Former President Kalam Keynote Speaker at GOPIO-FICCI Conference in London

London, July 02, 2009
Inder Singh

On June 9, 2009, Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India delivered keynote address at GOPIO-FICCI joint conference, entitled ‘Is a New Global Order Emerging? The Potential Role of India’. Dr Kalam, known as the ‘People’s President’, spoke about the powerful potential of India, its role in the scientific and business communities and the launch of his own project – the World Knowledge Platform. Other speakers included Mr. Shiv Shankar Mukherjee, the High Commissioner of India, Mr. Inder Singh, President of GOPIO Int’l, Mr. Harsh Pati Singhania, President FICCI, Lord Rana, Lord Newby, Lord Desai, Dr Mitra, Secretary-General of FICCI, and Dr Meyersfeld.

The event, chaired by Lord Dholakia, considered the future role of India in the new global order. The conference aimed to engage a select community of business and political leaders to strategize both about the economic vitality of Indian commerce and its long-term potential to enhance global income and eradicate national poverty. The panelists, including economists, business leaders and lawyers, provided commentary on the potential of political and economic leadership of India and its responsibility to eradicate poverty at home and abroad. Lord Desai concluded that there is a pause in the economy, which Dr Mitra identified as an opportunity for upsurge in meaningful development, sustainable growth and, coupled with a motivated new government in India, an empowered India in a new global order.

The conference was held at the Nehru Center, London and attracted members of the Indian community and many students of Indian origin in the fields of politics, science and international relations.

On June 10, 2009, Dr. Kalam spoke at GOPIO organized luncheon in Belfast, Northern Ireland where over 100 people including GOPIO Int’l president Inder Singh and GOPIO Ireland president Dr. Kulkarni of Dublin had come to attend the event. Lord Diljit Rana, GOPIO Executive Vice President, and resident of Belfast was the host of the gala function. The former president was also given an honorary degree by Queens University Belfast, whose Vice Chancellor Peter Gregson noted that "Few people so clearly personify the term 'Renaissance Man',".

• Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, 25 July 2002 to 25 July 2007, is highly regarded internationally for his support to science and education.
• APJ Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931 at the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu and received honorary doctorates from about 30 universities globally. In the year 1981, the Government of India presented him the nation's highest civilian honor, the Padma Bhushan and then again, the Padma Vibhushan in 1990 and the Bharat Ratna in 1997. Before Kalam, there have been only two presidents
• Dr APJ Abdul Kalam regards his work on India's nuclear weapons program as a way to assert India's place as a future superpower