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!!! WHAT THEY SAY !!!
The.
Rt. Hon. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara GCMG,KBE - Prime Minister
"I
said on the occasion of Deepawali some twenty years ago that what I hoped for
and believed in for Fiji was not a dull, enforced homogeneity, but all the
wealth of diversity, with each culture retaining its individuality, and all
blending together to form a varied pattern to enrich the whole.
I
still hold that view and therefore congratulate the Sangam on the significant
contribution it has made towards that end through the promotion of education and
culture in our country. I trust that contribution will be enhanced in the
future."
..........Source 1987 Convention Magazine -Lautoka
Mr. T.P. Sreenivasan - Ambassador of India
Inaugural
Address at Convention RakiRaki "India takes pride in the fact that even
after a century of separation, the people of Indian origin in Fiji cherish
ancient human and spiritual values of India and continue to maintain their
strong sentimental bonds with India. This relationship between you and India
does not conflict in any way with the fact the you are a citizens of Fiji Your
future lies here and your fortunes are inextricably linked with the fortunes of
this nation. Today the Sangam is faced with new challenges, but these are no
greater than the challenges faced by your forefathers in their time. Like them,
you too shall be able to deal with adversity and emerge victorious because, like
them, you too possess the fortitude, the vision and the moral strength inherited
from rich and ancient culture."
..........Source
1989 Convention Magazine -Suva
HE Mr. B W P Absolum - New Zealand Ambassador
"The
history of Indian people in Fiji has been a history of endeavour. Endeavour on
the one hand to be seen and accepted as an integral part of Fiji, with all that
Implies In terms of res~ect and. recognition. But endeavour on the other hand to
maintain and promote a sense of cultural Identity. And In both a!eas of
endeavour, particularly the second, the Then India Snamarga Ikya Sangam has
played a constructive and significant role. Indeed it has focussed on the three
thin~s that are per.haps most central to the Integrity and sense of identity of
any people, that is; language, education and worship ..
..........Source 1992 Convention Magazine -Lautoka
Mr. John Trotter -Australian Ambassador (Chief Guest 1992 Convention)
"The
Sangam is not a political organisation, but promoting educational, cultural and
religious activity, it supports some of the core freedoms that have been
recognised by the International Community as inalienable: Specifically, freedom
of expression and freedom of Culture, Language and Religion. History shows that
progress, which is gradual, is the more likely to be long lasting. We see that
in the development of the Sangam, it its evolution from very simple beginnings
to what we see around us today."
..........Source
1994 Convention Magazine -Sa
H.E.
Mr. Tim J David -British Ambassador (Chief Guest 1994 Convention)
"The
Sangam is, by any yardstick, an astonishing organisation. You are characterised
by a commitment to service -service to youth, service to the community and
service to the nation. And you realise this commitment principally in three
fields -education, culture and worship."
..........Source 1995 Convention Magazine -Suva
The. Rt. Hon. Ratu Sir Kamisese Mara GCMG,KBE, CF, KStJ, MSD - President
"The
beneficiaries of Sangam's contribution have been largely the rural people of
Fiji as Sangam ensured that most of its schools were built in rural areas where
the need could not be met by others including Government of the day. In the new
Millenium with growing demands to be placed upon the country its people, there
will be expectations of Sangam as an organisation with nationwide network to
shoulder greater responsibilities and there is no doubt that Sangam will stand
up to the challenge that will be imposed on it."
..........Source
2000 Convention Magazine -Suva
Ambassador Osman Siddique -American Ambassador to Fiji
"Anyone who cares about his or her institution and its mission wants it to succeed. But success is a function of many things, including hard works, good management and sound leadership. The Then India Sanmarga Ikya Sangam is a success story built around those principles. The fonder and life-long President of Sangam Sevaka Ratnam Sadhu Kuppuswamy would be proud of all of you today. You have honoured his life and legacy. Change is constant. As we marvel at the changes of the last hundred years, we dream of what changes the next thousand will bring. And as powerful as our memories are, our dreams must be even stronger. For when your memories outweigh your dreams, you become old, and it is the eternal destiny of mankind to remain forever young, always reaching beyond, always making things happen. Do not fear change. Instead welcome it, embrace it and create it."
..........Source 2000 Convention Magazine -Suva