The Indian High Commissioner for Canada, by His Excellency S. M. Gavai gave a lecture about the rise of the Indian economy since it became a state independent of British colonial rule Jan 20.
“Socio-economic indicators have improved. Life expectancy has gone up from 40 to 65, illiteracy is down from 82 per cent to 35 per cent,” Gavai said.
But Gavai said he feels the most important improvement India has seen recently cannot be measured with statistics.
“One factor which has not been there before . . . is the very, very high levels of optimism and confidence in the streets of India. This was not there earlier,” Gavai said.
Gavai also talked about Canadian-Indian relations, dating all the way back to the 1940s when the two countries first set up diplomatic ties. He discussed business ventures both countries have undertaken with one another and the success that has been found there.
“The other thing that we did during the Prime Minister’s visit . . . was the realization that of course business is important . . . but understanding between people is equally important and that needs to be encouraged. So we are going to have a year of India in Canada in 2011,” Gavai said.
This was the latest installment in a series of similar presentations called the Ambassadors Speakers Series, which features ambassadors from various countries giving presentations on their respective nations.