Six Guyanese were among 35 delegates from ten different countries who benefited from the 9th Gen-Next Democracy Network Programme hosted by India as part of its 75th independence anniversary celebrations.
A release from the Gen-Next Network, said that the programme, hosted by the Govern-ment of India through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) from April 10 – 19 involved delegates from Guyana, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Croatia, Luxembourg, Mongolia, Portugal, Slovakia and South Africa.
The six Guyanese in attendance were Pandit Suresh Singh, Director of Youth Services from Better Hope, Region 4; Kristina Muthusami, Regional Housing Officer of Central Housing and Planning Authority and Council-lor of Regional Democratic Council, Region 6; Gomati Kalicharran, District Community Development Officer in Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development; Rohini Mooklall councillor of the Regional Democratic Council and Neighbourhood Democratic Counci, West Coast Berbice; Ganesh Aditya Mahipaul, Mem-ber of Parliament, Region 3; and, Daniel Anthony Seeram, Chair-man of Regional Democratic Council, Region 4.
The Gen-Next Democracy Network said the programme aims to orient participants about Indian democratic traditions, foreign policy, new education policy, and international relations among other areas. It said delegates have the opportunity to call on dignitaries, visit institutions, think tanks, cultural groups, research forums and NGOs for group discussion. The release added that talks by experts on Indian democracy, interaction with young leaders, bureaucrats, academia, civil society and other important stakeholders also formed part of the programme. It said that an understanding of the success of India’s democratic journey to young leaders across the world acquaints young leaders about India’s folk arts, music, performing arts, culture, traditions, cuisine, heritage and the overarching idea of India and showcases India’s contributions in addressing global issues; its egalitarian world view showcases the ethos of democracy that are ingrained in Indian culture.
The delegations visited the Indian Parliament and were given extensive background lectures on Indian democracy, Indian culture and civilization, 75 years of Indian Independence, welfare and empowerment of marginalized women by well-known professors from various top universities of India. They also visited the Prime Ministers’ Museum and had an historical tour of New Delhi, the release said. This was followed by a visit to the Taj Mahal in Agra where they were entertained with a cultural evening hosted by the ICCR on its Foundation Day celebrations. In the state of Odisha, the groups had interactions with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, visited the State Assembly, as well as the Siksha O Anusandhan (Education and Research Centre), the world famous heritage temples of Jagannath Puri/Sun Temple of Konark/Udaigiri and Khandagiri Caves among other places of interest.
The Odisha State Disaster Management Authority, a global success story in managing floods and cyclone related disasters, provided information and intensive interaction on the management of floods which could be relevant for Guyana, according to the release.
The release stated that the ICCR believes that this initiative is a means to a greater collaboration among democracies of the world especially with India’s already well-known credentials as the largest democracy in the world, its democratic resilience and the spirit of its citizens who have, despite all hardships as a developing country, imbibed the “democratic spirit”. The release quoted Prime Minister Narendra Modi thus: “India’s democratic credentials are deep-rooted”. The local delegation held both briefing and debriefing sessions with High Commissioner of India to Guyana Dr K J Srinivasa before they left in April and after they returned in May.
