The first IBSA Gandhi Mandela Memorial Freedom Lecture was organized by H.E. Mr. Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa President of the Republic of South Africa in the presence of Shri Narendra Modi Prime Minister of India at Hotel Leela.
“Mahatma Gandhi and anti-apartheid revolutionary Nelson Mandela wanted to see a world where there was tolerance for each other’s religion, race, caste and regional affiliation, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said .
Speaking at the first IBSA (India, Brazil, South Africa) Gandhi-Mandela Memorial Freedom Lecture, Ramaphosa recalled Gandhi’s famous words, “Be the change you want to see in the world”.
“But what was the change Gandhi and Mandela wanted to see. They wanted to see elimination of poverty and a world where nations respect one another and multilateralism was upheld and respected and there was tolerance for each other’s religion, race, caste and regional affiliation,” he said.
He said South Africa is looking forward to build its relations with India. “We are two countries separated by ocean but bound together by the collective energies of our people. The legacies of Gandhi and Mandela have never been more important than they are today. We have a collective role in addressing global economy which is facing a number of challenges right now,” he said.
“I am very happy on the visit of H.E. Ramaphosa, it has added a lot to India and South Africa relations. Indo South African Film And Cultural Forum was formed earlier by the special guest of President of India and visiting State Guest from South Africa Her Excellency Elizabeth Thabethe Deputy Minister for Trade And Industry, Government of South Africa, way back in 2013,” informed Dr. Sandeep Marwah, Chairman to the association.
“It was also a wonderful opportunity to meet my Prime Minister Narendra Modi who has always believed in best of the relations between India and rest of the countries of the World,” added Marwah. The event was attended by who’s who of Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Government of South Africa..
Honorable Ministers and Deputy Ministers of the Indian and South African delegations, President of the Indian Council of World Affairs, Dr TCA Raghavan, Ambassador of Brazil in the Republic of India, High Commissioner Kamboj, High Commissioner of the Republic of India to the Republic of South Africa, The Charge d’ Affaires of the Republic of South Africa to the Republic of India and Members of the Diplomatic Corps were present there.