On the momentous occasion of India’s 76th Republic Day, Indian citizens gathered in the UAE to honour the nation’s journey as a resilient democracy and a thriving economy. In a heartfelt address, the Consul General of India in Dubai, Satish Kumar Sivan, delivered a powerful message celebrating the country’s heritage, achievements, and aspirations.
Sivan opened with a tribute to India’s founding visionaries and freedom fighters, whose foresight laid the foundation for the Republic on January 26, 1950. The core principles of the Constitution—justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity—continue to unite a diverse population of 1.4 billion people, embodying the strength of India’s democracy.
Reflecting on India’s rise, the Sivan highlighted the nation’s transformation into the world’s fifth-largest economy, soon to claim the third spot globally. Despite challenges, India’s growth has remained inclusive, ensuring progress across all sections of society. Special mention was made of the Indian diaspora’s pivotal role in this journey, particularly the nearly 4 million Indian nationals in the UAE.
“From being a favourite for doomsayers who constantly predicated a collapse of our democracy, we are today the fifth largest economy and soon to be the third largest, achieving such rapid progress against the global economic trends. Our growth has been inclusive and broad based carrying all sections of the society along. While I have enough data points on the phenomenal growth of India which make us happy and proud, I believe that the one factor that has been critical in India’s rise on the global stage is the strength and contributions of the Indian diaspora,” Sivan said.
A Community of Strength and Compassion
Acknowledging the Indian community in the UAE as a cornerstone of the India-UAE bilateral relationship, the Consul General commended their hard work and dedication, which has earned admiration from Emirati citizens and contributed significantly to India’s foreign exchange remittances, which reached a record $125 billion last year.
The speech also lauded the community’s spirit of service during the UAE’s Amnesty period last year. Over 15,000 Indian nationals benefited from the initiative, thanks to the unwavering efforts of volunteers and organizations such as AIM India Forum, Indian People’s Forum, KMCC, Friends of India, and others. The support extended by cultural and religious institutions like the Hindu Mandir, Jebel Ali, Guru Nanak Darbar Gurudwara, and IMAN Culture Centre was particularly appreciated.
“It is also incumbent upon us to acknowledge and thank the UAE government for such a wonderful initiative and to the Immigration authorities of all Emirates, especially Dubai for their unwavering support to the Indian community,” Sivan said.
Plans for future welfare initiatives, including Cyber Awareness and digital literacy sessions for Indian workers in collaboration with KMCC, were announced as steps to enhance skills and protect against cyber fraud.
Recognition and Bilateral Growth
The Republic Day address also celebrated the achievements of Mr. Ramesh Ramakrishnan, Chairman of Transworld Group, who was recently honored with the Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award. His contributions to the Indian diaspora and UAE-India relations were hailed as exemplary.
Highlighting the robust India-UAE partnership, the Consul General emphasized collaboration in areas such as healthcare, renewable energy, digital technology, space exploration, and advanced technologies like AI, IoT, and Blockchain. A revolutionary Hindi Large Language Model is one of the many projects under development, showcasing the forward-looking agenda of the bilateral relationship.
“Talking of our bilateral relationship with UAE, India and the UAE are linked by friendship, trust, and a common future. Strong historical and cultural ties between our two countries have developed into a strong collaboration in a variety of domains. As we look into the future, there are countless opportunities for cooperation in fields like digital technology, healthcare, space exploration, renewable energy and cutting edge 5th Industrial Revolution technologies such as AI, IoT, big data, cloud computing, Blockchain, and 6G. We are collaborating on a Hindi Large Language Model that will be truly revolutionary. In short, the bilateral agenda is positive and forward looking. By working together, we can chart a model partnership for the world to emulate,” Sivan said.
A Model Partnership for the Future
Concluding with an optimistic vision, the Consul General reaffirmed the shared trust and friendship between India and the UAE. With countless opportunities on the horizon, the partnership is poised to serve as a global model for cooperation and innovation.
As celebrations continue, India’s 76th Republic Day stands as a testament to the nation’s resilience, achievements, and unwavering commitment to progress and unity.
