The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Help realise Kalam's vision: Barnala

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Apr 03, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Help realise Kalam's vision: Barnala

By Our Special Correspondent

CHENNAI, APRIL 2. The Governor, Surjit Singh Barnala, today exhorted the people to strive unitedly, cutting across regional, religious and linguistic barriers, to help the country occupy a pride of place in the comity of nations by 2020 as envisioned by the President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.

Speaking at a reception hosted by the Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, at Amir Mahal here, Mr. Barnala highlighted how the unity in diversity concept enabled the country to progress despite having different religions and languages.

Describing the late Nawab of Arcot as an affectionate person, Mr. Barnala said the Prince also continued to uphold the tradition of his ancestors in taking up social service activities. He commended his role in promoting national integration, communal harmony and development of the State.

Though the entire area in the region was under the rule of the Nawabs, foreigners grabbed it piece by piece and established their regime, Mr. Barnala said. He referred to the heroic struggle launched by the countrymen to attain freedom from alien rule, besides establishing an independent and sovereign rule.

The spirit of unity in diversity came to the fore once again during the difficult period traversed by the country recently following the tsunami attack of December 26, 2004, he said adding that people belonging to different regions, following different religions and speaking different languages extended assistance to the victims in all possible ways.

The Nawab thanked the Governor for visiting his ancestral home for the second time. It had been an established convention that every new Governor of the State visited Amir Mahal on his invitation. Mr. Barnala had visited the palace in 1990 during his earlier tenure as Governor, he recalled.

The Governor, accompanied by his wife, Surjit Kaur, and his son, Jasjit Singh, was with the Prince and his family for more than an hour. He evinced a keen interest in the political history of the Carnatic under the Nawabs during the 18th and early 19th Centuries. The Nawab garlanded the Governor and his wife, Begum Sayeeda Abdul Ali, honoured Ms. Kaur.

The Chief Khazi, Mufti Salahuddin Mohammed Ayub, offered prayers for world peace.

Distinguished invitees were introduced to the Governor and his wife.

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