Addressing a function to celebrate the country's Independence Day here yesterday, Bhagwati, himself a noted economist, said "I am personally very confident that in the next 30, 40 or 50 years, India will take the top position among the comity of nations."
Thousands of NRIs with their families attended the function, where several business houses and restaurants had installed their stalls and distributed complimentary food.
In his speech, Bhagwati extensively referred to India's first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his historic 'Tryst with Destiny' speech and said what he enunciated was still relevant today.
The High Commissioner also referred to the poems of Rabindranath Tagore and the words of wisdom of Mahatma Gandhi who said "'You must change, if you want to see the change in the world'."
