Sonia Gandhi, the late Indira Gandhi’s daughter-in-law, as well as the head of the foundation that stands in her name and India’s Progressive Coalition, called President Karzai’s role in creating a modern and democratic Afghanistan “valuable.”

Manmohan Singh, India’s Prime Minister, called President Karzai one of the world’s prominent figures, saying: “Throughout its history, Afghanistan has had great leaders, among whom President Karzai, as a progressive and intellectual democrat with a deep understanding of his land and people as well as the world we live in, holds a special place for himself.”

The Prime Minister added, “We are committed to our promise to help the Afghan people prosper.  We stand beside the people of Afghanistan in their effort to build a new country for themselves.”

Explaining Indira Gandhi’s life and the prize in her name, Prime Minister Singh said, “Indira Gandhi must be honored for awarding a prize dedicated in her name to President Karzai, a true son of Asia.”

In his address to the attendees, President Karzai said:

“To me, this prize signifies the greatness of the person whose name it carries.  We know Indira Gandhi, not just as a descendent of one of India’s finest political traditions and the first female prime minister of India, but also as a leader of great stature in the world.”

“We remember Indira Gandhi as a leader who lived greater than life, and who left an important legacy which further enriched the celebrated tradition of her great father, Jawaharlal Nehru, and the father of modern India, Mahatma Gandhi.  I am proud to have joined today the alumni of the prize that is dedicated to this inspirational leader.”

For more of President Karzai’s speech, please click here.

For President A.P.J. Kalam's speech, please click here.