South African Sports Minister Amichand Rajbansi, who was the guest of honour, said: "To understand what India has done for Africa you should read the letters exchanged between General Smuts (late South African and British Commonwealth statesman) and Mahatma Gandhi, when the former was the governor general of South Africa. At the height of Apartheid, Sarojini Naidu had met the South African cabinet to express support to persons of Indian origin.
"We will never let you down. We will surmount the global turmoil together and come out on top. The word 'Barbarian' came from Europe and not from Africa. Come to Africa, migrate to Africa," he appealed to delegates in attendance.
Mahyendrah Utchanah, president of Global Organization of People of Indian Origin' from Mauritius, expressed his appreciation over India giving a thought to Persons of Indian Origin.
"We watch all channels of Doordarshan free in Africa. The rich can watch Cable TV while others watch Doordarshan. A lot of our people there speak Tamil. We asked for a PIO University and now we have one in Manipal, where 50 per cent of the seats are reserved for PIO children."
Image: Mahyendrah Utchanah, president of the Global Organization of People of Indian Origin' from Mauritius.
Also see: 'We don't want anything from India'
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