Mr. Sageer Trikarpur, The President of the Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association Office bearers and members of the Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association Your Excellency Sheikh Mubarak Salman Al-Mohammad Al-Sabah Distinguished invitees Ladies and gentlemen

          It is indeed an honour to participate in this Memorial Seminar organised by the Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association. The theme of the Seminar “His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah – The Architect of Modern Kuwait” is as appropriate as it is timely.  40 days ago the State of Kuwait lost one of its distinguished sons and leaders.  The mourning period came to an end today but the thoughts, ideas, vision and indelible impressions left behind by Sheikh Jaber will remain with us forever.  The presence of some distinguished personalities today to participate in this Seminar underlines the significant import of Sheikh Jaber’s contribution to the development of Kuwait as we see today.

          I came here some 7 weeks ago.  Within a fortnight thereafter, we came across the sad news of the passing away of the 13^th Amir of the State of Kuwait.  The spontaneous outpouring of grief and sorrow was unparalleled.   Eulogies kept pouring in and reams of articles expounded the tremendous development of Kuwait when the reins of power in Kuwait were with Sheikh Jaber. He was the “Amir of Hearts”, a person who had all, lost all and regained all yet did not lose sight of the central humane principle which separates the good from the great - care of the common man and friend and foe.  He had the goodness of heart and greatness of vision. His leadership of Kuwait in good and difficult times are worthy of great significance.

          One of the cardinal tenets of Sheikh Jaber’s policies included provision of the well-being, prosperity and upliftment of his people.  

His domestic policies centered around political consolidation including greater democracy, human rights and rights of women, economic reforms and economic liberalisation, provision of education to all among others.  This ensured Kuwait internal strengths.

 Among the late Amir’s foreign policy priorities, peace and stability at home and abroad assumed centrality. The traumatic event of August 1990 and the events following the Iraqi invasion made this all the more relevant and urgent.  Through his statesman like vision the Amir was able to rally his forces and the international community to Kuwait’s cause.  His UN appearance that year was a moving yet powerful moment.  He was an internationalist and under Sheikh Jaber Kuwait’s regional and international place in the comity of nations assumed prominence.

India’s relations with Kuwait are based on historical links and traditional friendship.  We share a close cultural affinity and there are institutional linkages.  Close to 500,000 Persons of Indian Origin have made Kuwait their working home. With their sincerity, hard work, law abiding nature and trustworthiness they have earned recognition and done India proud.  And a large measure of their integration and involvement was made possible due to the care and benevolence of His Highness Sheikh Jaber.

Sheikh Jaber was a good friend of India and of Indians.  As Amir he had visited twice in the eighties. The Government and people of India deeply mourned the demise of Sheikh Jaber. Messages of condolences to the Royal Family were sent by the President of India, the Prime Minister and the Minister of State for External Affairs.  The Houses of the Indian Parliament, the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha and the Speaker of the Lok Sabha on February 16, 2006 made Obituary References in the Houses of Parliament as follows:

“Hon. Members, I have to inform the House of the sad demise of Amir of the State of Kuwait. We have learnt with deep sadness of the passing away of His Highness Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of the State of Kuwait. Sheikh Jaber’s contribution to the development and prosperity of Kuwait was considerable. Kuwait has lost a great leader and the world a wise statesman. India has enjoyed close and friendly relations with Kuwait under the leadership of Sheikh Jaber.

The large Indian expatriate community in Kuwait will miss his care and concern. This House joins the ruling family of Kuwait, the leadership and the people of Kuwait in mourning the death of Sheikh Jaber.  We deeply mourn the loss of this friend and I am sure the House would join me in conveying our condolences to the bereaved families. The Members then stood in silence for a short while”.

I commend the Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association for organising this Memorial Seminar to recall the yeoman contribution of Sheikh Jaber in the development of Kuwait into a modern and prosperous nation with a caring and devoted society based on values.  I am confident that his name will figure in golden letters in the annals of modern Kuwait. 

May His Soul rest in peace.

I have the privilege of now declaring the Seminar open.

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