Prime Minister Narendra Modi stated on Wednesday that India has contributed 'Buddha' to the world, symbolising peace and prosperity, rather than 'Yuddha' (war). He emphasised that this legacy of promoting peace positions India to strengthen its role in the 21st century. “For thousands of years, we have been sharing our knowledge and expertise. We didn't give 'Yuddha' (war), we gave the world 'Buddha'. India always gave peace and prosperity, and therefore India is going to strengthen its role in the 21st century,” PM Modi said while addressing the Indian diaspora in Vienna on Wednesday during his two-day-visit to Austria. Modi's visit to Austria marks the first by an Indian Prime Minister in 41 years, coming at a time when India and Austria are celebrating 75 years of diplomatic relations. “This long wait has come to an end on a historic occasion. India and Austria are celebrating 75 years of their friendship,” he remarked, describing his visit as "meaningful." The Prime Minister highlighted the deep democratic connections between India and Austria. “Geographically, India and Austria are located on two different ends. But there are a lot of similarities between us – democracy connects our two countries. Liberty, equality, pluralism and respect for the rule of law are our shared values. Our two societies are multicultural and multilingual. Both countries have the habit of celebrating diversity,” he noted. Reflecting on India’s recent general elections, PM Modi said, “In recent election, 650 million people voted and results were declared within hours. It is the power of our electoral democracy.” He praised the robust electoral machinery of India, which managed the largest democratic exercise smoothly and efficiently. The Indian community in Austria, numbering over 31,000, including more than 450 students, welcomed PM Modi with the chants of ‘Modi, Modi’ and ‘Bharat Mata ki Jai’. “India is the world's third biggest startup hub,” PM Modi pointed out, emphasising the country’s strides towards innovation and development. He also shared his vision for India's future, stating, "India will celebrate 100 years of its independence in 2047 as a developed nation." "Today, India is growing at the rate of 8%. We are currently in the 5th position, and soon, we will be in the top 3. I promised the people of my country that I would make India one of the top three economies in the world. Our mission is 2047," he said, projecting India's status as a developed nation by the 100th anniversary of its independence. He also highlighted the potential for collaboration between India and Austria in green growth and innovation, leveraging India's high growth trajectory and reputable startup ecosystem. PM Modi emphasized India's role as a "Vishwabandhu," contributing to global progress and well-being, and urged the community to maintain their cultural and emotional ties with India. "I have always believed that relations between two countries are not built just by governments; public participation is very important in strengthening relations. That is why I consider the role of all of you important for these relationships," he told the community members. PM Modi mentioned Austria's long-standing intellectual interest in Indian philosophy, languages, and thought. "Around 200 years ago, Sanskrit was taught at Vienna's university. In 1880, with the establishment of an independent chair for Indology, it got more push. Today, I got the opportunity to meet some eminent Indologists. It was quite apparent from their discussions that they had great interest in India," he said. Earlier, in the day, PM Modi held a delegation-level meeting with Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer and President of Austria, Alexander Van der Bellen. He also held a high-level business meeting in the country. He arrived in Vienna on Tuesday from Moscow for a two-day visit to Austria.
