Celebrating India’s progress at UN Day event

The intertwined progress of the United Nations and India over the past eight decades was the focus of a special celebration held at UN House in New Delhi to mark the annual United Nations Day.

More than 400 guests — including government officials, academics, civil society leaders, private sector representatives, disability advocates, journalists, SDG changemakers, and current and former UN staff -— attended a UN Day reception.

UN Day, which falls each year on 24 October, marks the anniversary of the entry into force of the UN Charter in 1945. India was one of the Organization’s founding Member States, even before it became an independent country.

The UN’s Resident Coordinator in India, Shombi Sharp, told the assembled guests that the partnership between India and the UN was “extraordinary and growing… both here in India and at the global level.”

He said the UN was privileged to “play a small, a humble part in this amazing India story”, citing progress on multiple development fronts, including access to health care, financial inclusion, greater food security and improving conditions for persons with disabilities.
 

Minister of State for Skill Development & Entrepreneurship and the Minister of State for Education, Jayant Chaudhary, who served as Chief Guest, told the event that he was proud of the long-standing UN collaboration with India.

He noted that India was ready to work with the UN to find solutions not just for India, but for the world, stressing New Delhi’s extensive involvement already in South-South cooperation projects.

A global message recorded by UN Secretary-General António Guterres for UN Day was played to the crowd, as was a new video showcasing the work and history of the UN in India.

The speeches and videos were followed by two special artistic moments: performances of chhau and garbha, dance forms that have both been inscribed on UNESCO’s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage.