India’s Ambassador hosts reception to celebrate India’s 75th anniversary of independence

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Washington DC: On August 15, 2022, Indian Ambassador to the United States, Taranjit Sandhu hosted a reception at India House to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of India’s independence and to commemorate 75 years of U.S.-India relations.

Addressing guests at the reception, Sandhu stated “when India became independent in 1947 predictions on its ability to survive challenges, political, economic, and social were rather mixed. 75 years later, India is here strong, full of hope and optimism for the future of humanity,” adding that India’s strength lay in its diversity. Sandhu went on to highlight India’s progress in different areas, and emphasized how India and U.S. are ‘indispensable partners’ whose strength would keep growing.

The chief guest at the reception, United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai said, “As we commemorate India’s 75 years of independent history and 75 years of US-India relations, I want to say what a privilege it is to be a part of this bilateral relationship at a moment when it’s perhaps never been stronger.” Leaders of both countries are clearly committed to addressing  challenges together, she said, and reminisced about her trip to India last November.

“I came away with a real flavor of your nation’s vibrant culture. Rich and very long history and dynamic economy. And while I’m always reluctant to draw comparisons among our very important trading partners around the world, I will acknowledge that Indian hospitality is hard to beat.”

The Governor of Pennsylvania, Tom Wolf while addressing guests said he was honored to be at the anniversary celebrations. “I’m here as an ordinary citizen, who has a great personal regard for India and a grand admiration for the way especially India won its independence, becoming the largest democracy in the world on  August 15, 1947.

White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, Dr. Ashish Jha, said it’s an incredible honor and pleasure to celebrate 75 years of Indian independence, Indian democracy, and US-India friendship. As a proud Indian-American, Dr. Jha said he was grateful to President Biden for crediting the three-and-a-half million Indian-Americans and its vibrant community for making America more innovative, inclusive, and a stronger nation.

“Now, I spent a lot of time in the last two-and-a-half years thinking about and working on this pandemic. And I can’t think of two nations that have done more to vaccinate and protect their own populations and to donate, support and vaccinate, and protect the world, than India and the United States.”

Director of National Drug Control Policy, Dr. Rahul Gupta, said “Knowledge is the lever that moves mountains and that’s where India invested its power, its mind, and its youth all the way from 1947. It is that what is paying off today,” adding, “and that is a very important reason why working in the White House right now, I feel not only comfortable but enthusiastic. We’re looking at a future of two countries, the largest and the oldest democracies, working together to solve some of the most complex, and difficult often turbulent problems.”

Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, Brian McKeon, Deputy Secretary of  Treasury Department, Wally Adeyemo, Deputy Secretary of US Department of Commerce, Don Graves, and Secretary of United States Air Force, Frank Kendall spoke at the reception in which Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Christopher Grady, Astronaut and Deputy Administrator of NASA, Pamela Melroy, Deputy Administrator for Policy and Programming at USAID, Isobel Coleman, Nobel laureate Dr. William Phillips, several members of the US-India CEOs forum, Punit Renjen, Rajesh Subramaniam, and Venkatesh Sharma along with other members from industry, US government, and others were also present.