Speeches & Articles

Remarks of Consul General Beth A. Payne
Patna University, Bihar,
December 20, 2008

December 20, 2008

“Namaste”
Good morning
Professor Shyam Lal, Vice Chancellor,
Professor K.N. Paswan, Dean of Students’ Welfare
Faculty members
Students of Patna University

Thank you for welcoming me to Patna University and giving me an opportunity to share my thoughts with you.  Today I would like to talk about some topics that are in the news and of particular interest to young students like yourselves who are preparing to enter the workforce in the next few years.
 
Events of the last few months have certainly presented all of us with enormous challenges, whether we come from India, the U.S., or any other country.  Foremost, of course, was the tragedy in Mumbai.  I would like to extend the condolences of the American people to the people and to the Government of India for the deaths and injuries caused by the deplorable terrorist attacks in Mumbai.  The U.S. Government believes it is imperative that these attacks be thoroughly investigated and that those responsible for perpetrating these attacks be brought to account.
 
The U.S. Government views this as a time for all the countries in the region to cooperate to fight terrorism.  The attacks in Mumbai show that terrorists can strike at will and we all need to be prepared and to work together to prevent future attacks.  The U.S. is already working closely with the Indian Government to investigate the Mumbai attacks and to find ways we can better cooperate to prevent extremism and terrorism. 
 
Another challenge that I am sure all of you are following closely is the global financial crisis.  I’m no economist, but I can tell you that the current crisis is rooted in a combination of factors, including a decade of benign economic conditions, investor and lender complacency towards risk, and increasingly loose credit standards and lending practices.   Shaken investor confidence in housing assets had a domino effect throughout world markets, curtailing the pace of the new lending and investment necessary for strong growth to continue. 
 
While it is helpful to know how this crisis came about - what's more important to all of you who will soon be looking for jobs - is how the international community will respond to the crisis and stabilize the world economies.  There are no quick fixes to this crisis, but there is a commitment by countries across the globe to work together to find creative solutions.  The recent meeting by G20 countries is evidence of the global commitment to finding solutions.
 
And despite the recent crisis, the U.S. government still believes that free-market capitalism, with appropriate market regulation, is the best system ever devised.  It has unleashed the talents, the productivity, and the entrepreneurial spirit of American citizens.  It has made the U.S. the best place in the world to invest and do business.  And it gives our economy the flexibility and resilience to absorb shocks, adjust, and bounce back.
 
Our system of free enterprise rests on the conviction that the federal government should intervene in the marketplace only when necessary.  Given the precarious state of today's financial markets -- and their vital importance to the daily lives of the American people – we are debating the best way to jump-start an economic recovery.  President-elect Barack Obama formally takes the oath of office of President of the U.S. on January 20, and the world will be watching as he and his team work to resolve problems in our economy.   And in the globalized environment in which we live, India of course also has a big stake in how successfully we address this crisis.
 
With every crisis, however, there is a silver lining - there will be many people who benefit from the current crisis because they are creative and adaptable.  The best way for you to ensure that you have the skills necessary to succeed even during a crisis is through education.  Education is an area where the U.S. and India have forged deep and strong ties, and indeed have cause to celebrate.  Because the U.S. offers the best university education in the world, more than 600,000 foreign students are currently studying at American colleges and universities.  Over 94,000 of these students are from India, which has the largest group of international students in the U.S.
 
Living and studying in the U.S. is a unique experience.  The method of teaching and professors' expectations are different.  The curriculum is diverse.  For example, if you are majoring in mathematics, you can also take classes in art, music, literature and sports.  You can earn a degree as well as nourish your interests and hobbies. 
 
If you do choose to study in America, you will contribute to the reputation for excellence enjoyed by so many institutions of higher learning in the U.S.  And when you come back to India and put what you’ve learned into practice, you’ll be important and valued members at whichever company, school or institution you choose to work.  Because of all these reasons, I encourage you to consider pursuing the great adventure of higher education in the U.S.
 
If you are interested in pursuing higher education in the U.S., you can start the process of finding the right school for you by consulting with the U.S.-India Educational Foundation office (USIEF) in the American Center in Kolkata.  USIEF will help you navigate your way through the student application process and help you explore possible scholarships to help defray the cost of university tuition.
 
For faculty members, USIEF annually awards Fulbright Fellowships for research and post-doctoral studies.  Perhaps some of you have already visited the U.S. as Fulbright scholars.  In addition to the Fulbright program, there are many other exchange programs, such as the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship program for mid-level professionals committed to public service.  If you’d like more information on any of these exchange programs, we’d be happy to put you in touch with the Public Affairs Office in Kolkata.
 
I am convinced that by working together, the U.S. and India can face and overcome problems that affect us both, problems like terrorism and the financial crisis.  We are together the world’s largest democracy, and the world’s oldest democracy, and we also share the challenges of providing equal opportunities to all citizens in our multicultural societies.  One way that we are growing closer together is through education, and you as students are leading the way.  One result of Indians and Americans studying in each others’ countries is the increasingly personal ties between our two peoples, and this I know will ensure that our two great democracies remain the best of not only business or strategic partners, but real friends.

Again, thank you for inviting me and I would be happy to answer any questions you have and to hear your thoughts on these issues and how they impact you here in Patna.

Thank You.