Address of the Hon’ble Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari at the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of India International Centre on 22nd January 2012 at 1130 Hrs at India International Centre, New Delhi.

In a period of nation states, national sovereignty, economic autarky and exclusive cultural identity, the founders of the IIC spoke of peoples of nations. In the past five decades, however, the import of these concepts stands modulated. Globalisation, economic and cultural, has done much good and some harm and has led to calls for a re-erection of dykes. The same holds good for universalisation of political values. Justice, democracy, human rights, good governance – nationally and globally – are impeccable in themselves but often stand diluted or abandoned for other considerations. Butros Ghali’s aspiration, “to maintain the integrity of each while finding a balanced design for all,” is yet to be achieved.

Each of these propels us towards a quest for greater understanding amongst peoples premised on closer scrutiny of values and institutions. Prescription would not work. The challenge would be to eschew hegemonic or homogenising models and contribute towards the promotion of justice, equity and diversity reflective of the ground reality of the world we live in.More.