Honorary Consul General of Albania Dikshu Kukreja hosts National Day of Republic of Albania
Celebrating 111 years of Independence of Albania, the event marked presence of well-known figures from the field of politics, sports, business, media, and ambassadors from over 40 nations.
NEW DELHI: To commemorate 111 years of Independence of Albania and in honor of Albania’s National Day, the newly appointed Honorary Consul General of Albania to India, Dikshu Kukreja, hosted a grand celebration along with his wife Arunima Kukreja to celebrate the day in a fitting tribute to the prominent European country. Chief Guest for the occasion on Dec 14 in New Delhi was V Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External and Parliamentary Affairs.
The occasion marked the presence of well-known figures from the field of politics, sports, business, media, as well as senior diplomates. They included former Albanian Prime Minister’s Advisor, Dorian Ducka, Former Foreign Ministers Salman Khurshid, Shashi Tharoor, Jai Panda, Shahnawaz Hussain, Maneka Gandhi, Governor Amolak Rattan Kohli, Parvesh Verma; industrialists including Raghupati Singhania, N.K. Singh, Chetan Seth, Atul Chauhan, Subhash Chandra, Dilip Cherian, and ambassadors from over 40 countries including Finland, Sweden, Hungary, Cuba, Russia, Iran, Indonesia, Japan, Brazil.
Welcoming the gathering and expressing gratitude to the august gathering of eminent personalities, Dikshu Kukreja said, “Today is not a mere celebration, but a testimony to the unity, progress and our shared values as we celebrate the National Day of the Republic of Albania. Your excellencies and distinguished guests Albania and India share a common thread – the parallels and synergies are remarkably profound. Both our cultures have cross pollinated with cultures outside of them and this is an expanding horizons of our own world views. Both India and Albania have forged towards progress and prosperity. Both nations have a primal sense of duty and this duty is not about landscapes, but the very diversity of our thoughts, our people and our customs.”
“Albania stands as one of the diverse countries in Europe – a reflection of its cultures and traditions that bind us. The bond that Albania and India share are more than one can imagine. One of them is the linguistic connection between Sanskrit and Albania which underscores the deep-rooted India-European influences that have shaped our societies. The Albanian Code of Honor, Besa, is very similar to what we have in India – Athithi Devo Bhava. Even the people-to-people connection between our countries is deep and earnest,” he added.
Honorary Consul General Dikshu Kukreja mentioned about Mary Teresa Bojaxhiu MC, better known as Mother Teresa, who was an Albanian-Indian Catholic nun and the founder of the Missionaries of Charity.
“One such icon is Mother Teresa, born in Albania, spent her life and embraced by India and celebrated globally. Her life transcended borders, exemplified the depth in relationship between our two countries. My wish now is to embark on new frontiers, to elevate the friendship, enhance the trust and friendship that we have cultivated. I would like to explore opportunities in trade, economy, culture and something that is very close to my heart – sustainability and people to people exchanges. As we stand at the cusp of a new chapter in the relationship between these two great nations – Albania and India – let us draw inspiration from our shared history and the extraordinary individuals who have helped in enriching our nations. We start with not just the celebration, but a renewed commitment to mutual prosperity, peace and growth”.
The evening of celebration commenced with a captivating performance by a brass band followed by a cultural program featuring a fusion band, blending Indian and Western music, in a fitting tribute to the cultural, linguistic and historical ties both the countries have enjoyed.
