenger of peace and it played a peace-making role even in distant lands based on the principles of Panchsheel and by leading the Nonaligned Movement. India led the decolonisation and disarmament initiatives of the UN and was part of global efforts to settle disputes and to prevent war. But over the years, India unwittingly became a party to the conflicts with Pakistan and China and had to fight wars to protect its own sovereignty and national interests. Moreover, India had to keep out of the NPT, CTBT etc and eventually became a nuclear weapon state.

“India is seen today not as a pacifist state, but as an aspiring world power, said Sreenivasan. He also pointed to China emerging as India’s main adversary and posturing on the Line of Actual Control. At the same time, he noted, India’s relations with the United States and Russia were strengthening, as was its role in the Global South. In addition, there have been demands for India to be a mediator in the two most serious conflicts, the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Palestine war.

An active and informed discussion followed where many ideas were exchanged and India’s constructive engagement with the world was applauded.

The program ended with remarks by Kerala Center Board Member May Philip, and a vote of thanks.