Previous Consulate Programs Archives - April 2008

Chennai American Library at 60

Chennai American Library’s 60 years of service in south India celebrations culminated in a day-long Open House and a reception at the Consulate on April 25, 2008.  The Open house attracted more than 90 old and new patrons to the Library.  The Library arranged for screening of films and videos and offered refreshments throughout.

Addressing more than 80 old and new Library users at the reception, Consul General Hopper highlighted on the changes the Library has undergone over the past 60 years in location, name and services.  He said “it remained the same in providing variety of information about the United States.”  He added - “The American library may be smaller and leaner than it was, but has access to information than ever before and there is no doubt that it remains one of South India’s best libraries and its premier source of information about the United States.”  Many patrons recalled their experiences and benefits they gained being in association with the Library.

U.S. Ambassador Congratulates Young Baseball Players From India On Their Way To America

NEW DELHI – U.S. Ambassador to India David C. Mulford today congratulated two young Indians who won the “Million Dollar Arm Hunt,” a nation-wide competition to find the fastest baseball pitchers in India to the U.S. Embassy.(more)

US Specialist Introduces Novel Evaluating Methods For Students And Teachers In A Learner-Centric Environment

On April 18, the U.S. Consulate General and the Tamil Nadu Principals Association conducted two back-to-back DVCs on “The Shift from Teacher-Centric to Learner-Centric Models” and "Student and Teacher Evaluations” at Loyola College.  Ms. Amy Lezberg, former Fulbrighter and visiting professor, University of Qatar, highlighted the importance of establishing a mission statement against which objectives and outcomes are measured.  Principals from Loyola, Ethiraj, Guru Nanak, SRM Arts and science, St. Louis College for the deaf, St. Christopher’s college and KRMM matriculation school participated in the program.

"The Year Ahead in South and Central Asia" - Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, Foreign Press Center Briefing, Washington, DC, April 23, 2008

"India, there still is a strong sense of momentum in the relationship because there's so many areas of cooperation, of business and science and academia and students and families, even though some things like the nuclear deal are slowed down as we await the outcome of the political process in India. So I think we're still working very hard on a lot of different aspects of this relationship and hope to be able to work hard on the Civil Nuclear Agreement when the Indians say the time has come to move forward again."

Sixth Meeting Of The Indo-U.S. Global Issues Forum

NEW DELHI -- The sixth meeting of the U.S.-India Global Issues Forum was held on April 24, 2008 at Hyderabad House in New Delhi. Foreign Secretary Shri Shivshankar Menon led the Indian delegation. Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Paula J. Dobriansky led the U.S. delegation.(more)

Rumi, the great Sufi poet/philosopher, brings Indians and Americans Together

On April 10, about 60 readers and admirers of 13^th Century Sufi poet/philosopher Jalaluddin Rumi discussed his writings via video digital conference (DVC) between Chennai and the University of Iowa in the United States.  Rumi’s works are read by millions of Indians and Americans of all religions because of the beauty of his poetry, the universality and timelessness of his themes, and the wisdom of his teachings.

Dr. Nisar Ahmed, Professor and Head, Department of Arabic, Persian and Urdu, University of Madras, spoke on the “The Relevance of Sufi Philosophy and Rumi Today.”  Mr. Abdul Rahiman, Lecturer, JBAS Centre for Islamic Studies of the same university, focused on Rumi’s interfaith themes.  On the U.S. side, Mr. Christopher Merrill, Director of the International Writing Program, University of Iowa, noted Rumi’s popularity in the United States.  Reflecting on Rumi’s revelations on the nature of existence, Mr. Merrill said:  “It is no secret that pain can lock up our emotions.  This is an enduring poetic theme.  And no one understood that better than Rumi, who is still forging links between the East and West, particularly in the United States, preparing us to walk purposefully through the same gate.”  (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5)

American and Indian Educators Exchange Successful Teaching Strategies

On April 9, U.S. Consulate and the Tamil Nadu Principal’s Association conducted a DVC on “Pedagogy and Curriculum Development” at Loyola College.  Ms. Margaret Smith Crocco, Coordinator of the Program in Social Studies at the Teacher’s College of Columbia University highlighted curricular and pedagogical models.  This was followed by an interactive discussion between Principals in Chennai and Professor Crocco focused on strategies creating successful curriculum.  Professor Crocco highlighted the “essentialist” and “progressive” approaches and urged a successful curriculum should help the students analyze, critique, imagine, evaluate, and interpret. (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3) (Part 4) (Part 5) 

American Library Outreach in Tiruchirappalli and Tanjavur

From March 31 through April 3, American Library staff traveled to Tiruchitrapalli and Tanjavur and interacted with several hundred students, academics, government officials and entrepreneurs.  Consul for Public Affairs Frederick Kaplan accompanied the American Library staff to help market Library resources and services at various colleges and universities in the Tamil Nadu heartland.  At the Center for Nehru Studies, Bharathidasan University, Mr. Kaplan spoke to students, faculty and the media on the ever-growing relations between India and the United States.  In his speeches at Rotary Club of Tiruchirappalli and National Institute of Technology he dwelt in detail on the forthcoming U.S. presidential elections and fielded questions from the audiences.  The management students at the Sastra University were highly benefited by Mr. Kaplan’s presentation on Higher Education in the United States.

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