IAFA Press Release

Is the US a Super Power in Decline?

2011-10-29T12:34:00.002+05:30

Media has been buzzing for months with stories about decline in the US economy with over 7 million unemployed at a time when not only Greece but Spain, Portugal & Italy in Europe seem in dire need of financial bailout. To have a serious, objective and dispassionate analysis and assessment of decline in the US theIAFA organized a panel discussion on: Is the US a Super Power in Decline? If so, it’s GlobalImpact? on Aug 30^th at India International New Delhi at 18.00 hrs. While the former MOS (EA) & MP DrShashiTharoor presided, the Panel included Lord Meghnad Desai, Professor Emeritus LSE,Shri HK Dua, MP; Amb.KanwalSibal former Foreign Secretary,Dr Rajiv Kumar Secretary General FICCI;Prof Vijayalakshmi,Head American,Latin & Canadian Studies,JNU &GautamRanaCounsellor (POL) at the US Embassy in New Delhi.

In his introductory remarks Amb.Surendra Kumar stressed that with her infrastructure still intact, cutting edge technology, innovative spirit, an environment which encouraged competition & excellence, under inspiring leadership and with imaginative and realistic policies, the US was likely to bounce back and remain the leading Super Power of the world for years to come.

FICCI SG Rajiv Kumar felt that speaking of US’s decline is premature; even if it were trueit will be relative and there wasn’t any clarity on what will replace her; may be for a time, world might be under the influence of the US & China and it would be more bound bythe rules than dominated by a single Power.

According to Professor Vijayalakshmi, the US has an amazing ability to adapt to any situation which should not be underestimated. Referring to Prof. Joseph Nye’s idea of power diffusion and not only power transmission, she thought world might be in for a period of power diffusion.

GautamRana Political Counsellor, USEmbassy in India presented the US perspective and maintained that his country is still the superpower and quoted the ranking of US Universities and record of innovations. Strongly defendingthe policies of President Obama, Ranafelt that from the political, military, economic and cultural perspective the US was still leading the world.

Former Information Advisor to Prime Minister AtalBihariVajpayee, HKDua was of the opinion that the confidence of an average American has been shaken on account of economic down turn. He felt that the US ought to re-invent her value system and get over an apparent psychological setback.

Lord Meghnad Desai in his characteristic tongue in cheek manner said that decline is enjoyable and advisedAmericans to learn from their British friends who have not only coped with their country’s decline as a Super Power but have rather been enjoying thedeclined position! ‘”The Americans have been brought up to believe that they are special so they should realize that with the affluence of others, decline is still a relative term” he maintained. According to him, Undersaving was the main problem in the Western world compounded by their declining demographics. He agreed that the center of economic power was shifting to the East.

Dr. Tharoor referredto FareedZakaria’s Post-American World and felt that it wasn’t so much the fall of the West, as the rise of the rest. He added that the US has a great capacity for renewal and innovation; Steve Jobs and Bill Gates could only be American- the DNA of the US system is such- the American dream, the Obama story- it’s all still alive.

‘DrTharoor maintained that the US can still feel its supreme self and remain a serious contender for the title of a superpower, with the highest spending on Defense in the world, and its soft power symbols being global icons but in a much more multipolar world.

150th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore, Tributes by Eminent Personalities...

2011-07-24T12:33:00.001+05:30

The Poem in English & Japanese by HE Aitaka Saiki Ambassador of Japan:-
Child, thou bringest to my heart 

the babble of the wind and the water, 

the flower's speechless secrets,

the clouds' dreams, 

the mute gaze of wonder of the morning sky.

The rainbow among the clouds may be great 

but the little butterfly among the bushes is greater.

The mist weaves her net round the morning, 

captivates him, and makes him blind.

The Morning Star whispers to Dawn, 

"Tell me that you are only for me". 

"Yes", she answers, 

"And also only for that nameless flower".

The sky remains infinitely vacant 

for earth there to build its heaven with dreams.

(translation in Japanese)

我が子よ，あなたは私の心に最も輝かしい　

あなたは，風と水のせせらぎであり，

花の無言の秘密であり，

雲たちの夢であり，

曙の空の音のない驚異

雲の間の虹は素晴らしい

でも，茂みの間の小さな蝶は，なお素晴らしい

霧は朝にその網を巡らし　

彼をつかまえ，彼を盲目にする　

明けの明星が，夜明けにささやく　

「あなたは，私のためだけにいるのでしょう」　

「そうよ」と夜明けは答える

「あなたと，名もない花たちだけのために」

空は限りなく空虚だ　

大地が天まで届く夢でその空間を埋めるために

*********************************************************************

By Mr Donal Lu, DCM in the Us Embassy in New Delhi:-

Journey Home

The time that my journey takes is long and the way of it long.
I came out on the chariot of the first gleam of light, and pursued my
voyage through the wildernesses of worlds leaving my track on many a star and planet.
It is the most distant course that comes nearest to thyself,
and that training is the most intricate which leads to the utter simplicity of a tune.
The traveler has to knock at every alien door to come to his own,
and one has to wander through all the outer worlds to reach the innermost shrine at the end.
My eyes strayed far and wide before I shut them and said `Here art thou!'
The question and the cry `Oh, where?' melt into tears of a thousand
streams and deluge the world with the flood of the assurance `I am!'

Closed Path
I thought that my voyage had come to its end
at the last limit of my power,---that the path before me was closed,
that provisions were exhausted
and the time come to take shelter in a silent obscurity.
But I find that thy will knows no end in me.
And when old words die out on the tongue,
new melodies break forth from the heart;
and where the old tracks are lost,

new country is revealed with its wonders.

*********************************************************************

By UGO Astuto, DCM, Italian Embassy New Delhi:-

Tagore was in Italy at several times. Italy was the first place in Europe were he set foot, on his travel to England in 1878. He was back for longer stays in 1890, 1925 and 1926.

I was able to find a newspaper clipping of an article dated 23^rd January 1925, concerning a talk that Tagore held in Milan, at the Philological Society. The subject of his talk, which was a resounding success, was the Crisis of Western civilisation as he saw it, in the wake of the First World War and at a time when totalitarian regimes were gaining ground in Europe .

In a nutshell, Tagore reminded his European public that materialism and commercialism cannot be the sole foundation for the happiness of man. Man needs to believe in superior universal values in order to achieve peace and dignity. And such values being universal, they can serve as a bridge between cultures, different in outlook but not in their intimate essence, East and West, North and South.
In order to keep faith in Man, the Poet witnessed the truth of what sages have proclaimed: 'By unrighteousness man prospers, gains what appears desirable, conquers enemies, but perishes at the root.'
Let me read the translation in Italian of a brief poem of Tagore, taken from the collection “Fruit-Gathering” published in in 1916, which I feel somewhat expresses this same message.

Nel bagliore di un istante ho visto la grandezza della tua creazione nella mia vita. Creazione attraverso infinite morti, di mondo in mondo.

Piango sulla mia miseria quando vedo la mia vita in balia di ore inutili. Ma quando la vedo nelle tue mani, so che e’ troppo preziosa per essere dispersa tra le ombre.

IN the lightning flash of a moment I have seen the immensity of your creation in my life--creation through many a death from world to world.

I weep at my unworthiness when I see my life in the hands of the unmeaning hours,--but when I see it in your hands I know it is too precious to be squandered among shadows.

(translation in English by the author)

*********************************************************************

Remembering Gurudev Tagore…

2011-07-22T10:21:00.000+05:30

To commemorate 150^th Birth Anniversary of Rabindranath Tagore Indo-American Friendship Association, New Delhi organized a special event: Remembering Gurudev Tagore on Tuesday, July 12^th at Nehru Memorial Museum & Library with a multi-national Panel of eminent personalities from India and abroad. In their own ways, they addressed the questions: how does one pay a fitting tribute to a man larger than life itself; a man Mahatma Gandhi had found a worthy opponent in to exchange intelligent arguments with; an adventurist who travelled to 32 countries, mostly by steamboat to spread his love and wisdom. How does one capture the personality that was Tagore? What impact Tagore’s poetry and persona had on the literature & the people of the countries he visited?

IAFA Founding President Amb. Surendra Kumar set the ball rolling with his opening remarks that Tagore was much more than a poet, he was a novelist, musician, song writer, playwright, painter, thinker, social reformer and educationist rolled in one whose humanism, universalism, mysticism and spiritualism had universal & timeless appeal.

The renowned English poet Keki Daruwalla paid his homage by reading out two poems of Tagore, a poet whom he has been admiring all his life.

Dr. Ashok Vajpayi, the very erudite Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi, felt that Tagore was a part of the Trinity of Indian painters, the other two being Jamini Roy and Amrita Shergill. His only painting exhibition was held in Paris thanks to Victoria Campos of Argentina. He was a widely travelled man, his visit to Japan saw a massive fan following! No other musical tradition in the world is named after a music composer; Tagore is aptly immortalized by Rabindra Sangeet. Dr Vajpeyi concluded with reading Hindi translation of a Tagore poem by well-known Hindi poet, Prayag Shukla.

Donald Lu, DCM in the US Embassy in Delhi read a poem in English. He admired Tagore’s love for adventure and travel in those days when travel was, long, difficult and at times dangerous exercise. He recalled how Tagore had called America: ‘a beautiful country, banner of civilization she can hold up.’

According to Dr Oscal Pujol, Director of Instituto Cervantes de Nueva Delhi ,Tagore gave a simple and meaningful picture of things he saw through his poetry. He had inspired the most avant garde of Spanish poets, Ramon Himente, a new form of poetry arose in 20^th century Spain, thanks to Tagore- poetry that was pure in its simplicity

HE Ambassador Saiki of Japan waxed eloquence about Tagore’s following in Japan. In 1924 Tagore had visited Japan, a year after the Japanese earthquake and had written that he was amazed to see the resilience and capabilities of Japanese people. He read Tagore’s poem Fire Flies in English and Japanese, written incidentally in the Haiku format!

HE Marco Brando, Ambassador of Brazil, said that Tagore or ‘Tagorii’ as Brazilians pronounce his name, love Tagore. In fact many Brazilians’ have their first name as Tagore! He read out a poem of Gurudev in Portuguese and English.

HE Ambassador Alvarez of Argentina said that Tagore was not only a great poet but a great human being who advocated causes far ahead of his time such as gender equality. He read a Tagore poem in Spanish and English.

Shri Jawahar Sircar, Secretary Culture made a ‘sarkari announcements’ as he himself said about numerous steps taken by the Government to honour Tagore and those individuals who follow his ideals even today. He invited the audience as well as the foreign Ambassadors participating in the event to give suggestions to the Ministry regarding the Rabindranath Tagore Award instituted by the Govt.

Shri Saeed Naqvi, noted writer and TV presenter, said that Tagore epitomized the word ‘mankind.’ A Global Traveller of his time, Tagore could be accused of infidelity as he had a huge romance in every nation he went to- with the people at large! He was the most secular of all poets and the only man ever to have composed two National Anthems, one for India and the other for Bangladesh.

Mr. Ugo Astuto, DCM of the Italian Embassy was proud of the fact that Italy was the first country Tagore had ever visited in Europe ; he went thrice in his lifetime. He gave a talk at the Milanese Theological Society on the topic of western civilization seen through a poet’s eyes. He read a poem by Tagore in Italian.

The Chief Guest, Dr. Karan Singh, an institution in himself, spoke very high of Tagore as he deserves. Words such as ‘extraordinary’, ‘brilliant’ were sprinkled generously in his remarks. He listed 2200 songs Gurudev had composed, Rabindra Sangeet, the genre of music named after him, his own system of education exemplified in Shantiniketan as great legacies. Dr Singh described Tagore as the first Global Citizen, a social reformer, an advocate of gender equality, an environmentalist and a great romantic poet who was also in love with the Divine. Dr. Karan Singh observed that all of Tagore’s paintings are dark; may be, these reflect his dark feelings whereas his poetry reflects abundance of beauty. He suggested that a seminar deserves to be organized about the similarities and differences in thoughts and ideas of Mahatma Gandhi, Aurobindo and Tagore three colossal figures of India’s modern history who were frequently in touch with each other.

Dr. Nitish Sengupta, former MP and Chairman of the Board for Reconstruction of PSEs spoke extensively on Tagore’s music and also reminded us that Tagore had actually inspired Sri Lanka’s national anthem as well thereby taking the number of national anthems he has composed to three( Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka) !!

Ms. Jayanti Ghosh, well known Bengal singer rendered four Tagore songs, reflecting varying moods and feelings. This was followed by rendition of two Tagore songs by the legendary Kathak exponent Pandit Birju Maharaj, the Chairman of the evening. He also demonstrated how the sentiments of Tagore songs could be expressed through ‘bol’ in Kathak, which can be called dance poetry.

His senior most disciple Saswati Sen performed abhinaya on four couplets by Gurudev and ended the evening by performing a duet with Ms Mamata Maharaj on the famous inspiring Tagore song ‘Ekla Cholo Re!

Vote of thanks was proposed by the Joint Secretary of IAFA, Ms.Nehha Bhatnagar.

Obama Visit: Leap Forward in India-US Relations?

2010-11-28T19:23:00.002+05:30

President Obama came, saw and conquered. Or did he? This was the underpinning thought of the panel discussion organized by the Indo-American Friendship Association, New Delhi at the IIC on Nov 17^th 2010,barely 9 days after the departure of the US President with the theme: Obama Visit : Leap Forward in India- US Relations? The discussion saw some of the brightest minds and influential voices in India joining the Panel: Mani Shankar Aiyar, former Minister of Panchayati Raj & MP, HK Dua MP, formerly Info Advisor to PM& respected Editor, Amb.KS Bajpai formerly Amb .to China,Pakistan & USA,Amb.Salman Haidar formerly Foreign Secretary & High Commissioner to UK, Amb.Lalit Mansingh formerly FS & High Commissioner to Uk & Amb to USA ,Kiran Karnik formerly President of NASSCOM, Michael Macy Cul Attache ,US Embassy & Prof Radha Kumar Trustee & Dir of Peace & Conflict Programme, Delhi Policy Group.

In his introductory remarks,the Founding-President of IAFA, Amb. Surendra Kumar stressed, now that the dust and din surrounding President Obama’s visit has subsided and breaking news headlines have died down there was need of ,as stressed by the former foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal in his article, “a dispassionate view without baseless enthusiasm or wry cynicism”. Kumar also added that symbolism of various gestures of President Obama during the visit was as important as the substance and suggested that the reported phrase on Indo-US relations as doomed to be friends should better be changed to destined to be friends !

Amb Lalit Mansingh focused on Indian Perspective:

- Quoted Bill Clinton as saying ‘there are those who have seen the Taj and those who haven’t’. Similarly, now in India, there are those who like the US and those who are beginning to like it.

- largely optimistic about the US and what it stands for.

- People in India think that relations are good or they could be better- thus one notices a nuanced discussion on the US, but rarely negative.

- Bill Clinton’s visit to India was transaction less; George W. Bush’s visit was purely transactional (nuclear deal) and Barack Obama’s was to consolidate a strategic partnership.

- Three areas of discomfort where our fears were allayed: i) Fears of policy on outsourcing- the President rejected protectionism

ii) Kashmir issue- US repeated the known view: solve your problems with Pakistan yourselves.

iii) Fear of backtracking on nuclear deal- Instead Obama stressed bipartisan support for the deal with India.

Four areas of satisfaction- i) Support of candidature at UNSC

ii) Naming Pakistan as having ‘terror havens’

iii) Placing India in the group of regulators on nuclear proliferation

iv) Taking our important agencies such as ISRO, DRDO & BDL off the list for controls

- Concluded by stating that the visit was neither transactional nor strategic. Focus was on the future. Shared Obama’s repeated optimism which described partnership with India as indispensable and defining relationship of the 21^st century.

1) Mr. Michael P Macy’s American Perspective:

- How did we get here and where are we going? Significant shifts in both countries. In the last twenty years, there has been a positive growth at all levels

- Indian-Americans in the US have contributed to enhanced people to people contacts as have the burgeoning exchange of students of both countries.

- The personalities of our leaders (Clinton-Vajpayee), (George Bush Jr & Manmohan) & (Obama-Manmohan) took the relationship to a much higher level.

- Drew an interesting analogy : Keith Legend with Rolling Stones’ Mick Jagger, both had artistic differences and disagreed on many issues but still succeeded in creating something great jointly because they shared common values.

- Disagreements will always be there, but when they are kept in mind and focus is on larger issues two countries can still work productively. This is especially true about the US and India that share so many common values besides democracy & pluralism.

2) Professor Radha Kumar: An academic view:

- Believes that the structures of a partnership are not yet fully developed

- Security issues need to be tackled and discussed more comprehensively

- She was struck by how Obama could talk about importance of democracy in various parts of the world without underlining the need of true democracy in our neighbourhood, Pakistan

- She valued Obama’s comments on Gandhiji. Probably what Gandhiji would have liked to complete, but couldn’t, should be discussed by India and the US.

3) Dr. Kiran Karnik, an Economic perspective:

- India and the US don’t work well together because of shared or common values, but because of a vested interest in each other’s goods and services. India has a strong market, and the US, great technology.

- Obama, as the Chief Marketing Officer came on behalf of America Inc. to procure deals to benefit his domestic voter base.

- India has huge talent pools, and the US has an immense potential to train them and is still the world leader in innovations.

- Globalization has helped our cause. However, the trade and manufacturing aren’t driven by politics but by resources, both material & human, capital, technological excellence and competitiveness in quality & prices. The growth of India’s exports of IT & services to the US owes a lot to Iconic figures like Dr NR Narayana Murthy & Dr Azim Premji.

4) Shri HK Dua, a ‘ holistic view from a journalistic eye’:

- Joked by saying, may be journalists don’t talk ‘holistically’ that is why he has been asked to do so!

- May be , the Indo-US relationship, post Obama’s visit, isn’t a leap forward; it is a process evolving for better.

- It seemed that Obama had taken a crash course in salesmanship before he came to India

- India is not yet a Global Power and many questions need to be answered, ranging from ‘what role do we have in Asia’. ‘what is the future of the US-China relationship, ‘what is the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan’ and so on before we pat ourselves in euphoria, over US’s statement that India has ‘emerged’

5) Ambassador Salman Haidar, “a diplomatic dissection of the outcome of Obama visit”:

- The visit was of a multifaceted nature

- Many doors have opened for India, it is up to us how we can take this process forward

- UNSC support is good, but definitely not a ‘gift’ to India. We deserve a seat at the High Table, so to speak.

- Initial response on Pakistan was diplomatic, but in the speech at the Joint Session of the Parliament, he was more direct and said the things we were waiting for; it augurs well for us.

- Obama’s views about Iran, Myanmar, China and plans for Afghanistan differ from ours and may be cause of concern.

6) Mani Shankar Aiyar, ‘an Unconventional Perspective’:

- ‘Historic’ visit, this wasn’t. What has been historic is the US-India defense relationship sine 2005. The ‘same trajectory’ has been followed in the five years.

- Nevertheless, it was a consolidation of the past gains.

- De-hyphenation from Pakistan was a positive step. The most important achievement of the visit was his mention of the ‘terror havens’ in Pakistan.

- It was great that he asked us to keep our own house in order and assured non-interference by the US in Indo-Pak matters.

- He demolished Macy’s view that our common ideals, values and democracy were the foundation of our relationship and questioned how come we haven’t been best of friends and close partners for the last sixty years! He stressed that democratic credentials and shared values matter very little in American strategy as it has enjoyed warm and close relations with Regimes which were dictatorial, despotic, totalitarian and undemocratic such as Marcos of Philippines ; Mubarak of Egypt; Pinochet of Chile ,several dictators in Africa and successive Military Rulers in Pakistan.

- We don’t have shared values, but shared interests in defense relationship. Nothing was said in the communiqué, on how to take this forward.

- He won the Nobel Peace Prize for expression of his intent to bring about Peace in world, so that should have been a priority for him.

7) Ambassador KS Bajpai’s concluding remarks:

- Interestingly, on the 17^th of November, 69 years back, he had landed in the US for the very first time!

- Perceptions of both countries’ people’s towards each other have changed dramatically. From stereotypes of 50s & 60s, to more real time images of India OF TODAY, we have come a long way. In the beginning, we used to see the US through the British socialist eyes, and they(US), through the ‘exotic, oriental’ perspectives. He applauded the role of Indian Americans in changing the perception of India in the eyes of average American.

- We will always have differences with any country; strategic concerns are what we should focus on.

- The palpable excitement over the UNSC is ‘childish’ and we must focus on bigger concerns rather than waste time and energy in pursuit of a seat on the High Table.

- Our bilateral, global and regional concerns were discussed, at least in one to one meetings between the two leaders, and our fears allayed to some extent, that is what matters.

The Q&A session was marked by some provocative questions which were handled deftly by the Panel Ms. Nehha Bhatnagar, Joint-Secretary of IAFA was the MC for the evening; she also proposed a vote of thanks.

Indian Constitution and the US Bill of Rights

2010-11-28T10:44:00.001+05:30

Indo-American Friendship Association, New Delhi organised a panel discussion on the “Indian Constitution and the US Bill of Rights” at the Constitution Club of India, Rafi Marg New Delhi on Wednesday ,Oct 27th at which Shri Veerappa Moily, Honb’le Minister of Law & Justice was the Chief Guest.The renowned legal expert and former Attorney General of India, Shri Soli Sorabjee chaired the proceedings while the veteran Advocate and Constitutional Expert
Subhash Kashyap, Dr Abid Hussain, former Indian Ambassador to the US and Donald Lu, DCM at the American Embassy constituted the panel.

While welcoming the guests, Amb.Surendra Kumar founding President IAFA, underlined that on the eve of President Obama’s visit, it was worth remembering that India and the US had enjoyed strong linkages even at the time of the dawn of India’s independence and our founding fathers didn’t hesitate to borrow certain aspects of the US Bill of Rights while framing the Indian constitution. He expressed the hope that President Obama’s historic visit will bring the oldest and the largest democracies closer and nearer in spite of differences in their perceptions of several issues and produce mutually beneficial results. He reiterated that IAFA provides a platform for the opinion makers from different walks of life in India and the US for a dispassionate, objective & mature discourse on issues of interest to India and the US and create greater understanding and appreciation of each other’s policies/decisions/stands and build bridges of friendship.
            While referring to the US Bill ofRights, the DCM at the American Embassy in New Delhi, Donald Du, stressed that though it provided several rights and freedoms, it must be borne in mind that the US Bill of Rights reflected it’s time; right to own weapons and right to shoot, for example, must have been very basic needs three hundred years back but seem incongruous today’s world.
               Don Lu underlined US –India links by mentioning the “Boston Tea Party” when in 1773 in British colony of Massachusetts,locals boycotted and threw ship load of tea( brought from India by the British East India Company) in the sea as a mark of their protest against the Tea Act passed by the British Parliament. This protest is considered a key development contributing to the growth of American Revolution.

               Veteran Advocate of the Supreme Court ,Subhash Kashyap concurred with the view that rights and freedoms provided by the Indian Constitution have, over the year, been eroded and diluted .In his view, the US Bill of Rights offers much wider rights and higher freedoms than the Indian Constitution.

         Former Indian Ambassador to USA, Dr Abid Hussain eloquently pointed out that the Framers of Indian Constitution were trying to incorporate three streams of thoughts while drafting various Articles & Schedules of the Constitution ie Hindutva reflecting the history ,culture and social norms of the Hindu majority of India, pluralism and secularism reflecting the bewildering diversity of India in terms of religions, beliefs, customs and traditions so essential for protecting the federal system of admn largely influenced by Mahatma Gandhi ,Nehru & Tagore and the modern outlook( liberty, equality, non-discrimination on the basis of caste ,creed, religion or gender, freedom of expression etc), for addressing future underling the vision of Nehru. The incorporation of these three streams has enabled the Constitution rather well, notwithstanding various amendments.

Chairman of the evening Soli Sorabjee stressed that no right or freedom provided for in the Indian Constitution is absolute; it can be suitably contained/curtailed for addressing issues such as public order, peace, harmony, decency, sovereignty, national integrity etc etc. He further added that the influence of the US Bill of rights is more visible on the provision of the Directive Principles of the Indian constitution which constitute the social and economic vision for the Govt .But he clarified that Dr BN Rao who was the Secretary of the Constitution Drafting committee had visited several countries such as USA, UK, Australia, Canada so he had picked up ideas from the Constitutions of these countries which were considered appropriate for India’s needs. He underlined that both the American Constitution and the Indian constitution include one common potent tool for protecting larger interests and checking the excesses of the Govt. of the day, it is the provision of Judicial Review Without which many rights and freedoms will remain on paper only.

A message from Pt Ravi Shankar

2010-11-28T10:40:00.001+05:30

Dear Surendra,

Thank you for your email. I was completely bowled over by your letter regarding the function ‘Ravi Shankar, 90 not out’, you are planning to hold through I.A.F.A, at the Islamic Centre New Delhi on July 2nd, 2010!!!
I feel embarrassed and honoured at the same time. I have had a warm relationship with most of the names of the participants you have mentioned. Please thank them all in advance for their time.

Music is the soul of India. It has always been my life as well.

I was initiated into music and dance from the age of 10, by my eldest brother, Uday Shankar, and started performing publically from the age of 11. He took my mother, my two other brothers, my uncle, cousin, a few musicians, and me from Varanasi to Paris in 1930, which became our home and H.Q. for almost 4 years.

My Guru Baba Allauddin Khan joined the troupe later in 1935 and travelled with us only in Europe for one whole year. Before that, apart from dancing I was strumming the sitar, sarod, tooting the flute, and banging the drums without much training. Baba A. started from day one teaching me song bandishes and the sitar, which he told me to concentrate solely upon. He came back to India after one year, which threw me back to the multi faceted patterns of life. It was not only the sitar and dance but also many attractions that life had to offer to a young person.

The imminent World War 1 was to start and when Dada disbanded the troupe, I came back to India in April 1938. That is when I decided to take a different turn of life, bidding adieu to the glittering fun life I was leading. Shaving my head, wearing course khadi kurta pyjama, with bare necessities in a tin trunk, I went straight to Maihar where my Guru Baba Allauddin lived. He was shocked to see the change in me, but he was pleased, too! Thus started almost 6 ½ years of rigorous studying and learning music in the ancient Gurukul System.

With Baba’s blessings and my good fortune, I became famous and was accepted as a sitar player and gradually as a composer in India. After almost 5 ½ years in the A.I.R. as Director of the Vadya Vrind from 1949 to 1954, I took my solo journey as a sitarist in the mid fifties. My dear friend Yehudi Menuhin was helpful in my initial tour, but gradually, because of my long association with my superstar elder brother Uday, from whom I had learned about showmanship, presentation, and stage etiquette, I was able to incorporate these positive traits into my performance. There was no language barrier as I was very fluent in English and also in French and I could explain our music and the various intricacies of Ragas and Talas.

Within almost two years, I was performing in the largest halls all over Europe and the Americas. I was lucky enough to achieve super stardom and success from day one!

George Harrison became my student in the mid sixties, which certainly opened up the biggest door in all the continents for me. George was one whom I loved very much as he was so deeply attracted to our music and the Vedic culture and traditions of India.
The young generation all over the world became my fans! They were all loving me not only for my music , but also treating me as a Messiah or Guru. I could have worn an orange robe as a Nada – Yoga Guru and become a billionaire if I wanted to, but I was strongly critical about their wrong approach to our music and religion, through drugs and way of life. So, many young people were offended and left me. But those who stayed are still there as genuine lovers of our music and the traditional culture of India.

I have loved many countries like France, England, and Japan of which I have several fond memories, but I deeply fell in love with the United States from my first visit there in 1932 with Dada Uday. The variety of people from all over the world, and their love for all types of music, dance, films, innovation, creation, and the spirit of freedom attracted me the most. Though my first home is New Delhi and I am a citizen of India, my other home is in Encinitas near San Diego, California, which I love.

Thanking you Surendra. I end here with a prayer that I live the rest of my life being fit & able to serve the muse.

Yours truly,

An aspirant to live till ‘101 All out’!

Ravi Shankar

22 June 2010

Ravi Shankar 90 Not Out- a Tribute to the legendary Sitar Maestro

2010-11-28T10:39:00.001+05:30

The Indo American Friendship Association, New Delhi organised a special event: Ravi Shankar 90 Not Out!!at the Islamic Cultural Centre, Lodhi Road New Delhi on Friday July 2nd 2010 to celebrate the 90th birthday of the legendary Sitar Maestro Pt Ravi Shankar. Dr Karan Singh, President ICCR & MP was the Chief Guest while Dr Abid Hussain Former Amb. to USA chaired the programme .Pt Birju Maharaj, renowned Kathak Maestro, Dr Sonal Mansingh an exponent of Bharatanatyam & Odissi dance, Amb.Lalit Mansingh, Amb to USA, HE Jerome Bonnafont Amb.of France, HE Thomas Matussek, Amb of Germany, Gurcharan Das ,bestselling author, Ruth Gee Dir of the British Council for India & Sri Lanka, Suresh Goel Dir Gen ICCR, Michael Pelletier Minister for Public Affairs at the US, Saswati Sen ,popular Kathak dancer & Amb.Surendra Kumar(R) were other members of the distinguished Panel who paid glowing tributes to the Sitar Maestro and commented on his achievements, contributio and legacy for the Next Gen. Saswati Sen, a senior disciple of Pt Birju Maharaj was the MC. The event attracted guests from different walks of Delhi’s social life included foreign Ambassadors, serving and retired civil servants/diplomats, and academics, Members of the IAFA and lovers and connoisseurs of Indian classical music. And the Maestro compensated for his absence by sending a special message on the occasion.

In his introductory remarks, Amb. Surendra Kumar, founding President of IAFA quoted Pandit Ravi Shanakr’s oft repeated line that music, for him, was above all , a Sadhna. He stressed that while Pandit ji opened the flood gates of Western countries to Indian classical music, he never shied Away from experimenting, and played with several Western Greats like Yehudi Menuhin, Ramphal and charmed the famed Beatles, particularly George Harrison who became a lifelong friend .But Ravi Shanakar’s ’s feet remained firmly planted in the centuries old traditions of Indian classical music. Kumar also drew attention to universal appeal of Ravi Ji and how his music fascinated a military dictator in Chile, charmed Queen Elizabeth II and her family and how his fans did not mind shelling out high price for tickets to be seated on the dais behind him just to experience that inexplicable joy of being in the same auditorium with the Maestro.

Peter Eisenhauer, Cultural attaché at the US Embassy narrated his personal experience of interaction with Ravi Shankar when he visited him at Ravi Shankar Institute of Performing Arts in Chanakyapuri along with some Jazz singers from USA.
Suresh Goel, Dir Gen ,ICCR asserted that Ravi Shanakr’s role in popularising Indian Classical music abroad has been path breaking and pioneering .

Admitting that he was an unabashed admirer of Pt Ravi Shanakr, Amb Mansingh listed five factors which led to the evolution of the legend called Ravi shanakr: unique talent, opportunity to have a guru Like Ustad Aluddin Khan and to learn with the likes of Ustad Ali Akbar, exposure and experience which he received while travelling with his famous brother Udai Shankar, irresistible charisma, exceptional ability to articulate and explain the intricacies of classical music in simple and intelligible manner and abundance of luck which included   having found Sukanya and Anoushka!!

Gurcharn Das recounted how he met Ravi Shanakr in New York some 40 years back and how he had requested Pandit ji to compose music for his play called Meera.

Maharaja Gajsingh of Jodhpur pointed out how his family has known Ravi Shankar for decades and how deeply he admired his music. He also complimented Anoushka who was emerging as a worthy heir of her illustrious father.

Thomas Matussek stressed that in the post Second World War Germany where Bache and Beethoven were the daily diet for lovers of classical music, Ravi Shanakr offered a new genre so different still fascinating. He added that he has always enjoyed listening to Ravi Shanakr’s concerts whether in Delhi or New York or Berlin/Bonn or Geneva.

Jerome Bonnafont pointed out that France has conferred the two highest honours on Pt Ravi Shankar for his contribution to the world of music .The French Amb. Mentioned that Ravi ji has had three love affairs with France: in early 50s when he lived there with his brother, in 60s & 70s when he was riding the crest of his popularity and now when his daughter Anoushka was winning hearts in France. He revealed that it was quite common to hear Ravi Shankar’s music on the cruise on river Seine in the evening.

Ruth Gee stressed the deep and strong links which Ravi Shankar has enjoyed with UK and British Musicians for many years and how he has become a household name .Since the album, east meets west in 60s till the present day, Pt Ravi Shanakr has collaborated with several western musicians. Most recently he presented a symphony with London Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Festival Hall on the Thames.
Pt Birju Maharaj recounted his days in 50s when Pandit ji used to live at Phiroz Shah Road and they used to interact; Sometimes Maharaj ji played tabla for Ravi ji. According to Birju Maharaj, Ravi Shankr displays a certain degree of diwanapan (passion) for music which explain his creativity even at this advanced age.

Dr Sonal Mansingh, while extolling Ravi Shanakr’s enormous contribution mentioned that he was a sort of Gandharva in human form whose feet were planted in the ground but head was soaring to skies.


Dr Karan Singh traced links between him and Pt Ravi Shankar going back to half a century and confessed that he misses the fascinating music which Ravi ji created when he used to direct the orchestra at the AIR. He underlined the spiritual aspect of Pandit ji’s music and how he plays for the Creator rather than for the audience before him. He combines the three great elements: satyam shivam and sundaram in his music.
Summing up, the chairman, Dr Abid Hussain stressed that many people may have gyan (Knowledge) but only vidwan(wise man) raises the level of gyan to higher level and disseminates it for the benefit of millions. That’s what RAVI SHANKAR HAS been doing for years. He has raised the music to a higher level and spread it’s message all over the world and affected lives of millions of people; for his matchless services, the whole country owes him deep gratitude and thanks.

The session of tributes was followed by Sitar recital by Shubhendrarao, one Pandit Ravi Shankr’s most talented disciples and Bharatanatyam dance recital by Neha Bhatnagar, a disciple of Dr Saroja Vaidyanathan.

The commemorative event dedicated to Pt Ravi Shankar was supported by the ICCR.

Future of India-US Relations

2010-11-28T10:38:00.000+05:30

(Summary of the talk by Nicholas Burns formerly US Under Secretary of State and Dr. Shashi Tharoor, Formerly MOS (EA) organized by Aspen Institute, India, July 22, 2010)

Many world leaders and political commentators have spoken about the emergence of India as a major global player in the 21st century .The US too has stressed the importance of a strategic relationship with India. This was the topic of a talk organized by the ASPEN Institute, India on the 22nd of July at the WWF hall on Lodhi Road, New Delhi, India. The talk featured Nicholas Burns, the former Under-Secretary of State in the Bush Administration and Dr. Shashi Tharoor, former MOS (EA) & currently Member of Parliament.

After a brief introduction by Tarun Das, formerly Mentor of the CII, Nicholas Burns broadly touched upon the visible progress achieved in Indo-US relations in the last ten years or so.Acoording to Burns, most Americans now consider and believe India to be the next Global Superpower and stressed the bipartisan realization by both the Republicans and Democrats that relations with India are of paramount importance. As he lightly put it, “there are very few things that they agree on [Republicans and Democrats], but this relationship with India is one on which they are in complete agreement. He noted that people to people contacts were a major reason for the positive change in Indo-US relations. He also acknowledged the significant role played by the Indian American community which has emerged as one of the most successful communities in terms of per capita GDP in America. As he put it, “[Indian Americans] are unusually successful”.

He highlighted the Civil Nuclear Agreement as an example of the progress India and America had made in their strategic relationship under the presidency of George W Bush. To allay the concerns that many Indians have voiced in recent times, he stated that President Barrack Obama considers India to be a “strategic priority” and this was reflected by his invitation to the Indian PM, Dr Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to be his first Official State Guest in November of 2009.

As for the future of the relationship, Nicholas Burns felt that there ought to be a strong impetus from both sides to define the strategic partnership and agree on what it entails. He went on to add that India is too big and too proud a country to be categorized as an ally or an uneasy partner. He was of the opinion that India should recognize her role as a growing global power which has ambitions to become a Permanent Member of the United Nations Security Council. Personally, he believed that India should be a permanent member of the UNSC.
Finally, Burns noted that both countries need to be bold in defining and carrying forward this relationship. He called it a “unique relationship” and stated that there is no existing model that can be copied for framing this relationship. He hoped the relationship between India and the US will witness “major steps forward” rather than incremental changes.

Dr. Shashi Tharoor who spoke after Nicholas Burns agreed with most of what the former Under Secretary had said and complimented him:“Nicholas Burn’s remarks are spot on”. He stressed that the Indian Diaspora is India’s biggest asset and that these people have the clout to advance India’s interests in the US. He added that even the American Political Class has taken notice of the incredible “fund raising prowess” of the Indian American Community. Tharoor felt that this community is probably second only to the Jewish American Community when it comes to lobbying for their interests. While not dismissing Nicholas Burns’s rather   rosy picture, Dr. Tharoor drew attention to some problem areas. He stated that, regrettably, India continues to be still seen through the prism of other relationships. He noted that Indians do not agree with the sentiment doing the rounds in the US that India could potentially be used as a “counter weight” to China. Besides,, the ongoing close cooperation between the Defence Establishments of the US and Pakistan raises concerns in India and leads to the belief that the US values Pakistan as a closer ally.

Dr Tharoor went on to state that India has always been independent in her decision making and will continue to make autonomous decisions. He highlighted certain points that India and the US should concentrate on:

   1. Preserve the Global System
   2. Decrease terrorism and maintain Global Peace and Security
   3. Maintain and enhance free trade as well as spread globalization
   4. Maintain democracy and pluralism

However, the former MOS (EA) emphasized that democracy should not be “thrust” upon other countries as the US has been doing recently. He alluded to democracy as love and said that “it should come from within.”

He agreed with Nicholas Burns that India deserves a seat in the UNSC and that there should be meaningful reform in the UNSC to keep pace with the new dynamics in the world.

DRIVING ENGINES OF INDIA-US RELATIONS IN THE DECDE AHEAD

2010-11-28T10:36:00.001+05:30

The second event of the recently launched Indo-American Friendship Association, New Delhi, a brainstorming session on: DRIVING ENGINES OF INDIA-US RELATIONS IN THE DECDE AHEAD was held at Tagore hall, Scope Convention Centre on April 30. The distinguished Panel including kanwal Sibal former Amb to Russia and former FS, Bestselling author Gurcharan Das, fire brand journalist Seema Mustafa, respected academic Prof Amitabh Mattoo, Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi Dr Ashok Vajpeyi & Minister Political Affairs US Embsaay, Uzra Zeya was Chaired by Amb.Llait Mansingh, Former FS & Amb to USA. (Prof Mattoo & Dr Vajpeyi became the victims of traffic jam and couldn’t make it in time).
In his introductory remarks, Ambassador Surendra Kumar, Founding President of IAFA urged the panelists not to carry the baggage of the past and remain stuck in the present but with deep understanding, appreciation & incisive analysis of International affairs, and with a “cool” and clear head, identify the factors which are likely to shape the relationship between India & the US in the decade ahead.

The Chairman Amb. Lalit Mansingh complimented Amb. Kumar for setting up the Assn with so much of enthusiasm & dynamism and claimed that Indo-American Relations have never been better. The facts that the US still remains India’s largest trading partner and President Obama Dr Manmohan Singh have met six times in the past one year and new development that, for the first time, Indian companies have invested more in the US than other way around were cited as the evidence of this claim. However, he wondered why many Indians as well as Americans feel that the relations between the oldest and the largest democracies aren’t as good as they can be. Is it a case of “hypochondria” or is it actually true, asked Amb. Mansingh.

Kanwal Sibal, felt that driving engines suggested a movement forward and had no doubt in his mind that economic stakes will be the most potent driving engine. However he added, the US is a “very demanding partner” and India’s democratic set up slows down the decision making process and makes it difficult to keep up with the pace. According to him, the US can help India in agriculture field, R &D, infrastructure and knowledge fusion. “Defence” offered significant prospects of co-operation/collaboration Sibal stressed. He was of the opinion that rich and influential Indian American community will continue to have considerable impact on Political relations between India and the US.

Seema Mustafa termed herself as an “odd ball” in the discussion. She felt, the problem was not with bilateral relations but with the so called “strategic partnership”. She flagged three points: the Indo-US Civil Nuclear Agreement Deal was not really a “jewel” in our relations’ crown, but an “elephant in the room” now. The Nuclear Liability Bill is yet not passed in the Parliament as it levies way too few sanctions on the suppliers. The onus of negligence is quite unfair. India is feeling the heat on the CTBT too. Is there a congruent foreign policy? Why did India ditch its long time friend Iran at the IAEA voting stage? Thirdly, Pakistan is a strategic ally of the US and so we are made to settle with half-hearted arguments on Hafiz Saeed, Mumbai attacks and Afghanistan!

Gurcharan Das, underlined the need of clarity for achieving our own national interest vis a vis the US. He believed that the NAM had failed and India had lost its footing on the world stage. But with restored self-confidence, thanks to India’s economic growth in the last 20 years, India- US relations are on a much better footing today than earlier. Gurcharan advised unsentimental pursuit our own national interests. Claiming that he felt threatened by China and Pakistan but not the US Gurcharan maintained that George W. Bush saw India with clarity which is missing in Obama Admn; the de-hyphenation of earlier years has again become hyphenated for India-Pakistan relations in Obama Admn’s view. For real strategic partnership to materialize, our relationship should be based on mutual respect, empathy and honour. The US will prosper in coming years too as, unlike Europe and Japan; it has a high immigrant strength, higher education resources and strong innovation capacities. So, it will be in India’s long term interests to have matured & productive relationship with the US.

Uzra Zeya, Minister of Political Affairs, at the US embassy, Delhi stressed on Economic relations to act as a major driving force to shape Indo American relationship in the decade ahead. She hoped that India would, in near future, rise to become the 5th largest trading partner of the US from it’s current 14th place. She listed defense and Education as other major and expanding areas of bilateral cooperation. She pointed out that the No of Indian students going to USA having reached nearly one hundred thousand, India has now, overtaken China. She also underlined that there has been 20% increase in American students to India adding a new dimension to educational co-operation. Uzra was at pains to emphasize that the present Indo-American relationship did not merely offer photo-ops during high profile visits of dignitaries, it was for real. The sheer range, level, nature and frequency of exchanges between the two countries in numerous areas were unprecedented. Above all, the American diplomat underlined, India and US are “working together to confront the greatest challenges of our age” ie International terrorism.
The Q&A session threw a whole range of tough questions which suggested that the US wasn’t a reliable friend, America’s relations with China & Pakistan will impinge on India’s Defence strategy, Russia was a more dependent partner, the US strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan didn’t serve India’s interests etc. The Panel felt that all countries pursue their national interests and the same was true about India; she is pursuing her relationship with Russia and the US and these were not exclusive of each other. Kanwal Sibal said that the record of the last half century will indicate Russia (earlier Soviet Union) has been ready to help though their technology might be somewhat old and dated, hence more reliable.. He also felt India shouldn’t be tom toming her Strategic relationships with all and sundry as it serves no purpose.
Gurcharan Das felt that with her economy slated to grow at 8% or more, population growth likely to decline to 1.5 % and her demographic dividend, India will be a force to reckon by 2020.

The brainstorming session ended with a Vote of Thanks by the Master of Ceremonies, and the Joint Secretary of the IAFA, Ms. Nehha Bhatnagar.

Indo-American Friendship Association - The Launch

2010-11-28T10:35:00.003+05:30

Indo-American Friendship Association, New Delhi was formally launched at Kamal Mahal ITC Maurya on March 15th.Dr Shashi Tharoor, Minister of State for External Affairs was the Chief Guest.

In his introductory remarks, Amb. Surendra Kumar, Founding President of the Assn, formerly Secretary MEA & Dean, Foreign Service Institute clarified that IAFA was not formed at the behest of the MEA nor was it funded by the Govt of India. It was his personal initiative supported by likeminded individuals who felt strongly that India and the US, the largest and the oldest democracies should have much warmer and far closer relations than they have enjoyed so far .He also dispelled emphatically any suggestion that the Assn might be looking for handouts from the American Embassy; it wasn’t. Turning to the DCM of the American Embassy, Steven white, seated on the dais Amb Kumar stressed that he could vouch for this. Kumar however added that in its endeavours, the Friendship Assn will work constructively and productively with the Govt of India and the American Embassy in Delhi.

Amb. Kumar underlined that IAFA would aspire to be a catalyst for warmer and closer relations between the peoples of India and the US and thus promote, expand, deepen and strengthen friendship between the oldest democracy and the largest democracy. To pursue this simple and laudable objective, it will harness, channelize and make use of huge reservoir of soft power resources available in the two countries. He stressed that IAFA would not duplicate what is already being done by the organisations like FICCI, CII, ASSOCHAM & India-US Business Council or Govt. Depts/Agencies in the two countries.

It will provide a platform for academics, scholars, writers, poets thinkers, musicians, dancers, painters, film directors and actors, photographers, theatre and sports personalities, media reps, leading public figures and other opinion makers in the two countries to connect, interact, network, exchange views, co-operate, collaborate with each other to create greater understanding and appreciation of each other’s point of view thus generating goodwill and friendship.

Its endeavours will include organising talks, discussions, brainstorming sessions, seminars, symposiums, art exhibitions, performances by acclaimed artists from different spheres, film screening, book reading, fashion shows, sports meets lectures and conclaves and much more..........

It is a non profit, non-political, non-religious, non-sectarian and non-commercial organisation whose sole objectives is to stress on points of convergence and commonality, points which bind and connect rather than those which divide and antagonise and help enlarge horizon of friendship and understanding between India and the US.

Speaking on the same occasion, Steven J.White, DCM at the American Embassy referred to the unprecedented interaction which, at present, takes place between India and the US at official and non-official levels, especially among academics, scholars, students, scientists and businessmen. While welcoming this initiative Steven white revealed that Amb. Surendra Kumar who had founded a similar Friendship Association in Chicago while serving as India’s Consul General in 2002 has been toying with the idea for more than a year and assured all possible co-operation from his Embassy in Assn’s endeavours.

Delivering his keynote remarks MOS(EA) Dr Tharoor emphasised how multi-dimensional, multi-layered relations between India and the US have been transformed in the last one decade culminating in the signing of the Civil Nuclear Energy Agreement. He also referred to ongoing co-operation in the field of Defence and superior technologies including Space Research. He acknowledged the significance of people to contacts which such Friendship Assns can promote. These expanded contacts can be leveraged and synergised for deepening understanding and appreciation of India-American relations in the globalised world of today, he felt. He also mentioned the significant role played by the Indian Americans many of whom hold key posts in the US Govt, many MNCs and even in NASA and Indian American Community Associations like AAPI. He complimented Surendra Kumar for his initiative and expressed hope that IAFA will succeed in creating a distinct niche for itself by its activities and will have a positive impact on India-US Relations.

The event was also attended among others by Bharatnatyam and Odissi dance Exponent Dr Sonal Mansingh, Chairman of Lalit Kala Akademi Dr Ashok Vajpeyi, Director of Gallery of Modern Arts Prof Rajeev Lochan, renowned English poet Keki Daruwalla, former Home Secretary K.Padmanabhaiah, Chairman of INTACH Sk Misra, popular Kathak Dancer Shovana Narayan, Bharatnatyam and Manipuri dancer Sharon Lowen, Sunit Tandon Director Indian Institute of Mass communication,sirajudin Qureshi Chairman of India Islamic culture Centre. Former UN Force Commander in Eritrea & former Dir Gen of Infantry General Rajender Singh, Poonam Muttreja Country Dir of MacArthur Foundation, and Deepak Maheshwari of Microsoft, T Basu of Ernest & Young, Col N.Kumar Chairman Winter Game’s commission & BS Suri of Sports Authority of India were also present.

Christine Matovich Singh, hailing from the family of Dilip Singh Sond of California, the only person of Indian origin to be a Congressman in the US, a well-known American Opera singer who has performed in Slumdog Millionaire enthralled the guests with her full throttled rendition of songs including one sung by Judy Garland in 1930s.Ustad Murad Ali played Sarangi. The launch was co-hosted by ITC Maurya.

Photo Gallery: http://picasaweb.google.com/iafaonline.com/IndoAmericanFriendshipAssociationTheLaunch

India-US Relations- A Global Perspective

2010-11-28T10:32:00.000+05:30

Address by Dr. Shashi Tharoor, MOS for External Affairs New Delhi: 15 March 2010

Our relationship with the United States of America is anchored in a shared vision of the two countries to play a leading role in global affairs. Democracy, shared values of freedom, free enterprise, multi-cultural societies and strong economic and technological complementarities bring the two nations together as natural partners. The significance of India and the US working together in charting a secured and prosperous future for the peoples of the two countries, and for the global community in equal measure, has led to a transformation in our bilateral ties with the US in recent years. The historic India-US Civil Nuclear Cooperation Agreement is symbolic of the deep mutual trust and understanding that we share with the U.S. today and the distance the two countries have travelled in a short time in their Strategic Partnership. The agreement, though a bilateral compact, has been of international import. It has transformed the global landscape of cooperation in nuclear energy for peaceful purposes among international partners. Similarly, our cooperation with the US in the field of Space has resulted in path breaking human achievements. The discovery of water molecules and a new rock type on the surface of the Moon, an accomplishment of our Space mission Chandrayaan, in collaboration with the two US instruments on board the Spaceship, is a feat which makes us all proud as inhabitants of this planet.

PM’s State Visit to Washington

3. Our Prime Minister visited Washington in November 2009; on what was the first state visit of President Obama. The visit generated a strong political understanding between the two countries to consolidate and strengthen bilateral ties in the existing and new areas of cooperation. President Obama stated that India-US relationship was “one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century”, and spoke of India being “indispensable” for the building of a future of security and prosperity for all nations. These statements are strong political templates that would guide India-US global partnership in the coming years.

People to People Contacts and India-US Relationship

4. One of the defining features of India-US relations is the strong people to people ties that exist between the two countries. There are approximately 3 million people of Indian origin and Indians living in the US. The number of Americans visiting or working in India has gone up substantially in recent years. Owing to the constant interaction between the two societies, there is far greater understanding and appreciation of each others’ culture, politics and way of life. The earliest Americans to come to India were the traders from Massachusetts who off loaded North American ice on the shore of Madras. The enterprise of Satyananda Stokes, whose given name was Samuel Evan Stokes, an American missionary who arrived in Shimla in1904, introduced apple orchards of American Delicious variety in Himachal Pradesh. His visionary effort soon transformed the economy of the Shimla hills. Today, the stream of American travellers to India are business executives, scientists, innovators, engineers, Congressmen, officials, artists, and sportspersons among others. Every section of American society, from Palo Alto to New York, is engaged with India. Likewise, the movement of people from India to the US is equally varied. The imperatives of a global economic order based on innovation, technology and economies of scale has been a catalyst to this intermingling of the New and the Old “melting pots”.

5. People to people relations have made a unique contribution to this bilateral relationship. Much before our leaders envisioned giving a new beginning to the India-US political relations, a strong engagement between the two societies was already flourishing. The shared multicultural experience underpinning the social fabric in the two countries made it easier for them to comprehend each other. This popular understanding provided the perfect platform for the two democracies to enter into a transformed relationship. The value and contribution of the popular relations between the two countries in the betterment of bilateral ties came to be increasingly recognised since the early nineties, a time when our IT revolutionaries set out to chart a new course for India-US technology and economic partnership; one of the most defining years of India-US non-state relations. Our economic reforms unleashed the potential that India had. The US Government and Strategic thinkers started reaching out to India. Time had come for the two countries to engage on strategic matters. The 123 Agreement was a logical culmination of the process.

6. Indian diaspora in the US has played a critical role in promotion of India-US relations. Indians have increasingly become politically active there and have established platforms to further India-US interests. Organisations of Indian professionals in the US such as those of doctors, engineers and entrepreneurs have made special efforts to lend a helping hand in partnering India’s development.

7. While Indian diaspora is present in every nook and corner of the world, what makes those present in the US standout as a group is their highly qualified nature. Indians along with other Asians have one of the highest educational qualifications of all ethnic groups in the US. According to the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin, there are close to 35000 Indian-American doctors in the US. The Indian community in the US is also one of the highest earning segments of the US society. [highest median income of any ethnic group]. The Indian diaspora has made a mark for itself in the US, a contribution well recognised by our American friends.

Friendship Association

8. Friendship associations play an important role in promoting diplomatic relations between countries. They provide a valuable channel to synergise people to people relations for global goodwill, peace and harmony. In a fast paced interconnected world we see increasing role for non-state actors in promoting international relations. There are several India-US friendship groups in the US and India, who are doing commendable work to promote healthy relations between the two countries. The initiative – Indo-American Friendship Association - that we are here to launch today would be a further step in that direction. I wish Indo-American Friendship Association the very best in its endeavours to work for the betterment of Indian–US relations.