IFFCO’s Nehru Lecture: Khera enthralls audience

IFFCO’s 29th Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Lecture had an interesting speaker in Shiv Khera the motivational speaker who regaled the audience with his inspiring speech laced with gripping real life stories.

The event was organized in the NCUI Auditorium on Thursday in Delhi where Sahakarita Awards were also given. The IFFCO Sahakarita Ratna award was presented to Smt Akokala Ponjen Luci from Nagaland and the IFFCO Sahakarita Bandhu award was presented to Bhup Singh Rahar. The first time award called the IFFCO Sahakarita Sangarakshak Award was given to Shri I P Appana from Mauritius.

Speaking on the occasion Khera said ” when I was told that I have to give a speech I surfed internet to know IFFCO; I was pleasantly surprised to know it is trying to empower rural India. I felt ashamed not to have known IFFCO earlier, he added.

“In the time of change when products get obsolete on their launch only three things are constant. They are peoples’ skill, persuasive skills and prioritizing skills. We need to develop these in order to be successful in life”, Khera sounded brilliant expounding his theories.

Speed is important but more than speed what matters is your direction in life, he explained it by quoting a story how a man caught in a jungle preferred a compass over a watch. The spell- bound -audience would break into thunderous clapping every now and then as he went on telling stories one after the other.

Teaching a child how to speak a lie ultimately destroys a society as well as the country, Khera proved citing examples. If you go away from here promising to yourself never to tell a lie or never to teach your child to speak a lie, I would rate myself as a successful speaker, Khera underlined.

Earlier, IFFCO MD Dr U S Awasthi explained the thought behind starting the Nehru Memorial Lecture 34 years ago. In 34 years, we have organized 29 lectures and our record is not bad, Awasthi said. Remaining connected to your roots and to your traditions is what defines a person and makes him successful, he added.

We pay respect to Nehruji as 39 years ago through a resolution he brought cooperatives on a par with Industries, MD informed. Explaining the growth of cooperatives he said they had a limited presence in the beginning but soon they expanded at all levels – from village to block to district to state to multi-states.

”I was in a ICA meeting today and even there the question raised concerned a variety of problems facing humanity in the form of economic hardships, environmental degradation or natural calamities. The cooperative model alone can take care of problems faced by us globally,” he underlined.

“We organize this lecture so that the ideals of co-operatives are not forgotten, the younger generation must know cooperative’s soul of collaborating socially to achieve economic goals. I am undertaking 125 tours to spread this message”, MD said.

IFFCO has been inviting eminent personalities to speak on Nehru and cooperative. Nirupama Rao, Former Foreign Secretary was the speaker last year. Namvar Singh, Karna Singh, Girish Karnard and several other notable persons have given the Nehru Memorial Lecture in the past. Last Year Sahakar Bharati leader Satish Marathe had bagged IFFCO award.