Abu Dhabi: Jawaher Saif Al Kumaiti, the Emirati woman who saved the life of an Indian truck driver burnt in an accident in Ras Al Khaimah, upheld the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi, a top Indian diplomat said in Abu Dhabi on Monday evening.
“Gandhi said that the difference between what we do and what we are capable of doing will suffice to solve most of the world’s problems. She bridged the gap between what we think we can do and what we actually do!” Navdeep Singh Suri, Indian Ambassador to the UAE, said.
Suri felicitated Al Kumaiti at an event to celebrate Gandhi Jayanti — Gandhi’s birth anniversary — commemorated as International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations.
“She also proved another famous saying of Gandhi — strength does not come from physical capacity; it comes from indomitable will,” Suri said.
Addressing the gathering, Al Kumaiti said religion or any other factors should not stop one from helping a fellow human being. “If you have to help someone, just do it,” she said.
The audience received her message with a big round of applause.
Suri also introduced another Emirati woman — Lubna Qassim, executive vice-president and group counsel at Emirates NBD — who caught his attention by promoting Gandhi’s teachings on social media.
Qassim told the audience said she had read Gandhi’s autobiography at the age of 10. Later, she realised that “Gandhi planted a seed of ambition and dream, which I see in every Indian I meet”.
A constant stream of applause from the audience often forced her to pause her speech.
The Indian Embassy and Gandhi Sahitya Vedi (GSV) jointly organised the programme at the embassy.
VTV Damodaran, president of GSV, said they presented plants to the guests, instead of bouquets, as suggested by Suri to uphold the ideals of Gandhi.
The audience was impressed by a presentation on postal stamps issued by around 100 countries in honour of Gandhi.
A brief documentary titled ‘Does Gandhi matter?’ was also well-received.
Speaking at the event, Emirati writer Khalid Al Dhanhani said he felt that India and the whole world are waiting for Gandhi again to safeguard peace and fraternity.
Sudhir Kumar Shetty, patron of GSV, said the seven sins mentioned by Gandhi were still relevant — wealth without work, pleasure without conscience, knowledge without character, commerce without morality, science without humanity, worship without sacrifice and politics without principles.
School children who won competitions as part of the celebrations were also given prizes at the event.
