Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates on Friday praised India as a global leader in innovation, highlighting that its pioneering solutions have the potential to improve millions of lives across the Global South.
Addressing an event organised by the Indian Consulate General in Seattle in partnership with the Gates Foundation, Gates expressed hope to continue collaborating with India on its journey toward Viksit Bharat 2047.
“It’s fitting that we’re coming together on the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi. The ideals he championed – the equality and dignity of every person – are foundational to the work we do. Today, India stands as a global leader in innovation and is pioneering solutions with the potential to save and improve millions of lives across the Global South. We look forward to continuing to partner with India on its journey toward Viksit Bharat 2047,” said Gates, Chair and Board Member of the Gates Foundation.
Coinciding with Gandhi Jayanti and the International Day of Non-Violence in the Greater Seattle area, the celebration showcased Indian culture, arts, and cuisine, and featured a special address on the ‘Relevance of Gandhian Values in the Contemporary World Order’ by Jonathan Granoff, President of the US Global Security Institute.
The event was attended by senior leaders from Washington State and the Seattle City government.
According to the Indian Consulate General in Seattle, earlier on Thursday, a commemorative event was held at the Statue of Mahatma Gandhi near the Bellevue Public Library, where Bellevue City Council leadership joined in honoring the Mahatma’s legacy.
Another commemorative function was hosted earlier in the day at the Seattle Center (near the base of the Space Needle), where floral tributes were offered at the bust of Mahatma Gandhi by Washington State Senator Vandana Slatter in the presence of Eddie Rye, Chairman and Founder of the Martin Luther King (MLK)–Gandhi Foundation.
“A large cross-section of Indian-American leadership attended these events in Seattle and Bellevue, which also featured a special rendition of Gandhi’s favourite hymns by young school children,” the Indian Consulate General said.
–IANS
