Jain Spirit 2003 10 No 16

SR No.: 528996
Original Sutra Author: N/A
Author: Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains
Publication Year: 2003
Total Pages: 68
Language: English
Classification: Magazine, UK_Jain Spirit, & UK
File Size: 17 MB

Page 16

GLOBAL NEWS
NEW BOOKS
"Dr. L. M. Singhvi is the champion
SON OF ETERNAL INDIA
from all three major parties, LM cast his net wide in order to Dinesh Z. Shah reviews a unique new book about the life encompass a varied range of institutions and individuals. He of Dr. L. M. Singhvi
thus had a large circle of friends among writers, poets,
historians, lawyers, professors, journalists and artists. He was A Diplomatic Sojourn: Dr. L.M. Singhvi in the U.K.
the doyen of diplomats in London. Edited by Dr. K. L. Nandan, Himalayan Books, 2002
LM appreciated that the largest democracy in the world ISBN 81-700-2080-8
and one of the oldest democracies had many values in Available from Jain Spirit £15
common, including freedom of worship. He therefore
ensured that minority religions were not forgotten. EVERY SO OFTEN WE COME ACROSS AN Kensington Palace Gardens, his official residence, began to individual, who leaves the footprints of his visit on the sands reverberate to Vedic, Buddhist and Jain chants. Readings of time. One such person is Shri Laxmi Mall Singhvi, the from the Quran, the Guru Granth Saheb and the Bible became High Commissioner of India to the United Kingdom from regular features as part of the interfaith dialogue. He 1991-1997. When he took up this assignment, relations addressed the World Parliament of Religions in Chicago in between the UK and India were at
August 1993 and went to the low ebb. However, within a few
Vatican. On the cultural level, one months of his arrival, traditional
of his greatest achievements was British reserve and barriers of
the establishment of the Nehru protocol came tumbling down.
Centre in London that has become Prime Minister John Major
a vehicle of India's message and accepted an invitation to
point of view. He secured Tagore participate in the Indo-British
of a new
and Gandhi papers for India and Parliamentary Group Curry Club
negotiated the return of the rare luncheon and this, in fact, proved
idol of Nataraja. There are other to be just a tasty starter!
examples of such achievements, A Diplomatic Sojourn, under
which were only possible due to the editorship of Dr. K. L. Nandan,
LM's tenacity, patriotism, gives an insight into the brilliant trail-blazing career of Dr. L. knowledge and diplomatic charm. M. Singhvi (LM), focusing in particular on his tenure as High Dr.Singhvi was perhaps India's most informal envoy Commissioner in London, where he served three Presidents abroad and was rarely preceded or followed by security and five Prime Ministers of India. The book is divided into personnel. LM's upbringing, education and intellect helped to five sections interspersed with photographs. The foreword is open new avenues of interaction between the host community followed by reminiscences of people from different walks of and the Indian Diaspora in the United Kingdom. As a result, life in the UK and India. The section 'Horizons of Hope and the Indians in the UK today stand tall, aware that they Harmony' contains Dr.Singhvi's own thoughts including represent a great culture and civilisation. LM is considered excerpts of his speeches. Articles written by his wife Kamlaji one of the great champions of a new global order. and their children are included in 'Heartbeats', while at the The devastating effect of ecological and environmental end of the book we can read his profile.
destruction has been a constant source of anxiety to him. The book lists countless examples of Dr. Singhvi's Indeed it is Dr. Singhvi who coined the word ecocide'. political acumen, vision and diplomatic skills. He foresaw the During his tenure he planted a thousand friendship trees' in dangers of terrorism as far back as 1992 at a Human Rights the United Kingdom. Dr.Singhvi throughout his life has never Conference in Bangkok. The signing of the Extradition lost sight of the Jain philosophy of anekantvada and he used it Treaty between India and the United Kingdom was therefore as a bridge building device in the UK and abroad. He met a milestone. During his tenure, economic ties between the leaders like Mikhail Gorbachev of the Soviet Union or the late two countries strengthened and trade and investments flowed Dr Julius Nyerere of Tanzania to listen to their viewpoints. culminating in the Investment Protection Treaty between the His expert skills as a constitutional lawyer were tapped in UK and India.
drafting the constitutions of Bangladesh, South Africa and Apart from forging individual friendships with the Nepal members in the House of Commons and the House of Lords The book throws light on the personalities, events and
global order”
14
Jain Spirit September - November 2003