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Lakshmi M Puri

@lakshmiunwomen39,062 subscribers

Former @UN Assistant Secretary-General; Deputy Executive Director @UN_Women & Amb of India; Commentator on #National & #International Affairs, Author

Shorts

It was a morning to cherish with Bill Gates! His vision of using education as a tool for global development & his commitment to empowering women & girls in tech and sciences are making a lasting impact on humanity. I have had a long association with the Gates Foundation since my time at UN Women from 2011, when we collaborated on numerous initiatives including 'Making Women Count' It was a pleasure to meet him again. We discussed India's role as a beacon for women-led development in the Global South. Honoured to present my novel 'Swallowing The Sun' to him with an inscription that highlighted how the book was an ode to the universal human spirit and the right of everyone especially women and girls to realise their potential, their dreams - "Something you seek to do in the world" Gates Foundation India UN Women #SwallowingTheSun

It was a morning to cherish with Bill Gates! His vision of using education as a tool for global development & his commitment to empowering women & girls in tech and sciences are making a lasting impact on humanity. I have had a long association with the Gates Foundation since my time at UN Women from 2011, when we collaborated on numerous initiatives including 'Making Women Count' It was a pleasure to meet him again. We discussed India's role as a beacon for women-led development in the Global South. Honoured to present my novel 'Swallowing The Sun' to him with an inscription that highlighted how the book was an ode to the universal human spirit and the right of everyone especially women and girls to realise their potential, their dreams - "Something you seek to do in the world" Gates Foundation India UN Women #SwallowingTheSun

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Winning the Delhi Literature Festival Award in the #Fictioncategory for my debut novel #SwallowingtheSun is a moment of immense pride. To be honoured alongside Caged by Gulzar Saab in the Poetry category and The Hoopoe on the Lawn by Ruskin Bond deepens the sense of joy and gratitude I feel. Having been born and brought up in Delhi, this recognition holds particular personal significance. Delhi is not just a backdrop in my life; it is a living, breathing character in my novel. Several chapters are devoted to capturing the many shades of this magnificent, maddening, and marvellous city. This confluence of voices reflects the diverse, layered, and enduring literary culture of Delhi—where ancient epics and modern narratives echo through its institutions, street corners, publishing houses, and literary gatherings. Delhi has always been a crucible of creativity—from the poetry of #Ghalib and the prose of #KhushwantSingh to the powerful storytelling of contemporary voices. That spirit lives on in festivals like this, which seek to honour not only individual writers but the very idea of Delhi as a literary muse. #DelhiLiteratureFestival #SwallowingTheSun #LiteraryHonour #FromPenToPage #Cityofstories Vijender Gupta Delhi Lit Fest Aleph Book Company New Delhi Municipal Council Official

Winning the Delhi Literature Festival Award in the #Fictioncategory for my debut novel #SwallowingtheSun is a moment of immense pride. To be honoured alongside Caged by Gulzar Saab in the Poetry category and The Hoopoe on the Lawn by Ruskin Bond deepens the sense of joy and gratitude I feel. Having been born and brought up in Delhi, this recognition holds particular personal significance. Delhi is not just a backdrop in my life; it is a living, breathing character in my novel. Several chapters are devoted to capturing the many shades of this magnificent, maddening, and marvellous city. This confluence of voices reflects the diverse, layered, and enduring literary culture of Delhi—where ancient epics and modern narratives echo through its institutions, street corners, publishing houses, and literary gatherings. Delhi has always been a crucible of creativity—from the poetry of #Ghalib and the prose of #KhushwantSingh to the powerful storytelling of contemporary voices. That spirit lives on in festivals like this, which seek to honour not only individual writers but the very idea of Delhi as a literary muse. #DelhiLiteratureFestival #SwallowingTheSun #LiteraryHonour #FromPenToPage #Cityofstories Vijender Gupta Delhi Lit Fest Aleph Book Company New Delhi Municipal Council Official

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Videos

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There's only one truth: #Pakistan is the #perpetrator, #patron, and platform of cross-border #terrorism. Proof lies in two undeniable facts: 1. The Pakistani State creates, aids, and abets terrorist groups and their infrastructure hubs against India. 2. The #PakistanArmy has morphed from a professional force into one that directs, participates in, and now even visits wounded terrorists in hospitals and attends their funerals. This isn’t opinion — this is admission. The Defence Minister says the quiet part out loud. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar admits “communication” with the attackers. At the UNSC, Pakistan blocked even the mention of #TRF — shielding its own proxy. And where does this terror ecosystem operate from? #Bhawalpur — residence of Masood Azhar. The 2019 Pulwama attack was planned here. #Muridke — Lashkar-e-Taiba HQ. The 26/11 attackers were trained here. Built partly with ₹10 lakh from Osama bin Laden. Both are headquarters of the United Nations-proscribed terrorist organisations — and yet they thrive in plain sight on Pakistani soil. This is not a rogue element problem. This is state-integrated terrorism — with official rank, public infrastructure, and diplomatic protection. The #world must stop indulging a state that bleeds its neighbours for strategic relevance. And the people of #Pakistan must rise —to throw off the toxic yoke of military rule and emerge as a true democracy. Only then can there be peace and mutual benefit with an ascendant India — the world’s largest and most vibrant democracy. #PakistanExposed #Terroristan #IndiaAgainstTerror #UNSC #OperationSindoor #IndiaPakistanTensions

Lakshmi M Puri

315,071 次观看 • 1 年前

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When stories travel, they find their soul in new tongues! Feeling truly overwhelmed and humbled by the love and warmth at the #Teluguedition launch of Swallowing the Sun in Vijayawada. Hon’ble Shri Pawan Kalyan Garu, Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, graced the occasion as Chief Guest and moved me deeply with his heartfelt call for women and youth to read this book — a story of awakening, courage, and change. My heartfelt thanks to Shri Y Satya Kumar Yadav, Hon'ble Minister for Health & Medical Education, for his gracious presence, and to Shri Vijay Kumar Garu of #Emesco Publishers for his unwavering belief in bringing this edition to life and to Ms Kuppili Padma for her eloquent and heartfelt introduction of the book. A special word of gratitude to Shri A. Krishna Rao Garu, whose sensitive and evocative translation has kept the soul and spirit of the novel alive in Telugu — allowing Swallowing the Sun / #ఆమెసూర్యుడినికబళించింది - to shine in yet another beautiful language. The affection and energy of the people of Andhra Pradesh made me feel not like a guest, but as though I had always belonged to this land — connected through shared stories, culture, and light. 💛 JanaSena Party Pawan Kalyan JanaSena Shatagni Telugu Desam Party JanaSena VeeraMahila #SwallowingTheSun #TeluguEdition #LakshmiPuriWrites #PawanKalyan #AndhraPradesh #WomenLead #Emesco #KrishnaRao #VijayawadaLaunch #FromDiplomacyToLiterature

Lakshmi M Puri

114,325 次观看 • 9 个月前

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रामाय रामभद्राय रामचन्द्राय वेधसे। रघुनाथाय नाथाय सीतायाः पतये नमः॥ When the dharam dhwaj rose to the pinnacle of the majestic Ram Mandir, it did not just mark a physical event, it was the culmination of a cosmic saga written in the stars and brought to fruition by the collective yearnings of a billion hearts. The struggle which began 500 years ago, and the people’s movement that lasted a few decades should be seen as divine channels created by आपदामपहर्तारम् प्रभु राम to enable the faithful to connect directly with ancient timelessness - with a cultural renaissance and awakening in an era of unprecedented development. True to the spirit of ‘Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi’ when India is on its way to become the third largest economy in the world under the leadership of PM Narendra Modi Ji, yet it’s an India that is firmly rooted in its millenia old cultural and civilisational ethos. Defined by architectural brilliance, this temple at the exact birthplace of Prabhu Ram, will be the spiritual compass for the devotees, the symbol of victory of dharma over adharma. The Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra stands as a testament to India's civilisational continuity and the power of faith upheld by law. This magnificent edifice not only revives Ayodhya's spiritual heritage but also drives holistic development, and resurrects it as the original pivot of Aastha and Teerth while enhanced infrastructure like the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport, highways, modern amenities will play a great role in fostering pilgrimage and economic growth. It will forever beckon the श्रद्धालु and be alive with the chants of श्री राम जय राम जय जय राम till eternity. #Ayodhya #ayodhyarammandir #RamMandir #PrabhuRam Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Ayodhya Darshan

Lakshmi M Puri

58,196 次观看 • 7 个月前

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From a civilisational light to a global light! As the first recipient of the Diwali Power of One Award, I was honoured to attend this year’s 9th ceremony at the United Nations / United Nations — an initiative shaped by the remarkable vision, perseverance and dynamism of Indian American community leader Ranju Batra, ably supported by distinguished attorney Ravi Batra. Ranju’s seven-year-long sustained campaign led to the historic ‘Forever Diwali’ US Postal Service stamp in 2016, whose record-breaking sales revealed how powerfully the quintessentially Indian festival — Diwali’s message — resonates across societies and cultures. Inspired by this recognition, several U.S. states, cities and school districts — including New York City; Edison and Jersey City in New Jersey; and cities and districts across Texas — have since declared public holidays, school closures or excused absences on Diwali, further embedding the festival in America’s civic calendar. For this alone, they deserve the gratitude of Indians everywhere. Building on this momentum, Diwali Foundation USA, established in 2017, instituted the Power of One Awards — often described as the Oscars of Diplomacy — to honour serving and retired diplomats and global leaders who have advanced peace, security and multilateral cooperation. This year’s awardees — Ambassador Jonathan Raphael Cohen, Dennis Francis, President of the 78th UN General Assembly, Ambassador Darja Bavdaz Kuret, and Ambassador Magzhan Ilyassov — exemplify diplomacy anchored in principle and purpose. The recent United NationsESCO recognition of Diwali as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity affirms what India’s civilisation has long offered the world — light over darkness, dialogue over division, and hope and solidarity as a moral force in global affairs. 🪔

Lakshmi M Puri

21,223 次观看 • 7 个月前