To mark the 208th anniversary celebrations of Mexican Independence, the Embassy of Mexico in India honored Mr. Rajnikant Devidas Shroff, Mexico’s honorary consul in Mumbai, with the “Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle”.
The decoration of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle (Orden Mexicana del Águila Azteca) is the highest distinction awarded by the Mexican government to foreigners in recognition of their outstanding services to Mexico or to humanity.
At a glittering ceremony on Sunday evening to celebrate Mexico’s National Day in Mumbai, H.E. Melba Pría, Ambassador of Mexico to India, presented the insignia to Mr. Rajju Shroff, Chairman & Managing Director, UPL, in the presence of distinguished guests from the business and social fraternity.
The award stands as a testament to Mr. Rajju Shroff’s outstanding contributions as Honorary Consul of Mexico in Mumbai since 1998 towards strengthening the commercial and cultural relationship between Mexico and India, as well as his exemplary consular work in favour of Mexicans in that city.
Mr. Shroff is the longest serving active honorary consul of Mexico in India, and in the past twenty years has worked tirelessly towards organizing various important activities in favour of the relationship between Mexico and India, such as high-level meetings, seminars and promotional events in Mumbai, in collaboration with the Embassy of Mexico in India and ProMéxico, besides providing constant support to Mexicans in need of consular assistance and protection within Mumbai.
Last year, when the largest instructional vessel in the Mexican Navy, Cuauhtémoc, docked on the ports of Mumbai, the honorary consulate in Mumbai was instrumental in extending support for the Mexican crew and cadets to participate in activities to bond with their counterparts from the Indian Navy.
The Royal Eagle is Mexico’s national animal and was considered sacred for the Aztecs. It is an essential symbol that links the Aztec past with the Mexican modern nation. The Order of the Aztec Eagle was established in 1932 and is awarded by the office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Mexico, following the instructions of a Council headed by the President of Mexico, who signs each honour. The Order stands for the friendship of Mexico with the nations of the world and is a means to express the respect and admiration of the Mexican people.
In the past, seven Indian nationals have been awarded with the order of the Aztec Eagle. These include Vice President of India, Dr. S. Radhakrishnan, who was awarded during his working visit to Mexico, and prominent artist Mr. Satish Gujral, who studied in Mexico and painted at the workshops of Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros. This the first time that this distinction has been conferred based on the recipient’s work as honorary consul of Mexico.
Previous recipients of the Mexican Order of the Aztec Eagle include corporate, institutional and cultural personalities such as Microsoft founder Bill Gates; Nobel Economics Laureate Amartya Sen and writer and Nobel Literature Laureate Nadine Gordimer.
