Editor,

AS WE prepare to commemorate the Genocide against the Tutsi for the 20th time, my thoughts and prayers are with the million innocent lives lost during those dark days and also for the many millions in the country and in different parts of the world who have suffered directly or indirectly as a result of genocide.

The First Lady of Rwanda, Mrs. Jeannette Kagame, touched my heart with her recent article, "To all the women who bore the heaviest burden of our history” (The New Times, April 1).

Immaculée Iribagiza, in her award winning book, "Left to Tell”, shared the trauma, pain and immense hardships she and so many others went through during the senseless and most inhuman killings of the 20th century.

Ernest Rwamucyo, Rwanda’s High Commissioner to India, last week delivered an inspiring lecture at the Centre for African Studies, University of Mumbai, titled "Rwanda – A Story of Death, Resurrection and Resilience”. He mapped out, so well, the tremendous progress made by the country over the last two decades.

In conclusion, please allow me to share with your esteemed readers the prayer of the great Indian poet, Rabindranath Tagore: "Lord God, make my life simple and straight like a flute of reed for thee to fill with music.”

May this beautiful land of a thousand hills come alive with the "sound of music” and may this great nation radiate peace, harmony and good will among all people.

God bless Rwanda!

Clarence Fernandes, Mumbai, India