EVENTS

1. The idea and philosophy of Global India Foundation was conceived in early 2006 and after extensive country wide consultation, the Foundation was instituted in October 2006 in Kolkata. The first meeting of the Executive Council of the Foundation took place at Hotel Grand Oberoi, Kolkata in October 2006.

2. Admiral P J Jacob, Chairman, Shri Dinesh Chandra Pathak, Vice Chairman, Ambassador Arundhati Ghosh, Member, Executive Council of the Foundation took part in a national seminar on India’s Foreign Policy: Changes and Challenges, organized by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies on 27 October 2006. The program was chaired by Prof. Omprakash Mishra, Member Secretary of the Foundation. Prof. J K Ray, Chairman, Maulana Azad Institute and Mr. Sunil Lal, Joint Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India were the other distinguished speakers in the seminar held at Oberoi Grand. Later, Members attended a reception organised by Maulana Azad Institute at the Calcutta Punjab Club together with a large number of invitees from academia, media, government, research institutes etc.

3. The Foundation organized an interactive session on Indian Diaspora in the institute’s premises on 13 January 2007. Mr. Selva Raju Sundaram, Chairman, Global Organization of Peoples of Indian Origin (GOPIO) was the Chief Guest. Other speakers included Prof. Prem Poddar, University of Aarhus, Denmark and Prof. Ajay K Dubey from Jawaharlal Nehru University. The session involved a discussion on myriad aspects and issue areas relevant to the situation of the Indian Diaspora and the possible research themes to be undertaken by the Foundation.

4. National Launch The national launch of the Foundation was organized in collaboration with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) at the Durbar Hall of the Taj Palace Hotel, Delhi, on 16 January 2007. To mark the launch, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon'ble Minister of External Affairs, Government of India, delivered a Keynote address on India and the Global Balance of Power before a distinguished gathering of diplomats, officials, industry leaders, members of the policy community and public life and national and international media.

The program opened with the Welcome Address by Mr. Arif S Khan, Additional Secretary, Public Diplomacy, Ministry of External Affairs. This was followed by a speech by General (Rtd.) S. S. Mehta, Director General, Confederation of Indian Industry, highlighting the economic potential of India. Shri Sunil Kant Munjal, past President, CII, spoke on the potential role of commerce and industry in shaping the global emergence of India.

The objectives and action-plan of GIF were elaborated in the Address by Vice- Admiral (Rtd.) P.J. Jacob, Chairman of the Foundation. He referred to GIF as a platform for “analysis and worthy choices in public policy relevant to India. An independent, non-partisan initiative of Indian citizens committed in strengthening of the national resilience of our motherland, consistent with the promotion of interdependence in international affairs.” In providing a roadmap of the GIF activities, Admiral Jacob discussed several mechanisms which included conducting analytical research, facilitating and providing a platform for debate, informal bridge-building among diverse views, all with the aim of suggesting relevant policy measures. He concluded by saying that the Foundation intends to establish its own thematic working groups on certain priority issues of comprehensive security and economic wellbeing.

Mr. Pranab Mukerjee began his Keynote address by highlighting the objectives of the Global India Foundation and asserting that inputs from such initiatives would complement official efforts. The process of decolonization, popularity of economic integration, emerging tensions between the North and South were highlighted as some of the prominent trends of contemporary international politics. The role, composition and objectives of global institutions are being re-defined. The traditional challenges to global security are being complemented by emerging concerns of failed states, terrorism, religious extremism and weapons of mass destruction. Mr. Mukherjee asserted that the conventional thrust areas of India’s foreign policy require refinement in the context of current international developments.While India continues to revamp its neighborhood linkages with South Asia, Central Asia and West Asia, she has come to play a vital role in the contributing to and managing the global “balance of interests”. In the words of the Minister, “The choices India makes today have the potential to change outcomes on issues ranging from global environment to multiple balances.” In emphasizing that the “new optimism about India’s future, within the nation and the wider world, is not necessarily an irrational exuberance”, the Mr. Mukherjee discussed the sources of India’s economic, technological and political strength. He concluded by stating that India stands fully prepared to shoulder its due responsibilities in the emerging international order.

The program concluded with the formal Vote of Thanks by Shri Dinesh C. Pathak, Vice Chairman of the Foundation. On behalf of the Foundation, Shri Pathak extended sincere gratitude to Mr. Pranab Mukherjee for gracing the occasion. He also appreciated the participation of Air Chief Marshall S P Tyagi, Admiral Shireesh Mehta, Chief of Naval Staff, Ambassador M K Rasgotra, Chairman, National Security Advisory Board and a large number of diplomats and officials in the program. Shri Munjal, Past President of CII and Lt. Gen. S.S. Mehta, Director General of the CII were specially thanked for their collaboration. The event was followed by a reception.

The event received extensive coverage in the national print and electronic media. The event continues to serve as a source of inspiration for the Foundation and its members in furthering the objectives of the Foundation.

Address by Shri Pranab Mukherjee

5. Prof. Omprakash Mishra, Member Secretary, Global India Foundation, Dr Tania Dass and Ms Madhavi Bhasin, Fellows, Global India Foundation, were invited to attend a National seminar on PEACE IN DIALOGUE: Reflections on North-East India organised by the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT, Guwahati in collaboration with ICSSR (North Eastern Region Centre), sponsored by Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), GOI, New Delhi on February 1-2, 2007. Prof. Mishra delivered a Special Address at the inaugural session. Dr Dass and Ms Bhasin presented a paper on Structuring Negotiations for Durable Peace.

Paper

6. The Global India Foundation and the National Council of Education, Bengal organised a program on Emerging India on the occasion of the 101st Foundation Day of NCE Bengal on 12 March 2007 in Indumati Auditorium, Jadavpur. The Chief Guest of the program, Mr. Shekhar Dutt, Defence Secretary, Government of India delivered a Special Address on “Emerging India: The Road Ahead and Pitfalls” on the occasion. Mr. Dutt maintained: “The twin themes of national resilience and international interdependence, that underpin the philosophy of your organization, the Global India Foundation, should also be the guiding attributes of an India that is emergent. We need to weather the challenges, and make the best use of the enormous opportunities for development through quality education and increased awareness in an interdependent world”.

Other speakers included Admiral P J Jacob, Prof. J K Ray, Prof. Omprakash Mishra, and Prof. R P De of the National Council of Education, Bengal. The session was chaired by Prof. A N Basu, Chairman, West Bengal Pollution Control Board and also Member, Executive Council of the Foundation. Dr. A J Majumdar proposed a Vote of Thanks. A large number of invitees from various walks of life attended the program, an attestation to the significance of the subject matter. Mr. Dutt also interacted with the invitees. Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies extended their cooperation and support in organizing the program.

Address by Mr Shekhar Dutt

7. Admiral P J Jacob, Chairman, Global India Foundation attended the Canada-India Round Table ‘Towards Education Linkages – Education Trade and Technology’, organised by the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute (SICI) on March 14, 2007 at Claridge’s Hotel, New Delhi. The round table sought to incubate mutually beneficial partnerships between institutions in both the countries in the field of higher education and contribute to a strategic road-map for evolving stronger bi-national linkages in trade and technology. While trade and technology constitute two key drivers of the current relationship, education can play a major role in building a solid base for trade and technology relationships. Education linkages and partnerships can be a means for developing strong and innovative academic and research programs that are capable of generating knowledge and skills needed to meet the needs of our times.

8. Prof. Omprakash Mishra, Member Secretary, was invited to present a paper on Refugees and Regional Security in South Asia in an international seminar on Economic Cooperation for Security and Development in South Asia, organized by Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses in collaboration with Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi, 16-17 March 2007.

9. A delegation of GIF members comprising Admiral Jacob, Mr. Pathak, Prof. Mishra, Prof. Pillai, Ambassador Haidar, Mr. Mehkri and Mr. Naidu called on Mr. Shivshankar Menon, Foreign Secretary, Government of India on March 16, 2007. A broad range of issues and themes were discussed in this hour long meeting. GIF extended its support and collaboration in mutually rewarding projects and programs to the Ministry. Mr. Menon was appreciative of the objectives and vision of the Foundation and accepted the invitation of the Foundation to address a few programs to be organized by the Foundation in different cities in the country. Mr. Dasgupta, Joint Secretary, MEA was present in the meeting.

10. The Foundation extended its collaboration to the Department of History, Jadavpur University for an International Workshop on History of Global Climate Change: Water, Ecology, De-forestation, Agriculture, Politics and the Management of Nature on March 22, 2007 at the UGC-DSA Seminar Hall, PG Arts Building, Ground Floor, Jadavpur University. Prof. S.K Sanyal, Vice Chancellor, Jadavpur University inaugurated the Workshop, which was chaired by Prof. Omprakash Mishra, Member Secretary GIF. The Program was coordinated by Prof. Ranjan Chakrabarti, Coordinator UGC Special Assistance Program, Department of History, Jadavpur University.

11. Fellows of the Foundation have presented 14 papers dealing with various ongoing program and projects in the Institute’s premises in March- April 2007. Third Round of internal presentations would commence on 7 May 2007.

12. The Foundation has published the Keynote Address of Shri Pranab Mukherjee, Hon’ble Minister of External Affairs, Government of India on India and the Global Balance of Power, delivered on the occasion of the national launch of the Foundation on 16 January 2007 in New Delhi. This publication forms a part of the Public Lecture Series Program of the Foundation. It is a mater of deep satisfaction for the Members, Fellows, Staff and Associates of the Foundation that inaugural issue features an important policy speech by Shri Mukherjee.