Vijay Eswaran receives the award from Deputy High Commissioner of India to Malaysia, Mr.B.N.Reddy
At the biennial GOPIO International Excellence Awards 2010, Vijay Eswaran was conferred with the International Leader in Global Business Strategies Excellence award 2010 for his achievements as an entrepreneur of Indian Origin who has taken Malaysia to the global platform in the arena of business and is admired by not just the PIO (People of Indian Original) community around the world, but the international business community.
GOPIO is a non-sectarian Global Organisation for People of Indian Origin and represents the interests of the 28 million PIOs spread around the world in nearly 100 countries. The GOPIO International excellence awards recognise the achievements of leaders of Indian origin from around the world in different areas of social and economic growth.
Vijay Eswaran also delivered a keynote address at the award function where he spoke about how despite the diversity of nationalities among the PIOs spread across the world today, the one thing they all relate to is Mahatma Gandhi as one of the greatest Indian leaders ever. He pointed out that 187 countries around the world have issue postage stamps of Mahatma Gandhi and several countries claim him as their own. Gandhi possibly never carried an Indian passport since he was born in British India and travelled to UK to study to be a lawyer on a British travel document and from there he went to South Africa where he spent two decades before returning to India on a South African travel document. He passed away less than six months after India gained Independence.
Vijay reiterated that Gandhi’s message of Truth and Love are as relevant today as they were 60 odd years ago when he passed on. And as Indians, irrespective of the passport we carry, we should be proud to call him our own and follow in his footsteps to lead a life of Truth, Love and being in service to others.
He also played the QI Group’s corporate video on Gandhian Values which showcases the Mahatma’s journey as he led a nation to freedom and influenced the thinking of many of the great leaders of his generation. He encouraged everyone to observe a minute of silence as a mark of respect to Gandhi’s passing on this day 63 years ago.
His inspiring speech moved many in the audience and he received a resounding ovation.
Members of the QI Board and senior managers from Malaysia along with friends and business associates of the Group were present to cheer him on as Vijay went up to collect his award. It was a proud moment for the QI family and we wish him many more such honours.
