Vayalar Ravi, Minister of Overseas Indian Affairs visited the world headquarters of the Seventh-day Adventist Church July 5. The ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs which formed to connect with the 25 million Indian diaspora.

During a protocol reception, Adventist church leaders warmly welcomed Ravi, who, despite a stringent schedule, reserved time to discuss issues of societal development with Adventist church representatives. Signalling a spirit of cooperation between Adventists and Indian officials toward the achievement of mutual goals, Ravi, a veteran Congress party leader from Kerala and long-time champion of the poor and illiterate, applauded the work Adventists are doing in India in these areas.

"We were very honoured to receive the minister and to see his commitment to fight poverty, to develop education, health care, and religious tolerance in India," said Dr. John Graz, director of Public Affairs and Religious Liberty for the world church. There are approximately one million Seventh-day Adventist Christians in India.

Vayalar Ravi, born in a middle class family in Vayalar village in Alapuzha district, began his career as founder president of the Congress' students wing Kerala Students Union in the early 1960s. He later led the Youth Congress in the state and played a key role with A K Antony in building Congress as a mass force in Kerala by attracting people from all classes and social groups to the party. Elected to the Kerala Assembly in 1982 and 1987, Ravi served as state home minister from 1982 to 1986.