US assistant secy Nisha Desai Biswal praises strong ties with India; to deepen relationship

BENGALURU: With just 10 days to go for US President Barack Obama stepping down from his post, assistant secretary of state (South and Central Asian affairs) Nisha Desai Biswal explained the secret of his friendship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi that has often puzzled pundits in both countries.

Biswal, 48, a person of Indian origin, said in her acceptance speech after getting the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman from President Pranab Mukherjee at the valedictory event of the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bengaluru: “Seeds for the chemistry between Barack Obama and Narendra Modi were sown much earlier. Obama had the cultural influences of his Indian-origin roommate in college, while Modi, as a young boy , travelled across the towns and cities of the USA. It led to a truly global partnership.“

Modi has visited the US twice since he became PM and was given a warm welcome by Obama in the White House on both occasions. Obama also honoured Modi's invitation and participated in the Republic Day parade in New Delhi in January 2015.

Biswal, speaking on behalf of 30 awardees of very diverse backgrounds that included one PM, four MPs and people working in community service, medicine, arts and culture and business, also outlined her own efforts at improving the India-US relationship during the Obama administration. “I have sought to deepen the ties. I have kept the interests of my country, US and also worked for India. The wonderful thing is that the interests of two countries converge. Both believe in freedom, democ racy, tolerance and pluralism. In the laws that govern our countries, etched in our very souls,“ she said Diwali is celebrated in every state in the US as well as the White House, while new Green Card holders could put the stamp representing this festival on their cards, she said. “It has become part of the cultural life and of the rich American tapestry. The story of the Indian immigrants is the story of America itself independent, industri ous and ambitious. Top companies like Google, Microsoft, Pepsi now have IndianAmerican CEOs,“ she said.

PM Antonio Luis Santos da Costa of Portugal, Priti Patel and Neena Gill of UK, Winston Chandarbhan Dookeran of Trinidad and Tobago, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth of Mauritius, were given the award.

President Mukherjee echoed the pluralism mantra that Biswal spoke of and exhorted NRIs and PIOs to be emissaries of the Indian growth story.

“Our NRIs are working all over the world and reflect Vasudaiva Kutumbakam. We are a country of 200 daily languages in use, 1,600 dialects, seven religions, three ethnic groups under one system, one constitution and one flag. I exhort and urge you to take part in this great and amazing story,“ he said.

The President also praised Modi's initiative to provide skills training for youths planning to go abroad and the programme to fund scientific research by persons of Indian origin (PIO). Further, he congratulated the ministry of external affairs for releasing a book of Modi's speeches that outlined India's foreign policy in 2014 and 15.