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 ForumNEW 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 13th 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.” 
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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.
South Asians & the U.S. Political Process
On March 25th, as part of a series of programs on the U.S. Presidential elections, the Consulate and the Asian College of Journalism organized a digital video conference with Ms. Deepa Iyer, Executive Director of South Asians Leading Together (SAALT) and Dr. V.K. Padmanabhan, Professor of Political Science at the University of Madras. In her presentation Ms. Iyer focused on the involvement of South Asians in the U.S. political process and on how deeply the community has impacted public life in America. Ms. Iyer mentioned that the South Asian community’s involvement in lobbying, civic groups and rights groups including on hot topics of interest including immigration has make them a force to reckon with. They are among the top donors of over $50,000 to the two Democratic Party campaigns; voter registration in the community is on the rise, she said. She spoke about several South Asians who have made their mark in politics and served in State legislatures in Maryland, Ohio, Iowa and New Jersey in addition to the more well-known Governor of Louisina, Bobby Jindal. Dr. Padmanabhansaid that the involvement of the South Asian diaspora in the U.S. elections would have a positive impact on the policies pertaining to Indo-U.S. elections. Video (Part 1) (Part 2) (Part 3)
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Roundtable Discussions on Religion in the United States
On March 12, the Consulate General hosted a series of roundtable discussions on religion in the United States, highlighting the country’s increasing religious diversity. In introducing the topic, Consul General David Hopper said: “Like India, the United States is a large, multi-religious democracy where the Constitution requires that the state stay out of religion and not prefer one religion over another. And also like India, we have found strength in diversity. It helps us understand the world better and understand ourselves better. It adds to the cultural richness of the nation.”
One of the eight American panelists, Information Management Specialist Abdillahi Yassin, an immigrant from Somalia who settled in Minnesota, acknowledged that there can be occasional friction between religious groups. He noted that in Minnesota and in communities throughout the United States, there are interfaith organizations that provide a formal way for people of different religions to bridge differences and understand one another. He said: “In this way, we demystify our neighbor’s religion and promote tolerance and mutual respect.”
Along with Mr. Yassin, a Muslim, other Americans of Jewish and Hindu background and a follower of Buddhism described their experiences as minorities in a country that is predominantly Christian. Panelists answered questions about the legal framework for religious liberty in the United States, quoting Thomas Jefferson who wrote that the Constitution builds “a wall of separation between Church and State.” And there was also a frank and open discussion of the so-called hot-button issues where religion and politics intersect, such as prayer in public schools and the teaching of evolution.
Statement By Secretary Of State Condoleezza RiceInternational Women’s Day reminds us of the critical role women play in addressing the economic, political, and human security challenges our world faces. The enfranchisement of women, supported at all levels, is essential to meeting our global prosperity. As history unfolds, nations are increasingly judged by whether they afford women equal opportunity. It is undeniable that the advancement of countries is inhibited when women are excluded, and it is unacceptable that women continue to be deprived of the opportunity to reach their full potential.(more)
2009-2010 Fulbright Fellowships for Indian Citizens AnnouncedOn March 19, 2008, the U.S. Educational Foundation in India announced it is accepting applications and proposals for Fulbright fellowships for the academic year 2009-2010.(more)
American Studies Scholars Discuss Impact of Immigrants on Presidential Elections On March 10, The American Library organized a discussion on the Impact of Immigrants on the U.S. Presidential Election. More than 30 American studies professors and students from several colleges in Chennai participated in the program. In his welcome address, Information Officer Wesley Robertson pointed out the openness of the U.S. in its assimilation of immigrants and the role immigrants play in U.S. society. Participants discussed the history of migration and impact of the immigrant community on U.S. politics and elections.
Celebrating Women: “From Page to Stage” a poetry and theatre performance
On March 11, the United States Educational Foundation in India (USEFI) in association with the Department of English, University of Madras organized a program to mark International Women’s Day and Women's History Month, titled “From Page to Stage.” The program included selections from American poetry and drama which were performed with sensitivity and finesse by Curtain Call, the theatre wing of the University of Madras. The program not only gave the audience insight on some of America’s leading women writers and poets, but gave a whole new perspective to the genre of performance poetry. Dr. Kris Fresonke, Vice Consul, U.S. Consulate General, Chennai and former American Fulbright alumna, and Ms. Geetha Ganga, Indian Fulbright alumna, served as moderators and recounted the richness of their respective Fulbright experiences. In the discussions that followed, Dr. Fresonke commented on the success of American women writers to “come in from the cold”— not only to join the literary mainstream, but to transform it through their distinct voices. Geetha Ganga shared her research on how the woman’s veil was politicized in Somalia and also on the recent war crimes against women in the so called 'post-conflict regions' in Africa.
Previous Consulate Programs Archives...
