Mrs. Maneka Gandhi's speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the Donkey Sanctuary in India on January 12, 2000:

Respected teachers, children, parents, brothers, sisters and guests,

Thanks to all of you, and especially to Ratilal Shah and Bonny Shah - they have accompanied with me to this place. You have given me tremendous respect by inviting me here. I consider myself very fortunate to visit a school where I believe I can also learn a great deal. I am very happy to observe that you have indeed created an organization that is demonstrating to the rest of the country the principles and structure of what India was and should be. Wherever I visit they tend to honor me my staging dance and music performances. However, I am certain that those skills will not lead us to what is needed in India. I am frankly disappointed in the direction our country is going. I believe in you, in this school, are very sensible in following a truly desirable path that is tied to preserving our earth and the environment.

Thanks to Ratilal and Bonny Shah, I am indeed very excited that you have created here a sanctuary for the donkeys- an animal that has been abused and mistreated by us, an animal whose name we use in cursing and characterizing anyone we want to label as dumb. But, I happen to have a special place in my heart for the donkey. Just look how beautiful his eyes are. You can learn many social skills from him. Have you noticed that a donkey is never a loner? Even a child-donkey is able to make many friends. He shares his secrets with his friends. He cries if you separate him from them. When we mistreat him and overload him for hauling dirt and hundreds of other materials, he is only able to complain to his friends. The friends console him and assure him that there are better days ahead. When I look at what you have created here for donkeys, I am sure their better days are not too distant and that the donkeys will be well served in your care.

Hinduva is not where Hindus live. Hinduva is what we do in Hindustan (India) and what we consider important in India. We as human beings are very much dependent on others in nature. For example, we depend on the trees; we depend on the ants, the mice and the birds. Without birds the forests will not survive, because the birds whelp in transporting seeds. Without snakes the mice will feed on everything. Without frogs the bugs will thrive. Without forests there will be no rains. Without rains we will all die. There is really no end to our dependency on each other. God has created everything for a reason. However, the human being is so selfish and proud of his own existence that he falsely believes as if he runs the universe.

Eventually, once we get rid of our delusions and make progress towards learning about our environment, we then realize that we do not the masters in running the show. Everything in the universe runs the show- the animal, the wind, the trees, etc. Therefore, there is a lesson for all of us in this: we must respect not only each other but also everyone and everything in this world. For example, I have seen sometimes when children are walking they simply extend their hand and pluck a leaf from a plant or a tree and put it in their mouth. They forget that there are thousands of small organisms on that leaf. You have to respect their existence. I am glad everyone here is a vegetarian. Meat eating has impoverished this nation. In order to have 1 kilogram of meat, we have to produce ten kilograms of grain. Therefore, a person consuming 1 kilogram of meat is not only killing animals, but is also consuming ten kilograms of produce- a disproportionate share. In a country with as much poverty as we have and as many people as we have, it is indeed sinful and burdensome for anyone to consume so much. We must learn to live without being a burden on our country- and this is what you are also learning here in your school- S.S. Mandal.

I have observed form your books that you are learning many skills here that will prepare you to be very self sufficient and entrepreneurial. Rather than running after governmental jobs and becoming peons and clerks, I wish to see you become excellent farmers and engineers. I am glad that S.S. Mandal is providing you the education that will enable you to walk with your heads up high instead of bending them in front of anybody. In this country , the government neither does anything, nor is it capable of doing anything. This country is going to be run by your initiatives and by your helping each other. We have to help our neighbors. We have to start volunteer organizations- for the welfare of children- for the welfare of animals- for the welfare of lepers- and for the welfare of the old and the weak, etc.

I consider myself very fortunate that God has given me the opportunity to serve. And you, too, are also blessed that you have utilized the God given talent and power to help each other. Here is an example of two decent human beings- Ratilal and Bonny Shah who have come here to help you from abroad. Like many others they could have simply accumulated wealth, and enjoyed themselves and left. I am sure you appreciate the fact that they have been coming from quite far to take care of your children's welfare. They have provided for their basic needs; a computer center for their education; and now taking them a step further by creating a new organization- a different learning environment that will bring the children much closer to the animals and the nature. I wish you the best in your endeavors and I wish every single day to bring new hopes and opportunities in your life. My love to all of you, and I wish you all the health, wealth and success.

Maneka Gandhi