74th Republic Day of India

The Ambassador of India H.E. Mr. Hemant Kotalwar and his wife Mrs. Seema Kotalwar

Text: M.Zisso; Photo: Michael Bohm and Rahul Singh

On the occasion of India’s 74th Republic Day, the Ambassador of India H.E. Mr. Hemant Kotalwar along with his wife Mrs. Seema Kotalwar held a reception at the Prague Congress Center.

In front of many Ambassadors, government officials, members of the Czech Parliament and Senate, and distinguished guests, H.E. Mr. Hermant Kotalwar greeted the guests.

Here are selected sections of H.E. Mr. Hermant Kotalwar‘s speech at the event.

Welcome everyone,
to this reception in honor of our 74th Republic Day. Today is a day of immense pride for all Indians as we commemorate the adoption of our Constitution. On this day in 1950, our nation embarked on a journey to create a society built on the pillars of democracy, secularism, and federalism. This Constitution is not just a set of laws, but a promise to every citizen of India to secure justice, liberty, equality, and the inalienable right to dignity.

Last year, we commemorated a milestone of 75 years of our independence. This was a proud moment for
a diverse country like India. We have come a long way, from being a third-world agrarian economy to a bustling, industrialized and service-based economy.

We now stand tall as the fifth-largest economy in the world. But India‘s successes do not end there; we have also earned a name for ourselves on the global scene.

We are valued members of the global community for our contributions and leadership. A true testament to the resilience and determination of our people.

On December 1, 2022, India assumed the Presidency of G20, taking the reins of leadership in these uncertain times. The G20 theme of „One Earth, One Family, One Future“ serves as a powerful reminder of our collective responsibility to care for our planet, to come together as one family, and to work towards a brighter future for all. As India takes the helm of the G20, we are honored to carry this message of oneness and unity to the world.

In this journey India is proud and humbled to have the Czech Republic by its side, a country with whom it has a strong friendly relationship since historical times.