A Tri-Nation Peace Motor Car Rally (India-Bangladesh-Myanmar), comprising of 35 delegates from India reached Mandalay on 23 February, evening, according to the Indian Consulate in Mandalay.
This Rally has been organized by various Ministries of the Government of India, including Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Culture, and the Ministry of Shipping, along with National Highways Authority of India (NHAI).
The Peace Rally is for commemorating 150 years of the Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. The delegation is led by Mr. Sanjeev Ranjan, Chairman, NHAI. Mr. Nandan Singh Bhaisora, Consul General of India in Mandalay welcomed the delegates at Hotel Magic Mandalay on their arrival.
Later, the Consulate, in association with NHAI’s office Monywa organized a dinner reception for the delegates which was attended by Dr. Ye Lwin, Mayor and Regional Minister for Development Affairs on behalf of the Chief Minister of Mandalay Region.
During the reception, the Indian Consul General, in his welcome speech, mentioned about how the Peace Car Rally is going to be effective in promoting tourism, cultural exchanges, trade, people to people contacts between both the countries, India and Myanmar sharing close geographic proximity, deep historic , cultural and civilizational ties, Myanmar being India’s Gateway and playing a key role in its Act East policy, the connections between the first generation leaders of both countries including Mahatma Gandhi and General Aung San.
He mentioned that opening the international land border between both countries was a landmak in bilateral relations.
For connectivity, he mentioned that both Governments are committed and the large connectivity projects with India’s assistance are doing good progress which include 69 bridges and Kalewa-Yargyi Projects; both countries are also to start a coordinated bus service between Mandalay and Imphal, the Motor Vehicle Agreement has also been included in the Joint statement and will be signed at the earliest. He said that air connectivity is also important.
The Consul General mentioned that Mahatma Gandhi visited Burma three times and his thoughts on truth, non-violence, unity, human values, women empowerment, peace, and poverty alleviation are very relevant for all times and particularly today when the world is facing various challenges like terrorism, injustice, and inequality.
India has achieved great progress today because of the principles of Mahatma Gandhi and Myanmar passing through a transition period could learn a lot in its building a peaceful and prosperous democratic federal Union.
He requested the delegates to spread the message of peace, unity, communal harmony and other ideals of Mahatma Gandhi - as well as safe driving.
The Mayor welcomed all the delegates and said that Gandhi’s vision, thoughts and views are very relevant today and such rallies should be organised more for people to people contacts. The Chairman of NHAI said in his address that road safety is important and the delegates, after having covered about 7,000 kms from New Delhi, through three nations still seem to be enthusiastic and spreading the message of safe driving and principles of Mahatma Gandhi.
He said that recent opening of border is bringing lot of development and also Act East Policy is becoming a reality and such events should be organized more frequently. He thanked the Mayor for his gracious presence and also to the Consul General for organising the event in a grand manner. On the morning of 24 February the car rally was flagged off to Yangon by the Consul General.
