At a special seminar organized by the Shaheed Nanak Singh Foundation in New Delhi, Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri, lauded the contributions of refugees to India’s development, attributing it to the country’s reclaiming of its civilizational values. The event, titled “Honouring Those Who Honour India,” was held to celebrate the legacy of Shaheed Nanak Singh and his role in promoting communal harmony during India’s partition.
In his keynote address, Shri Hardeep Singh Puri emphasized, “We are a country that draws strength from the sacrifices made by previous generations. Many countries have benefited from the contributions of refugees. We have reclaimed our civilization values, which have always been ours, and have used them to drive national pride and economic growth.”
Shri Puri also acknowledged the immense contributions of Shaheed Nanak Singh, who sacrificed his life in 1947 to protect students at DAV College, Multan (now in Pakistan). His selflessness during the partition era exemplifies the unity and resilience of India during tumultuous times.
Lord Rami Ranger FRSA, Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom, and the youngest son of Shaheed Nanak Singh, shared moving insights about his father’s role in uniting people of different faiths during the partition. He remarked, “The unity of India is vital for the survival of our civilization. Our civilization is far ahead of every other. We endured centuries of invasions but managed to preserve our culture thanks to the sacrifices of selfless leaders like my father.”
Mr. Vineet Nanda, General Secretary of the Shaheed Nanak Singh Foundation, stressed the importance of such dialogues, highlighting that as India’s global influence continues to grow, it is essential to honor individuals who helped create a positive international image for the nation.
The event was attended by numerous dignitaries, including Col. Kulwinder Singh (son of Shaheed Nanak Singh Ji), Mr. Ravindra Sheroan, Mr. Navneet Soni, former Chairman of the Minority Commission Mr. Tarlochan Singh, Rajya Sabha member Mr. Vivek Tankha, and several other distinguished guests, including current and former bureaucrats.
