John Elkann, Chairman, Fiat Group, Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-Founder, the Blackstone Group, Indian Ambassador to the United States Meera Shankar and Rabbi Arthur Schneier (Left to Right) at Appeal of Conscience Foundation Annual Awards Dinner. Pics by Diane Bondareff
NEW YORK: At a glittering black tie dinner event in New York City on Sept 21, dozens of heads of state, industry leaders, media stars, members of the diplomatic corps and several multi-faith spiritual and religious leaders brought together by a shared vision of religious tolerance in the world, joined in to celebrate the presenting of the World Statesman Award to Indian Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh by the Appeal of Conscience.
India’s Ambassador to the United States Meera Shankar accepted the award on behalf of the Prime Minister who delivered his address to the audience in a video presentation in the ornate Grand Ballroom of the Waldorf Astoria hotel in Manhattan.
President of Appeal of Conscience and founder of this interfaith coalition of business and religious leaders Rabbi Arthur Schneier said Prime Minister Singh was being awarded as a leader of integrity who has earned the respect of his people, for his commitment to democracy, freedom, human rights and peace in the service of humanity.
John Elkann, the 34-year old Chairman of Fiat Group received the Appeal of Conscience Award for his contribution to international and intercultural cooperation, and Stephen A. Schwarzman, Chairman, CEO and Co-founder of the Blackstone Group received the Appeal of Conscience Award for his contribution to education, the arts and international cooperation.
A ‘surprise’ guest at the event was Nobel laureate and President of Israel Shimon Peres, who, Rabbi Schneier said had not been on the guest list, but had himself called to say he wanted to join in when he heard about the honorees. Former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and Chairman of the President’s Economic Recovery Advisory Board Paul Volcker also addressed the international gathering that brings together leaders of business, public and religious life, members of the diplomatic corps, and prominent religious leaders of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, and Hindu communities.
“The three honorees have provided leadership for strengthening peace through international and intercultural cooperation while respecting the diversity of our civilization. They have all made a difference for the benefit of humanity,” Rabbi Schneier said.
The Prime Minister, in his recorded acceptance speech said, “I accept this Award on behalf of a people who have lived in this sacred land for a millennia and have lived together.
Two ancient Sanskrit sayings – Vasudhaiva Kutambakam – The Whole World is One Family – and Sarva Dharma Sambhava – All Faiths are Equal, Singh said, come not just from India’s holy texts but from its lived experience.
“Hinduism, Sikhism, Buddhism and Jainism were born on Indian soil. Judaism, Christianity and Islam came to India very soon after their revelation. Today, 160 million Muslims are contributing to India’s nation building efforts.”
In the context of events of 9/11 and 26/11 (in Mumbai), Singh said, “We simply cannot afford to define communities, societies and religions based on the action of a small group of individuals… As I have often said, terrorism anywhere threatens peace everywhere. Poverty anywhere, undermines prosperity everywhere. It is, therefore, in all our interests to seek a world free of terror, free of poverty, free of tyranny.”
On India’s growth, Singh said, “I am convinced that the socio-economic transformation of a population as large as India’s within the framework of a democratic polity will have profound implications on which way the world will head in the future.”
Delivering the commendation address, Dr. Henry Kissinger praised Prime Minister Singh for his leadership, which has been instrumental in the economic transformation underway in India. He described Singh as a Statesman with vision, persistence and integrity. He emphasized the close convergence of India and US interest in Asia including Afghanistan and called for regional countries, particularly India to play a greater role in pursuing ways to bring peace, stability and development in Afghanistan.
Dr. Paul Volcker recalled his long acquaintance with Prime Minister Singh and praised both his insights as an economist and his outstanding work as Finance Minister and Prime Minister of India.
Accepting the award on behalf of Prime Minister Singh, Ambassador Shankar said the prime minister profoundly believes in the mission of the Appeal of Conscience, which is building bridges across religions. “In India we don’t believe any religion has a premium over any other,” she said.
Addressing the who’s who of the world leadership, President Shimon Peres mentioned that one of the most famous poets of India – Nissim Ezekiel – was Jewish. He said the Middle East was at a new beginning of peace efforts and prophesied that “we shall definitely see peace.”
President Peres spoke about the important role that India is playing in the modern day political world and thanked India for being a friend to Israel
In his remarks lauding Prime Minister Singh, Under Secretary of State Burns said on behalf of President Obama and Secretary Clinton that there could truly be no better choice and no better model of what integrity and statesmanship are all about on the world stage.
Secretary Burns called Prime Minister Singh a man of uncommon decency and grace who never lost sight of his responsibility to lead every Indian. “A member of the Sikh religion, he is the first Prime Minister of India from a minority faith. He currently serves in a government that includes a Hindu President and a Muslim Vice-President. The youngest Minister in his Cabinet is a Catholic. None of that should be surprising in a country which has given birth to or influenced nearly every major religion in the world,” Burns said.
“In the face of much skepticism at home, he held to his conviction that the people of India would gain more by engaging in the global economy than by remaining apart from it. The results of the policies he has advocated are indisputable: during his tenure as Prime Minister, a vibrant democracy of over one billion citizens has grown its economy at an unprecedented 8-9 percent annually, and lifted more than a hundred million people out of poverty.
“In the face of long and tangled regional conflicts, Prime Minister Singh has been a courageous advocate of peace and reconciliation. His composure and steady hand have been crucial to sustaining communal harmony at home and to keeping alive the search for common ground with India’s neighbors.
He has not so much preached tolerance and respect for diversity as he has lived it, through the model he has set and the leadership he has shown,” Burns said.
“History will also mark with special significance Prime Minister Singh’s personal contributions to the emerging partnership between the world’s oldest and largest democracies, America and India.
As President Obama prepares for an historic state visit to India later this autumn, the promise of our partnership, built on strong bipartisan foundations in both our countries, looms bright and unmistakable,” Burns concluded.
In his lengthy speech, Blackstone’s Schwarzman mentioned that his company has over $1.2 billion in investments in India. He said he had had the opportunity to meet Prime Minister Singh on several occasions, and said he would be traveling to India soon as he was jury chair for the Economic Times Corporate Excellence awards.
Among the dignitaries that the evening brought together were Gjorge Ivanov, President of Macedonia; Ivo Josipovic, President of Croatia; Pal Schmitt, President of Hungary; Emil Boc, Prime Minister of Romania; Joseph Deiss, President of UN General Assembly 65th Session; Ambassador William Burns, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs.
Also present were Preet Bharara, US Attorney; Commissioner Raymond Kelly of NYPD; Bill Blasio, NYC Public Advocate; and Thomas DiNapoli, NY State Comptroller.
The awards dinner chairmen included Bernard Arnault, Chairman and CEO of luxury goods conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton; and Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of Coca-Cola Company.
SRIREKHA CHAKRAVARTY
India Post News Service
