'NRIs strength India's relations with other countries'

LONDON: Non-Resident Indians have formed an important bridge in the relations between India and the country of their adoption, India's high Commissioner to the UK, Shiv Shankar Mukherjee has said.

At a reception organised to honour him as the First Patron of The India International Foundation headed by Hardyal S Luther at Wembley Plaza Hotel last night, the envoy said the honour has made him "humble and proud".

"The Indian community abroad have formed an important bridge in the relation between the country of their origin and the country of adoption. It is true the community commanded respect of the country they have adopted," he said.

In their pursuit of excellence, the NRIs have overcome several hurdles and obstacles. "You have struck to the eternal values and won admiration for your work ethic in business, profession, academia, and family values and respect for education. It is these qualities that define the Indian diaspora."

Noting that India has now emerged as the 4th largest economy in the world, Mukherjee said, "we can justifiably take pride in the achievement of the country."

He also observed that "there is a change in the mind-set including that of the bureaucrats and it is irreversible. Today Indians feel they can compete with the best in the world."

He said India never had any extra-territorial ambitions or any aspiration to become an x-kind of power.

"The founding fathers of our constitution made it clear that we are always amenable to negotiations but not amenable to pressure," he said.