Roaming Roemer

Congratulations to India’s cricket team for their fantastic and exciting cricket world cup championship!
Much like India itself, the team displayed great talent, balance, and resiliency in winning the cup for the first time since 1983. What a great day for the unbelievable and talented Sachin Tendulkar, and for the 1.2 billion Indian fans, who cheered them on and prayed for them.

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Congratulating India on its Cricket World Cup victory

Congratulations to India on their fantastic victory last night against Pakistan! For eight hours, millions of viewers sat on the edge of their seat watching the peaks and valleys of the match, and there were many of those. From Sehwag’s great start to the nine lives of Sachin Tendulkar to Raina’s late rally to the final wicket, the match was entertaining and tense as the outcome was uncertain. India looked sharp in the field and their fielding was superb as they rose to the occasion of the big match. Pakistan played extremely well throughout the tournament, exceeding most expectations. One more to go for India’s first world cup since 1983. Saturday’s match against Sri Lanka in Mumbai should be memorable and a great tribute to the high caliber of cricket played in South Asia. The pressure will only be exceeded by the anticipation and excitement of the match. Good luck to India. May they bring home the world cup!!

Sports are a big part of American culture. Baseball is our national pastime, football is the most popular these days, and in my home state of Indiana, wherever you look, on a farm or in a driveway, you see a basketball court. Yet with all the excitement of today’s World Cup cricket match between India and Pakistan, approximately 1.5 billion people will be mesmerized by the match! I am confident that the great Sachin Tendulkar will have a great game. Will Yuvraj Singh continue his amazing batting? Will the Indian bowlers and defense rise to the occasion? Can Raina be clutch again in the big moments? All these questions and more will be decided today in what promises to be an exciting match. Walking around the Embassy, all everyone wanted to talk about was today’s match. The anticipation is so high that we will show the match live for all our employees at the Embassy auditorium and have arranged for it to be broadcast on our computers. India has never lost an international cricket world cup match to Pakistan.

Congratulating India, Pakistan on “Cricket Diplomacy”

There are so many great celebrations and traditions in India. If I had to only select one, I might pick Holi to share with Americans. It encompasses all of what my family and I love about this great country – getting together with friends and families, having fun together, and giving back to one another. My family and I had the pleasure of spending Holi with Indian friends of ours in a Delhi neighborhood and then we hosted at Roosevelt House 32 kids from a local settlement. The kids are enrolled in an English language program that was started by my wife Sally and are being taught by many volunteers from the American Embassy School. Colors were “shared” with everyone so that by the end of the day we were all “colored” in purple, green, yellow, and red colors from head to toe!
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One of the benefits of being an Ambassador is the wonderful people I have had the opportunity to meet and the friends I have made. I have played basketball with a team at the YMCA in Mumbai, driven a rickshaw in Patna, and swept the streets in Delhi. A few nights ago I had the honor and pleasure of attending Karan Singh’s 80^th birthday party at the Nehru Museum. Prime Minister Singh, several other Ambassadors, and countless ministers and other dignitaries were in attendance to honor a man who has had a great influence on the development of India. Dr. Singh’s wide-range of talents, interests, and passions are reflected in his career as an author, diplomat, scholar, university chancellor, parliamentarian, and minister. Truly, he has been one of the giants in Indian history. Tell me who are some of the people you admire that I should meet in the future.

Did you know that 100 years ago in the United States, women could not vote? A woman had never been a Cabinet Secretary (or Minister in Indian Government parlance), while today there are six in President Obama’s Administration, the most ever; had never been a Supreme Court Justice (today there are three); and had never served in the U.S. Congress (today there are almost 100 Congress women). Much has changed since the first International Women’s Day 100 years ago. I had the pleasure of celebrating the International Women’s Day centenary with The Hope Project and Breakthrough. Both of these organizations are doing fantastic work to empower women, to put a stop to domestic violence, and to direct more resources to women. Empowering women and providing opportunities for women to succeed is vital to the health of our communities, villages, cities, and country. As Secretary Clinton has said, “Investing in the potential of the world’s women and girls is one of the surest ways to achieve global economic progress, political stability, and greater prosperity for women – and men – the world over.” Tell me about women you know who have made a difference!

Each year on the third Monday of February, the United States celebrates Presidents’ Day.  Originally, it was to honor our first President, George Washington, but over time, it has become a way to celebrate all our former Presidents.  One of my favorite Presidents, George Washington, who sent the first American consul to Kolkata in 1792, had great foresight regarding what President Obama has said is “the defining partnership of the 21st century.” 

I also admire President Theodore Roosevelt, whose love for the outdoors resulted in his programs creating numerous national parks, forests and monuments, including the Grand Canyon.  When I read of Minister Ramesh’s efforts to save Indian forests, parks, and tigers, I think of President Roosevelt.   President John F. Kennedy is a favorite of most people from my generation.  Much like what you feel in India today, he brought energy and a feeling of unlimited potential to America in the 1960s. 

America has been blessed with great Presidents, so it is fitting that we honor them with a national holiday.  Tell me who is your favorite president or prime minister. Why?

After a few nervous days of cold and rain, the rain gods smiled upon us and the sun came out for a beautiful day as we held our National Day celebration at Roosevelt House.  We were honored to have Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao as our guest of honor, who spoke eloquently of the breadth and diversity of the U.S. – India global partnership with President Obama’s visit bringing our relationship to a new level.  Our house was decorated in red, white, and blue with American food such as barbecue chicken, corn on the cob, blueberry pie, and ice cream being served.  When our guests were not eating and listening to the beautiful sounds of American jazz, they were able to sit in the new Ford Figo or rev the engine of Harley Davidson motorcycles.  The Marine Guard did a perfect presentation of our flag and colors, making us all very proud.  It was a great day as we were able to enjoy it with our diplomatic corps colleagues, our Indian government hosts, and our many Embassy friends from all over India!

From Super Vipers to Super Hercules to Super Hornets, the Aero India show was a super event.  The Indian Ministry of Defense and CII did a terrific job organizing the biggest air show in South Asia and the biggest in the history of Aero India.  Attending the opening ceremony, I was amazed at the grace and maneuverability of the many planes, both Indian and foreign, as well as the skill of the pilots.  As they flew by, performing their stunts, the roar of the engines would hit you like a punch in the chest.  The acrobatic displays of the Indian Air Force with the tri-colors trailing brought loud applause and delight to the crowd.  The fighter jets showed off their amazing technology with great turns, spins, loops, and power.  A super start for Aero India.

There are American Super Vipers, Super Hornets, and Super Hercules in India today.  All will be proudly displayed this coming week at the “Aero India” show in Bangalore.  Accompanied by Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Schwartz, I attended a special ceremony February 5 inducting the tactical airlift transport, the C-130J Super Hercules, into the Indian Air Force.  Defense Minister Antony handed over the ceremonial key to the aircraft, and stated that this sale will add “more muscle” to the Indian Air Force and help with “the modernization” efforts.  The sale of these six aircraft was on time and on budget exhibiting exactly the type of win-win situation President Obama discussed during his historic visit in November.  This new capability helps the IAF bring their troops what they need, when they need it, and wherever they are located, even in the most severe and seemingly impossible locations.  It can assist with humanitarian rescue missions or special operations.  The U.S. benefits with a deeper strategic defense partnership with India, new markets opened, and the creation of American jobs.  It was a memorable and successful day at Hindon Air Base outside New Delhi on Saturday afternoon.