Washington: US President Barack Obama has
greeted people of India on the occasion of the country`s 62nd
Independence Day, saying that a vibrant and promising India has
a natural friend in the United States.
"India has attained unprecedented milestones as its
democracy has matured. Boasting a vast diversity of
ethnicities and languages, India constitutes the largest
democratic union the world has ever known," Obama said in his
message.
The President said, "This vibrant and promising India
has a natural friend in the United States. Our people are
bound by common values and ideals, and Indian-Americans
contribute to all aspects of American life."
In an unusually long one-page message personally signed
by him on August 12, Obama noted that the fate of the two
countries was tied by the interconnected nature of the world
and a shared vision of peace, prosperity and respect for human
rights.
Highly impressed by its economic growth, Obama said
economically India was forging a new path. Fulfilling the
promise of internationally competitive institutes of higher
education, Indian professionals are leading their nation into
a new phase of growth.
"From Bangalore to Boston; Indian scientists, engineers
and thinkers are generating ideas and prosperity that improve
and save lives across India and the globe," Obama said.
In his message, Obama echoed words of the first Indian
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru`s historic speech "tryst with
destiny," mentioned 1857 war of independence, the freedom
movement under Mahatma Gandhi and the country`s all-round
development after independence, be it economy, science or
polity.
The President said, "Indian politics have given voice
to women and countless minorities, and have demonstrated that
Indians stand unifies in their commitment to human dignity."
Obama said he was also impressed by the country`s
entertainment industry as its members were marking their
presence globally.
"Bollywood and Hollywood, Indians contribute to films
that captivate audiences in every corner of the world," he
said adding that millions were being lifted out of poverty and
were carrying the hope for a bright future as the Indian
economy continued along a promising road.
"Marking Indian Independence Day, the United States and
its people celebrate the realisation of the vision of Prime
Minister Nehru described and the bright future it continues to
portend for the people of India," Obama said.
The message sent to the Indian government starts with
reference to Pandit Nehru. "As Indians stood ready to claim
their own fate on August 15, 1947, Prime Minister Nehru
declared that a `tryst with destiny,` forged years ago, would
finally be fulfilled."
Bureau Report
