US secretary of state Hillary Clinton’s visit to the Taj Hotel in Mumbai on Saturday was more than a symbolic gesture. She interacted with the staff of the Taj, and the adjoining Trident-Oberoi hotel, who survived last year’s 26/11 terrorist attack. Taj’s general manager, who lost his wife and two children in the attack, introduced the staff, and then arranged breakfast for the visiting dignitary. See here…
Now on a five-day India trip, why Clinton won’t stop in Pakistan? asks The Christian Science Monitor, and then explains: “The breadth of the events she will attend and groups she will meet Saturday and Sunday in Mumbai – India’s business capital – suggests a desire to demonstrate to Indians that the new US administration envisions a partnership that transcends regional conflicts and acknowledges India’s role in addressing global issues.
(On her first visit to India as America’s chief diplomat, Hillary spent the night in the tower wing of the Taj Mahal Hotel in an act of solidarity with the victims of the Mumbai terror attack of November 26 last, reports DNA. See here…)
The Christian Science Monitor continues:” ‘The President and Secretary Clinton both see India as a really important partner for us, not only in addressing bilateral issues, but also in … working with us to shape the world of the 21st century,’ says Robert Blake, assistant secretary for South and Central Asian affairs.
“On Monday, Clinton and India’s External Affairs Minister SM Krishna will announce deeper cooperation in everything from military exercises to women’s issues, Mr. Blake says, adding that the US aims for ‘broader engagement … on some of the big global challenges’ such as climate change and nuclear nonproliferation.
“The Obama administration’s relations with India – what Clinton calls ‘India 3.0,’ after the strides made by Mr. Clinton and Bush – will face three immediate tests: nuclear proliferation, climate change, and international trade.
“On nuclear cooperation, the Indian government is expected to use Clinton’s visit to announce two sites for US companies to build nuclear power plants – a deal worth up to $10 billion.” More here…
Does US road to better relations with Iran pass through India? asks Howard LaFranchi, Staff writer of The Christian Science Monitor.
Says LaFranchi: “Specifically, some in Congress see India as a key enabler of the Iranian regime – Indian exporters provide about 40 percent of the gasoline that keeps Iran moving – and are proposing measures targeting those Indian exporters but designed to hit the Iranian economy.
“But at the same time, President Obama’s preference for diplomacy over confrontation to address differences with Tehran, especially concerning its advancing nuclear program, earns the Obama administration high points in New Delhi.
“In particular, some diplomatic experts say that, if Mr. Obama’s invitation to dialogue is ever accepted by Tehran, India could act as a trusted facilitator by both sides – and especially in the eyes of a range of policymakers in Washington, since India has also developed strong security ties with Israel.” More here…
During her visit to the 140-year-old St Xavier’s College in Mumbai, Hillary interacted with the audience and offered a glimpse of her role as a parent to daughter Chelsea, now 29. See here…
“Impressed” as she is with Indian women, visiting US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Saturday renewed her association with the
artisans of the Self Employed Women Association (SEWA), a group she first came into contact with 14 years ago when she was America’s first lady, reports The Times of India.
The new US ambassador to India, Timothy John Tim Roemer arrived here Thursday night, a day before Secretary of State Hillary Clinton begins her five-day India visit. More here…
See my earlier post on US ambassador to India, Timothy John “Tim” Roemer, here…
Here is the US embassy’s photo gallery of Hillary Clinton’s visit to Mumbai…please click here…
Photo above courtesy Rajanish Kakade/AP
Swaraaj Chauhan describes his two-decade-long stint as a full-time journalist as eventful, purposeful, and full of joy and excitement. In 1993 he could foresee a different work culture appearing on the horizon, and decided to devote full time to teaching journalism (also, partly, with a desire to give back to the community from where he had enriched himself so much.)
Alongside, he worked for about a year in 1993 for the US State Department’s SPAN magazine, a nearly five-decade-old art and culture monthly magazine promoting US-India relations. It gave him an excellent opportunity to learn about things American, plus the pleasure of playing tennis in the lavish American embassy compound in the heart of New Delhi.
In !995 he joined WWF-India as a full-time media and environment education consultant and worked there for five years travelling a great deal, including to Husum in Germany as a part of the international team to formulate WWF’s Eco-tourism policy.
He taught journalism to honors students in a college affiliated to the University of Delhi, as also at the prestigious Indian Institute of Mass Communication where he lectured on “Development Journalism” to mid-career journalists/Information officers from the SAARC, African, East European and Latin American countries, for eight years.
In 2004 the BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST) selected him as a Trainer/Mentor for India under a European Union project. In 2008/09 He completed another European Union-funded project for the BBC WST related to Disaster Management and media coverage in two eastern States in India — West Bengal and Orissa.
Last year, he spent a couple of months in Australia and enjoyed trekking, and also taught for a while at the University of South Australia.
Recently, he was appointed as a Member of the Board of Studies at Chitkara University in Chandigarh, a beautiful city in North India designed by the famous Swiss/French architect Le Corbusier. He also teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students there.
He loves trekking, especially in the hills, and never misses an opportunity to play a game of tennis. The Western and Indian classical music are always within his reach for instant relaxation.
And last, but not least, is his firm belief in the power of the positive thought to heal oneself and others.