Meeting Gujarat CM Narendra Modi

It was indeed a great memorable day when I met the Hon'ble Gujarat Chief Minister Shri Narendra Modi at his Office in Gandhinagar on December 23, 2009. The CM was extremely delighted on receiving the book "It's Always Possible" written by Dr. Kiran Bedi, the First woman IPS Officer.

He asked me of what does Dr. Kiran Bedi think of Gujarat and prompt came my reply “She is indeed impressed by the development here in Gujarat.”
The CM congratulated me since I represented Gujarat as its cultural ambassador to Japan during a Cultural-Exchange summit in December 2009. He appreaciated my role in representing the Indian ethos abroad. He wanted that it was kids like me who can be the true ambassadors to preserve and represents our unique cultural heritage. I am sure as we meet others our world view too would change in bringing peace to this troubled world.

I explained him about the role Dr. Kiran Bedi played in making my Japan mission a success. He seemed impressed by the guidance she provided to me. The CM even expressed his desire to meet her personally and invited her to visit Gujarat in future. “Do convey this to Kiranji”, he told me.

As soon as the CM saw his sketches which I presented him, he exclaimed "Great!”. As my meeting drew to an end, I took his blessings to which he said "Sukhi raho Bete!"

JAPAN SPEECH

SIDDHARTH IYER, a high school student from Gujarat, represented India as it's Cultural Ambassador at the Olympic Stadium in Tokyo, Japan, on December 16, 2009. He went to Japan under the JENESYS (Japan East-Asia Network of Exchange for Students & Youths Programme), organised by AFS (American Field Service). As the Cultural Ambassador of India and Gujarat too he spoke for the first time at public gathering at the Grand Closing Ceremony of the JENESYS Programme at Olympic Stadium. When he ended his speech when the National Director Mr. Takada & Chairman Mr. Ogawa for the AFS Japan rose to congratulate him for the speech.As the cultural ambassador of the nation, Siddharth had much to talk about the cultural ethos of Gujarat. Gujarat's peace-loving ethos, its spiritual and economic development were all that came as surprise to some of the people here. One Japanese even asked him if the people in India still travel on bullockcart, he says adding it is not correct to assume that Japanese far ahead in technology are equally good in GK, Siddharth said.