U.S. Consulate celebrates the inauguration of President Barack Obama

Local artists add their musical notes to the celebration

In keeping with Marghazi season, the U.S. Consulate General and Chennai citizens celebrated the inauguration of President Barack Obama as the 44^th President of United States with an interactive concert featuring ‘Chitravina’ Ravikiran, Anil Srinivasan (piano) and B.S. Purushotham (kanjira). The concert was interspersed with excerpts from Barack Obama’s book Audacity of Hope and explored how the terms “change” and “hope” are relevant in the Indian context. Mr N. Ram, Editor in Chief, The Hindu shared his views on Obama’s inaugural address and Consul General Simkin distributed the prizes to the winners of the “Guess the Electoral Vote contest” held on November 4 and 5, 2008 on the eve of the U.S. election. The program concluded with a reception that brought together students, young leaders, cultural icons and other celebrities who discussed U.S. democracy and its new leadership, the peaceful transition of power between opposing political parties and the significance of the new U.S. administration for India.