World
Monument to victims of slave trade unveiled with Indian contribution
United Nations: India paid tributes to the human rights defenders who fought to abolish slavery and indentured labour at the unveiling at the UN headquarters in New York Wednesday of a monument to the victims of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and slavery. India, which contributed $260,000, was the main donor to the Permanent Memorial Trust Fund for monument.
Delivering the opening remarks at the unveiling of the monument, India’s Permanent Representative Asoke Kumar Mukerji recalled the work of the human rights defenders who waged a sustained campaign to end slave trade. “The vigilance of these activists ensured that other laws passed to circumvent the banning of slavery, such as the use of indentured labour, with Mahatma Gandhi called ‘a remmnant of slaver,’ were similarly repealed,” he said.
Mukerji noted the symbolism of locating the monument in New York not far from the Statue of Liberty, the icon of freedom and democracy. “The Ark of Return unveiled here today is in many ways a counterpoint to the Statue of Liberty” he said. “Each memorial illuminates the meaning of the other.”
Called The Ark of Return, the multifaceted white marble monument, has a motif of triangles with a sculpture of an African person at its center and a waterfall representing the tears of the 15 million men, women and children who were sent across the Atlantic as slaves.
The monument was formally inaugurated by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and General Assembly President Sam Kutesa.
“I hope descendants of the Transatlantic Slave Trade will feel empowered as they remember those who overcame this brutal system and passed their rich cultural heritage from Africa on to their children,” Ban said.
The monument was itself designed by one such person, Rodney Leon,a descendant of slaves taken from Africa to Haiti. “It makes me feel extremely proud that I can play a role and a part in the commemoration of such an important and historic day,” he was quoted in a UN report. The American architect won the design competition from among the 310 contestants from 83 countries.
“The majority of the victims of this brutal, primitive trade in human beings remain unnamed and unknown,” Kutesa said. It is “an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of those unknown and unnamed enslaved Africans and honour their proud contribution to our societies, our institutions and our world.”
Slavery has not entirely disappeared and persists with 21 million people now trapped in forced labour, he said “We have an obligation to stop modern slavery in whatever form it may be disguised.”
Absent from the dais at the unveiling were representatives of the US, Britain and other European nations that participated in the slave trade.
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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