Africa-Press – Eswatini. INDIAN High Commissioner Ram Prasad says the country’s 55 /55 double celebrations are special to India as well.
Prasad said Indian nationals living in Eswatini had the best interest of the nation at heart, therefore, would also be joining them in celebration of the special double celebrations to be commemorated on September 6.
The double celebrations will see the country celebrating its 55th independence and also His Majesty King Mswati III’s 55th birthday.
The High Commissioner said this during the 77th Independence Day of India, where they hoisted their national flag at Mountain drive in Mbabane yesterday.
“Eswatini is a valuable partner for India so such a significant day for Emaswati is also a noteworthy day for us,” he said. “Independence to me means the representation or commemoration of the sacrifices made by our leaders and freedom fighters to break the shackles of slavery,” he added.
Prasad said India was always looking forward to helping Eswatini develop and improve its economy.
“We have currently offered 100 scholarships to Emaswati students to go and study in India, which I believe will help in the development of the country,” he said, adding that he was hopeful that the number of scholarships would be increased in the coming years.
“We are now the world’s fifth largest economy and are working towards being number three before 2027, all from holding the title of being a poor country,” he highlighted.
The High Commissioner said because India understands the struggle of building from the bottom up, they were more than willing to give a voice to all the countries who never found their voices heard in the G20.
“We are now being recognised in the world, not only economically, but as a responsible and free country, and we would like to help Eswatini reach that stage as well,” he said.
Viswanathan Sankaranarayanan, who is the Deputy Country Head at Botho University, echoed Prasad’s sentiments, stating that Independence Day events were a way of celebrating unity in diversity.
“These are the times where we should all come together and pay respect to the freedom fighters who gave us independence regardless of our differences in terms of religion and language,” stated Sankaranarayanan.
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