Published by World Market Media, 15 April 11
Mr. Ron Somers President of the U.S. India Business Council was honored by the South Asian Studies Association SASA www.sasia2.org at its annual conference held earlier this month on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University. Mr. Somers was lauded for his role in promoting US-India relations and was presented with SASA’s 2011 Community Service Award.
SASA President Dr. William Vanderbok presented the award which reads In acknowledgement of your boundless passion and your ongoing contributions in bringing the peoples of India and the United States closer together for business trade and cultural exchange. You are truly the universal ambassador to both countries and are equally admired and respected in business government and academia. Your infectious energy motivates and drives all whom you touch and the South Asia Studies Association acknowledges your invaluable contributions to both cultures.
Mr. Somers and Gunjan Bagla Managing Director of Amritt Inc and board member of SASA also engaged in an hour-long spirited colloquy regarding the current state of US-India relations. Somers and Bagla pointed out that only six American presidents have ever visited India but this includes all three of the most recent: Clinton 2000 Bush 2006Â and Obama 2010. Somers said that U.S.-India relations have never been better and that this Administration and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton are great allies of India and for US-India relations.
On the subject of education collaboration it was noted India needs to expand its higher education system by a factor of 10 to 1500 universities Bagla and Somers discussed how the audience in particular and American universities in general can play a significant role in supporting Indian HRD Minister Dr. Kapil Sibal’s ambitious plans. India’s educational needs include the example of primary schooling Somers spoke of India’s Right to Education Act of 2010 that entitles every child to demand free and elementary education between the ages of six and 14 years.
The South Asian Studies Association promotes scholarly study of and public interest in South Asian civilizations and affairs provides a public forum for the communication of research and scholarship on South Asia and builds bridges of understanding linking the academic entrepreneurial and diaspora communities. Its board consists of academics and business leaders from the United States Europe and Asia.
