Indra’s Drishtikona (Viewpoint)

Bush at Asia Society

Posted : February 26, 2006 at 5:59 am [IST]

Last week, while I was in Salt Lake, I listened to some part of President Bush address at Asia society on News Cannels. I didn’t like his starting with putting Pakistan and India together initially. But that must be his political compulsion that perhaps is called diplomacy.

He started, “More than five centuries ago, Christopher Columbus set out for India and proved the world was round. Now some look at India’s growing economy and say that that proves that the world is flat. (Laughter.)”, and continued, “India is the world’s largest democracy. It is home to more than a billion people — that’s more than three times the population of the United States. Like our own country, India has many different ethnic groups and religious traditions. India has a Hindu majority, and about 150 million Muslims in that country. That’s more than in any other country except Indonesia and Pakistan. India’s government reflects its diversity. India has a Muslim president and a Sikh prime minister… India is a good example of how freedom can help different people live together in peace. And this commitment to secular government and religious pluralism makes India a natural partner for the United States. The United States and India are cooperating in five broad areas. First, the United States and India are working together to defeat the threat of terrorism… Secondly, the United States and India are working together to support democracy around the world… Third, the United States and India are working together to promote global prosperity through free and fair trade… Fourth, the United States and India are working together to improve human health and the environment, and address the issue of climate change… Fifth, the United States and India will work together to help India meet its energy needs in a practical and responsible way. ……”

The address is available in full, both in print as well as video. I wish those interested in India’s improving relations with US and its necessity for both the countries must read and hear this. I had requested Anand, my son to help me locating the speech and he promised to do that. But he was very busy in very important things of life, which if I would have known earlier I would not have made my request at all. He had been my inspiration for keeping on blogging. Let God give them the best He can.

However, let me tell the complete the story. At Salt Lake, I was connected to world of Internet with help of my reliance mobile and that was pretty costly. So I couldn’t locate the speech. Here I have been able to do that. As I liked the speech a lot, I am blogging about.

- Indra

Category: Government Policy/Administration |