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DR SHASHI
THAROOR’S INVIGORATING ADDRESS TO ISM STUDENTS
Living far off from mother land, it is rare that the
students of ISM get a chance to meet great luminaries
and such opportunities are far and very few. But,
Friday, 05 February 2010 was a different day, when they
had such a rare occasion to interact with Dr Shashi
Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs in the
Government of India. Dr Tharoor is a great personality,
a charismatic political leader, an erudite scholar and a
perfect role model to the youth. His International
stature in United Nations is well known.
His Excellency Shri Anil Wadhwa, the Ambassador of India to
the Sultanate of Oman conducted the Minister and his
entourage. Mr. Yusuf Nalwallah, Chairman, Board of
Directors, Mr. S. Subramanian, President, Indian School
Muscat Managing Committee, the distinguished members of
the Board of Directors and the School Managing
Committees along with other dignitaries from the Indian
Embassy graced the function, when Dr. Shashi Tharoor
addressed the senior students of various schools in the
Sultanate in the new Multi Purpose Hall of the ISM.
The Principals, Vice Principals, teachers and the proud
parents were present to listen to the Minister, who was
on a State Visit to the Sultanate. On his arrival to the
school, he was given a grand red carpet welcome with the
students of Scouts and Guides providing a respectful
Guard of Honour. The programme in the hall began with
welcoming songs by the ISM choir groups of both junior
and senior sections, trained by experienced music
teachers. This was followed by a dance composition,
Shanti Mantra, in Odissi style by the group of dancers
chosen and trained. This dance brought the sublime
message of peace to sustain and the need to preserve it
in the present turbulent times.
The Principal, Mr. Achuthan Madhav welcomed the guests and
introduced the Chief Guest to the august gathering. The
Principal mentioned few of the many Academic and
professional achievements of the Minister to familiarize
him to the student community.
At the outset of his Keynote address, Dr Shashi Tharoor
expressed his gratitude to the Ambassador and Indian
School Muscat for having given him a heartwarming
reception and an opportunity to witness the captivating
performances of the Children of the school.
He was particularly appreciative of not only the
School maintaining the tenets of ancient culture by
training the students in these fine arts, but also
adapting itself to the technologies by projecting on the
screen, the reception given to him at the gate, within
short minutes to the audience in the hall.
He was very happy to see such a fusion of the
past glory and present technologies in the various
Indian Schools, which are the need of the hour.
He was highly privileged to stand for
India
and address the gathering with great pride for the
nation, which has gone through tremendous upheavals over
the centuries to become stronger and stronger every
time. His vivid narration of how
India
has become a secular democracy by adapting to all
religions, castes, creed, and languages with extreme
ease and poise was a major lesson to the students
gathered. Some of the anecdotes he shared was eye opener
to the students, particularly for those students who
were born and brought up in the Sultanate over the years
and had very little glimpse and knowledge of our Great
Nation. Mention can be made of how Zoroastrians from
Persia
landed in
India
’s western coast and mingled with the locals so
nicely.
Narrating his experience as a UN Diplomat, he brought out
the various strengths of
India
– not only of the contribution in computers and
software fields, but also the popularity of Bollywood
films, the sprouting Indian restaurants all around,
exponential global presence of some of the major
Industrial and Business houses. He also shared his
experience of his latest and new avatar as a
“political leader”. He was very proud to mention
that the progress of Ministries in
India
is now being monitored in days and weeks and not five
year plans, which used to be earlier. He was hopeful of
our Nation becoming a Nation of reckoning in the very
short years to come. He adorned that the Prosperous
India shall be inherited by the children present today.
He also answered the probing questions raised by the
students in a more humorous and enthusiastic manner. His
childhood ambition was to become a renowned writer,
which he could accomplish due to support from his
parents and the opportunities he could get. On
disarmament, though he wished for a comprehensive
universal disarmament, the present times necessitates
the nations to be armed till such a situation dawns on
earth. His concluding remarks on motivating the students
to do their best in whatever vocation they choose and
succeed in whatever they decide to do with whole hearted
devotion and commitment, was the best advice the
students can ever remember.
Ms. Anjana Nanda the Schools’ Head Girl proposed the vote
of thanks.
The complete gathering was in a state of euphoria
for having heard a lively and stimulating address by Dr
Shashi Tharoor. For the students in particular, this
visit and the Minister’s address were an inspiration
and motivation to emulate such an iconic personality of
present times.
“This is a dream come true event”.
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