By Arun Kumar, IANS,
Washington: US President Barack Obama said Wednesday their shared beliefs in the potential and dignity of every human being had led the US and India to make their relationship one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.
“As we go forward together, the enduring lessons of this Republic Day can inspire us to seek a future of greater prosperity and opportunity for both our peoples,” Obama said in a message greeting the people of India on the country’s 62nd Republic Day.
“On behalf of the American people, I send my best wishes to the people of India and to those here in the US and around the world who are celebrating India’s Republic Day,” the White House quoted the president as saying.
“Michelle and I were honoured to visit India in November as India marked the 60th year of its democratic constitution,” Obama said.
“As I said then, the US and India are not only the world’s two largest democracies, we are two pluralistic societies that believe in the potential and dignity of every human being.”
“These are the beliefs that inspire the nearly three million Americans who can trace their roots to India – and all of whom enrich our society.”
“And they are the beliefs that have led Prime Minister (Manmohan) Singh and I to make the US-India relationship one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century.”
“As we go forward together, the enduring lessons of this Republic Day can inspire us to seek a future of greater prosperity and opportunity for both our peoples,” Obama said.
The Indian community in the US celebrated the Republic Day with Ambassador Meera Shankar unfurling the national flag at a colourful function at the Indian embassy here on a wet chilly day.
After hoisting the flag in front of the embassy, covered with a thin spread of overnight snow, Shankar read out President Pratibha Patil’s message. About 200 members of the community joined in the celebrations.
Similar flag hoisting ceremonies were also held at Indian consulates in New York, San Francisco, Chicago and Houston.
Shankar is also hosting a reception at her residence Wednesday evening.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at [email protected] )