1 November 2007
Ottawa, OntarioPLEASE CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY
Diwali Mubarak
Good evening ladies and gentlemen.
Tonight we gather to mark Diwali, a celebration that embraces the universal themes of human experience: The renewal of life and the triumph of good over evil.
At the heart of the Diwali, as you well know, lies the diya. This lamp is a metaphor for knowledge, the light that overpowers the darkness of ignorance. In our tumultuous world, we need such heartening symbols. Tolerance and understanding are the antidotes to bigotry and conflict. In the eternal struggle between knowledge and ignorance, the former always, eventually, wins. But it is a struggle, and it is not overcome without piety, passion, and persistence.
While no country can claim to have fully achieved enlightenment or social harmony, Canada stands closer to these ideals than almost any other nation. Our success is rooted in our devotion to our founding values: freedom, democracy, human rights and the rule of law. They in turn are the source of our commitment to pluralism and the source of our world-wide reputation as a country that not only welcomes immigrants from everywhere on earth but also provides them with tremendous opportunities to get ahead and make better lives for themselves and their families.
Our ethnic diversity is surpassed only by our unity of purpose. Regardless of our surnames, our native language, our religious affiliation or the quarrels of our ancestors, we are a people bound together by a common goal - to build a peaceful, prosperous nation where equality of opportunity trumps the presumption of privilege where we honour the past and uphold tradition, but put old arguments behind us and stay focussed on the future.
The Canadian way is distilled from the countless influences of all the cultures we have absorbed into our country - including the incredibly rich culture of India. Indeed, Canada has been immeasurably enriched by the contributions of the seven hundred thousand Canadians of Indian descent.
This summer, I had the honour of attending the opening the spectacular BAPS Swaminarayan Complex in Toronto, it is surely one of Canada's greatest architectural wonders. Inside, as I'm sure you know, there is a mandir and the Canadian Museum of Cultural Heritage of Indo-Canadians. The museum is a glorious testament to India's millennia-old history of linguistic, ethnic, and spiritual pluralism. It powerfully conveys how much the spiritually diverse, multi-ethnic heritage of Indo-Canadians has contributed in every field of human endeavour.
At the museum I read a wise quotation from India's Prime Minister Singh. Speaking of the connection between his country's success and its commitment to pluralism, the Prime Minister offered these sage words: "If India succeeds, we will have lessons for the rest of the world. After all, we are one-sixth of humanity and if one-sixth humanity makes up its mind, our influence is going to be felt more and more in the comity of the nations."
Well friends, our country is obviously far less populous than India, but I believe Canada too has much to teach the world about the interdependence between peace, prosperity and pluralism. Working together, Canadians of every conceivable ethnic background are building the most civilized society the world has ever known.
Tonight's celebration, with its embrace of the universal ideals of knowledge and tolerance, marks another step forward in our national quest. On behalf of the Government of Canada, please accept my best wishes for an enjoyable and memorable Diwali. I wish and pray that you are all blessed with harmony, love and positive thoughts.
Namaste.
Thank you.
