The Year of India in Canada, 2011

Roseann O’Reilly Runte - President and Vice-Chancellor, Carleton University

India and Canada have much in common, from significant land masses with varied geography, long coast lines, democratic governments, a colonial past, large neighbors, and more than one language and culture. While demographic balance and distribution offer a challenge in both nations, in India the size of the young population vastly outnumbers that of the seniors with the contrary being true in Canada. The rural/urban divide is significant in both nations, although India’s population as a total and in both the rural and urban contexts exceeds that of Canada. Indeed, the population of Mumbai equals approximately half that of Canada. Both Canada and India share concerns for the environment and both support education and improved health care. Both nations wish to stimulate the economy and increase trade. The populations of both countries believe in the importance of science and technology in solving problems and in achieving economic and social goals. One could not find better partners.

Indeed, promoting exchange between our countries will improve the quality of life in both nations. Furthermore, if we work collaboratively, there is no reason we could not become strong partners in world markets, cornering parts of a global market, which neither could achieve alone.

The Year of India, 2011 is not solely a series of brilliant artistic performances, conferences, lectures, film series and visits by business and industry giants. The program certainly does bring a delightful array to talent and ideas to Canada, including a magnificent Sarod performance at the National Arts Center on March 4, visits by the Ballet Shakunthalam, a Bollywood musical, Kathakali Iliad, Chinch Street fair, Abiogenesis Rock Band, Fusion Dance Tanushree Shankar, to name but a few which will be shared among the major cities of Canada over the course of the year. The well-designed program of the Year of india in Canada, 2011, educates us individually and promote greater understanding between our nations. This is certainly the underpinning required to create a market for trade of materials and goods and for ideas and expertise to be exchanged. Yet this year represents much more. It is a significant investment in creating the environment for sustainable collaboration, for successful, ongoing partnerships.

One of the inaugural events of the year was the award of a Chair by the Government of India to the Canada-India Centre for Excellence in Science, Technology, Trade and Policy at Carleton University. The Centre fosters academic and research exchanges and internships among universities, business and industry in Canada and India, has created a policy forum with annual conferences on issues of great import to both nations, and is setting up a virtual, one-stop trade network for businesses wishing to establish themselves abroad. The Centre has brought together the Indian community in Canada, the academic and business communities and government agencies in receiving important visits to Canada including the Ministers of Trade and Commerce and Power. The Centre, the ISTF (International Science and Technology Foundation), the High Commission of India in Canada, the Canadian High Commission in India, and FICCI are sponsoring an innovation summit from May 9-13 at which Sam Pitroda will speak along with the Vice-President of Mindtree, well-known author Dr. Subroto Bagchi.

This important bi-lateral summit will be closely followed by an Education Summit, which will bring together Vice-Chancellors of some 25 important universities in India with their Canadian counterparts. The event is the product of the vision of Dr. Singh, the President of the Shastri Institute and is coordinated by the High Commission of India in Canada, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Canada, the AUCC (Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada) and Carleton University’s Canada-India Centre for Excellence in Science, Technology, Trade and Policy.

The Canada-India Centre for Excellence in Science, Technology, Trade and Policy at Carleton University has benefited from the most generous support of the Indian community in Canada. This support, along with that of the Government of India, translates into the creation of a sustainable bridge, building solidly on mutual understanding and trust. It is a pathway over which students, faculty and community members will travel as they exchange enterprising and artistic ideas. The Centre’s research will create policy forums where obstacles to trade can find solutions and its business network will provide the contacts necessary to promote better business for all.

On my first visit to India this year, I met with a number of Carleton students who were studying in Pune. They all said they were having the best year of their academic careers. On my second trip this year, I met with many Ministers and Deputy Ministers in the Indian Government. Every one of them was overwhelmingly positive about the possibilities, which expanded relations with Canada represented. On my third visit, I was asked to plant a tree. To me, this was symbolic of the roots our Centre had planted and the fact that it would grow and prosper not only during this splendid Year of India 2011, but for many years to come. I conclude by noting that I was told that the tree would grow very large, tall and strong. I will be proud to have been allowed to lend a hand in this significant undertaking which will, I am sure, have a truly significant impact on enhanced bilateral economic development.