Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi on Wednesday unveiled a bust of Vietnam's founding father and President Ho Chi Minh at a park in Delhi's diplomatic enclave Chankyapuri.
Ambassador of Vietnam to India Pham Sanh Chau was present at the unveiling at The Kautilya Marg Park here.
This is the second bust of Ho Chi Minh to be installed in India; the first one is located in Kolkata, according to a release by the Vietnam Embassy.
Paying tribute to the late Vietnam National Movement campaigner, chief guest Lekhi said: "I'm happy to be here to pay my respect to President Ho Chi Minh whose love for our country lay the foundation of Vietnam- India relations on politics, diplomacy, economics, defence-security, education-training, science and technology and people to people relations. The present political structure of both counties may be different, but we share a strong historical and cultural bond."
President Ho derived inspiration from Mahatma Gandhi. While he never met him, he in an interview (in 1955) had said that he honoured the great spiritual leader of Indian people, Mahatma Gandhi as his master in his struggle against imperialism in Asia. In India too he won many hearts with his affability, cordiality, humility and austerity the Vietnam Embassy release said.
Ambassador Pham said "Uncle Ho wrote over 60 articles, research papers, poems, letters, telegraph messages & speeches about India and his experience with Indian leaders. His in-depth knowledge about India and its people and his close association with the then Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru has helped cement Vietnam-India relationship."
Ho Chi Minh visited India three times, first in 1911, then in 1946 as head of state with India as a stop on his way to France for peace dialogues, and finally in 1958 for 13 days, as an official state visit for 10 days as the president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam.
"Indians too supported the Vietnamese independence movement. India supported Vietnam's independence from France, opposed American involvement in the Vietnam War, and supported the unification of Vietnam. There was an unseen emotional bond with Vietnam and Kolkata," Pham said.
During the Vietnamese struggle against the French, thousands of Indian students marched on the Kolkata streets to express their solidarity with Vietnam. Two students were killed and 21 were injured in the police firing that ensued which led to a total strike in Bengal. This movement continued till 1975 when the war finally ended.
India -Vietnam strengthening of relations started in 1947 when the new democratic republic of Vietnam was born and had not till they established diplomatic relations with other countries.
Prime Minister Nehru invited Vietnam to attend the Asian Relations conference in India. Therefore, India is the first country in the world to recognise the democratic republic of Vietnam with Ho Chi Minh as its President, said the release.
The Vietnamese ambassador said: "At the farewell party when Uncle Ho left New Delhi for Mumbai and Kolkata, Prime Minister Nehru, who always used beautiful and respectful words for him said "We have met a person who is part of Asian history. We meet such a great man, and we meet a period of history. Therefore, we not only enrich our thoughts but also feel more honoured. Meeting president Ho is such an experience"
Vietnam has recently announced the appointment of the Honorary Consul for Vietnam for Bengaluru and plans to open a similar Consul in more Indian cities.
( With inputs from ANI )
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