The US Congress has honoured Indian industrialist B K Modi, praising his outstanding services and innovation in industry as also in social and spiritual fields.
In a proclamation presented to him on Monday night, the Congress praised his initiative, which led to the establishment of a "large network" of high tech businesses that "delivered to the people of India the first mobile phones, switching telephone exchanges, copiers, fax machines and 3-1/4 floppy disks."
The Modi Foundation, it said, seeks to fulfill the social agenda by nurturing the cultural, educational, spiritual and social welfare of the less privileged and "promotes global peace through friendship and understanding."
It also recalled his association with the Indian Chapter of Asian Crime Prevention Foundation and Maha Bodhi Society of India.
Addressing a select audience after receiving the proclamation, Modi urged Indians to take up the cause of minorities and less privileged everywhere in the world.
The next revolution is going to be in the spiritual field and Indians with their heritage of peace and harmony are best suited to take up the leadership role in this, he said.
Modi reminded the non-resident Indians that their prestige and standing in the country of their adoption would be determined by the standing India enjoys among the comity of nations.
Each one should consider himself or herself the ambassador of the country and promote its cause, Modi said, adding India now has the capacity to lead the world in all fields including economic, social and spiritual.
In his address, ambassador at-large B K Agnihotri stressed the need for all Indians settled outside the country to work unitedly for the welfare and economic development of their motherland.
Observing that the country had taken major strides in the economic field in the last few years and established a strong base, he said the 22 million Indians settled abroad have skills and resources to take the country to still greater heights.
India has set up ambitious goals of becoming a fully developed nations by 2020 and they must make their contribution to help the country achieve that, he said.