DR KOTNIS BIRTH CENTENARY CELEBRATED

'China-India Friendship

Will Benefit the World'

THE development and prosperity of both China and India cannot be realised without the friendly co-existence and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two countries. China-India friendship will benefit not only both the countries but Asia and the world as a whole. Emulating the example set by Dr Dwarakanath Kotnis, we have to take the China-India relationship to new heights.

This was stated by Zhang Yan, Ambassador of People's Republic of China to India while addressing a meeting in Hyderabad today marking the birth centenary of the legendary Dr Kotnis. He was the chief guest of the meeting organised jointly by Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, Jana Vignana Vedika, AIPSO, Doctors Forum for Public Health, APMSRU and Indian Doctors for Peace and Development. The Sundarayya Vignana Kendram auditorium was jam packed with people from various sections participating in the meeting.

Dr Kotnis, hailing from a middle class family in Sholapur, had joined the five member doctors team from India being sent to China in 1938 in solidarity with their fight against fascist Japanese who had launched an invasion. Dr Kotnis, then 28 years, served the Chinese fighters and people injured in the fighting with dedication and resilience on the frontlines. He moved from place to place and performed his medical duties with bare minimum facilities and disregarding his own ill health. When the four other doctors returned to India, Dr Kotnis stayed back in China and continued his prolific service relentlessly. All the toil took a toll on his health, and he died in China at a young age of 32 years due to epilepsy.

The Ambassador paid rich tributes to Dr Kotnis saying he was an outstanding son of India and a great friend of China. The Chinese people will never forget Dr Kotnis whose firm determination of defeating the fascist aggressors and his great sympathy to the just cause of the Chinese people were very much evident. Dr Kotnis joined the Communist Party of China and served the Chinese people wholeheartedly till his last breath, said the envoy. He recalled Chairman Mao's praise of Dr Kotnis as a perfect example of internationalist spirit. Dr Kotnis' warm kindness, great sense of responsibility and perfect medical practices won the love and admiration of Chinese people, he said. Dr Kotnis stands as an everlasting monument forever in the hearts of Chinese people.

The Ambassador stressed the need to not only recall Dr Kotnis contribution but to carry forward his work of fostering greater friendship among the people's of the two countries. In this connection, he said that China and India share a lot in common and had supported and cooperated with each other many times. As two fast emerging economies of the world, both countries are facing with major opportunities as well as arduous challenges. He underlined that both countries are focussing on self-development and need a peaceful and stable international and regional environment.  He concluded by expressing confidence that with joint efforts the realtions between the two countries will be taken to a new height, which will not only serve the interests of peoples of the two countries but also benefit the peace and prosperity of the world .

Dr Y Radhakrishna Murthy, former CPI(M) MP, who presided over the meeting, in his remarks warned about the US imperialists' constant effort to drive a wedge between India and China in order to overcome the economic challenge they were facing from both countries. The attempts of saffron forces to rake up human rights issue in China during the Ambassador's visit to Hyderabad was also part of this effort, he said. Dr Murthy reminded our ruling classes that India-China civilisational ties go back to around 2500 years while our ties with US are hardly 200 years old.

Veteran educationist, MLC and state president of India-China People's Friendship Society, Chukka Ramaiah, told about his personal experiences when he visited China recently. He said he was overwhelmed with the display of great love and respect for Indians by ordinary Chinese. The attendance in the meeting was also a testimony to such feeling among people in India. He called for channelising this innate desire for friendship and peace in a concrete manner for strengthening the relations between the two Asian giants.

Earlier, the Ambassador paid floral tributes at the statue of Comrade P Sundarayya in the park opposite the venue. The Chinese media was present in covering these events in good numbers.

(INN)