Surat Singh Delhi lawyer, who was at Harvard Law School with the next US President-elect Barack Obama, is in Washington for the historic oath-taking ceremony
Delhi lawyer, who was at Harvard Law School with the next US President-elect Barack Obama, is in Washington for the historic oath-taking ceremony
Surat Singh is an ecstatic man these days. Even you would be if you were US President-elect
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's college friend and had been invited to attend his historic swearing-in ceremony being held in Washington today.
Singh, who had studied with Barack Obama at the Harvard Law School in 1988 where the first coloured US President was pursuing his Degree in Law, said he had become "good friends" with the Democrat and was now looking forward to congratulate him. "I am absolutely thrilled to be among the few privileged Indians who are attending the oath ceremony of President Barack Obama. The amount of enthusiasm generated by Obama's inaugural ceremony is unprecedented.u00a0 Every four year somebody takes oath as the US President but never before has the District of Columbia, Washington, been so enthused.u00a0 Even the common man seems to be excited," said Singh, talking to MiD DAY from Washington.
When asked if he had been able to meet Barack Obama yet, Singh said, "I haven't been able to meet him, but common friends say that he looks relaxed, just what the most demanding job in the world requires."
Recalling his Harvard memories, Singh said, "I met Barack Obama for the first time in 1988 at the Harvard Law School where I was studying for my Doctor of Laws and he came to study for his basic Degree in Law. We used to meet at Harkness Commons, a pub for law students, and chat over pitchers of beer. There were many seminars and classes which were common to both American and international students.u00a0Dr Larry Tribe, a well-known professor of constitution law, is the favourite teacher for both of us. In fact, in the last couple of days, I have met Tribe and the Dean of the Harvard Law School and the would-be US Solicitor General Elena Kagan."
Stressing that Barack Obama has always had great respect for our country, Singh recalled that when the Democrat leader came to know that his fellow student was from India, he had said, "I know that part of the world. India is a great country and civilisation."u00a0 Other than Barack Obama, Singh is planning to meet a few other college friends who will be joining the new American power team. "I will be meeting several of my Harvard Law School friends who will be ministers in the Barack Obama government. I have already launched a society, Indo-American Friendship Forum, where mutual interests of the two countries can be further strengthened."
However, other than meeting friends and may be clicking a photograph or two with the First Family "if protocol doesn't come in the way," Singh is carrying a message for the new leader. "My message to President Barack Obama is that America and India should jointly fight common enemies like terrorism, economic recession and global environment degradation.u00a0 India and America can have a better collaboration in the field of education and technology transfer as well.u00a0 India can learn a lot from America but America too can be inspired by our civilisation.
"I also want to stress that apart from official diplomatic channels, President Barack Obama should take into confidence his friends from Harvard, who would give him a more honest picture about America, India and the rest of the world.u00a0 A good administrator should have both official and un-official channels of communication open."
A friend's thoughts
Do you think Barack Obama will be able to end the global recession?
Recession is a global problem and no individual alone can end it. But having the right people at right places will definitely help. My friend Barack Obama should encourage young, talented, honest people to join public life.
What should we learn from Barack Obama?
Indian leaders should learn how to give hope to people and restore their faith in the system. What is right with India is more than what is wrong with India. So let us be audacious in our hope, make more people join public life and create a critical mass of young, talented, visionary people in our Parliament.
That would be the best lesson we can learn from Barack Obama.
| What the stars foretellu00a0 |
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Astrologers predict that Barack Obama is the hope of the world but warn that he faces threat of assassination |
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