Ambassador Rae,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

At the outset, allow me to extend my sincere thanks to you, Ambassador, for inviting me to be the Chief Guest to this programme to release the Coffee Table Book “A Day in the Life of Kathmandu” which is a compilation of photographs by Shri Jawed Ashraf. On this occasion, I would like to congratulate Shri Ashraf on his remarkable work.

Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am happy to learn that the book is conceived as a tribute to Kathmandu and the people living here and to underline the urgency and importance of its restoration in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck Nepal in April 2015. I am sure that with the rich experience that Shri Ashraf has gained working at the Embassy of India in Kathmandu in the past, the book and in particular the photographs truly reflect his affection towards the city, its people and heritage. This is good illustration of his deep attachment to Nepal and the Nepali people.

The cordiality, goodwill, mutual trust and cooperation that characterize the age-old ties between Nepal and India are further strengthened by special contributions made by the writers, litterateurs, artists and photographers. And Shri Ashraf deserves special thanks for this remarkable contribution on his part. As our two countries are brought together by history, geography, shared cultural values and strong people-to-people contact, such dynamics of our bilateral relations become more evident in our engagement at different levels.

I fondly recall the spontaneous response and support from the Government and people of India to us in the aftermath of last year’s earthquake. This was possible only because of the relations of heart between our two countries and peoples. We are not only friends in good times, but also true supporters to each other in times of need. The generous support from India to our post-earthquake reconstruction drive equally remains remarkable.

As the Government of Nepal is earnestly engaged in its key task of restoring the damaged heritage sites of Kathmandu and other places as well as in undertaking reconstruction works, I am confident that the book would also be a source of encouragement for all to contribute to this noble task.

Finally, while expressing sincere appreciation to the Embassy of India for taking the initiative in releasing Shri Ashraf’s book in Kathmandu, I wish it a great success.

Thank you.