Last July an awkward moment occurred during a US Congressional hearing. Two senior officials of the U.S. Government were addressed by a Congressman in the following words: “I’m familiar with your country; I love your country.” The Congressman Curt Clawson thought the two, Nisha Biswal and Arun Kumar, senior U.S. government officials as representatives of the Indian government.
No wonder that the Congressman was confused by their names and skin colour. The sheer presence of Indian Americans in the U.S. administration is incredible and steadily growing. President Obama’s administration recognises the talent of the 3.5 million Indian community in the U.S. About 30 Indian Americans are believed to be serving in this administration in important departments like State, Treasury, Defence and Commerce.
If the last few weeks’ developments are any indication times are indeed propitious for a real upswing in the Indo-U.S. relations. It is an interesting flow of good news that brings smile to those who have invested in this relationship. Obviously this has created a positive sentiment about India in the U.S.
First, it was the news of President Obama going to India for the Republic Day celebrations, the first ever U.S. President to do so. He is also the first sitting President to go to India for the second time. Indophiles are happily talking about the personal rapport between him and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The second news was the confirmation of Richard Rahul Verma as the new Ambassador of U.S. to India. Due to availability of a galaxy of deserving Indian-Americans, the expectation that the next Ambassador would be a person of Indian origin was not out of place. Yet it was not necessary for the U.S. to send a person of Indian origin to our country. The convergence of interests at the bilateral level and competence of the individual were the determining factors. The Indian diaspora closely watched his consensus confirmation. “It is a day of celebration for Indian Americans,” said Dr. Sampat Shivangi, national president of Indian American Forum for Political Education.
In the U.S. it was an endorsement that Indian Americans have come of age and can be trusted as its full members. So much so that, they can now on, be trusted with ensuring America’s national interests and overseas including in their motherland.
However, the best news was the confirmation of Dr. Vivek Murthy (37) as the youngest Surgeon General of the U.S. His struggle was harder with many ups and downs and therefore more significant.
In November 2013, Murthy was nominated by President Obama for the post. He faced opposition from the Democrats as well as the Republicans in the beginning. While two former surgeons endorsed him, one opposed citing lack of experience of Murthy in the public health area. But the toughest challenge came from the National Rifle Association (NRA).What was their objection? Murthy’s view that “gun violence is a threat to public health!”
Murthy has outstanding academic and professional qualifications. Alumni of Harvard and Yale, he is founder and president of Doctors for America, a group of 15,000 physicians and medical students supporting comprehensive health reform. The medical care in the U.S is in bad shape and Murthy was the right person to fix it.
But the ‘rifle’ challenge was formidable. The NRA has over five million members, huge revenues and tremendous political clout. While it’s a “non profit with a mission to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States...” it prides in “especially the right to keep and bear arms.” It is among the top groups lobbying against any legislation on gun control.
The gun supporters of U.S. maintain “Guns don’t kill, people do”.
Murthy rejects this logic. As a doctor he would like to avoid the deaths in mass shooting, homicides and suicides. In 2010, there were 19,392 firearm-related suicides, and 11,078 firearm-related homicides in the U.S.
Finally, Murthy’s appointment as Surgeon General was approved on December 15, 2014, in a 51–43 vote. Murthy makes both the U.S. and India proud.
His humble demeanour disguises a man with great courage and conviction. Naturally, he does not surrender to guns.
“It’s become a little difficult nowadays to tell the U.S. officials from their Indian counterparts during bilaterals,” an Indian diplomat was quoted on the many Indian faces in the U.S. administration.
