Experience America in Puducherry and Annamalainagar

Press Officer Brian Ferinden interacting with faculty and students of Annamalai University.

Americans and South Indians enjoy a rich and vibrant relationship built on a foundation of shared values, common goals and mutual admiration.  To celebrate and strengthen this significant partnership, the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai brought a slice of America to Pondicherry and Annamalainagar from September 10 through 12, 2008.  Press Officer Brian Ferinden of the U.S. Embassy, New Delhi interacted with more than 1500 students, academics, entrepreneurs, community leaders, government officials, and media representatives.  He spoke on “Race Relations in the United States,” “Higher Education in the United States” and “U.S. Environmental Policy and introduced the award winning films The Pursuit of Happiness and An Inconvenient Truth.  Mr. Ferinden also addressed audiences at Pondicherry and Annamalai Universities on the forthcoming U.S. presidential elections.  During the two day tour, Mr. Ferinden met the Vice Chancellors of both the universities, Chairperson of Town Panchayat of Annamalainagar, and visited the French Institute of Pondicherry, FERAL (an NGO focused on environmental issues), the Society for Development, Training and Research which runs a bridge school for children of trafficked victims run by an NGO and the Kollam Computer Center for underprivileged children, sponsored by one of the members of the Indo-American Chamber of Commerce.