Speeches & Remarks 2008

Remarks by
Ambassador David C. Mulford
Signing Ceremony Inaugurating
The Fulbright-Nehru Scholarships
Hyderabad House - July 4, 2008

Foreign Secretary Menon, Members of Congress, Colleagues, Current and Former Fulbright Scholars and Friends:

I am honored to be here today with Foreign Secretary Menon and in the presence of Representative Gary Ackerman and his distinguished delegation from the U.S. House of Representatives to sign this landmark agreement.  With the signing of this historic amended bilateral agreement on Fulbright educational exchanges between India and the U.S. we are highlighting one of the most important elements of our growing bilateral partnership.  Today's agreement will have a profound impact on the future development of our young people and on relations between our two democracies.  Under this agreement the Governments of India and the United States will contribute equally to the funding of academic exchanges which will immediately double the number of Indians and Americans benefiting from this important program each year.

When Senator J. William Fulbright launched America's global academic exchange program that today bears his name, he did so at an important time in America's history.  In the years immediately following the devastation of World War II, America was beginning to come to grips with its new role as a global power.  Senator Fulbright's vision focused on the importance of strengthening people-to-people relations as a way of building deepening international ties.  He intended that his program would help future leaders from around the world gain the knowledge and skills to improve their own lives and the lives of their fellow countrymen.  He also knew that those who came to America would get to know the real America, better understand our values and policies and become partners for the future.  William Fulbright's vision was extraordinarily successful.  Few at the time could have foreseen the far reaching influence that the Fulbright Fellowship Program would have on America's relations with the world. 

I would also like to acknowledge today the important contributions of the United States Congress to the Fulbright Program.  We are fortunate to have distinguished members with us here today.  I would like to thank all of you and all of your Congressional colleagues for the key support Congress has provided year after year to the Fulbright program worldwide.  They have funded this investment in the world on behalf of the American people for over fifty years, and we are grateful to them.

When the first U.S.-India agreement on educational exchanges was signed in 1950, newly independent India was a far different country than it is today.  The changes witnessed in India these past 60 years have been remarkable.  India is widely recognized as a rising star on the world stage, and for us Americans as a long term friend and partner in democracy and development.  With the signing of this agreement today we and India become full and equal partners in the newly christened Fulbright-Jawaharlal Nehru Scholarship program.

The history of the Fulbright program in India is impressive.  Nearly 15,000 Americans and Indians have participated as Fulbright scholars over the years.  Many are here today, and I recognize and welcome you. 

Presently, approximately 100 Americans and Indians receive Fulbright scholarships each year.  With the Government of India's participation, the number of those receiving Fulbright-Nehru scholarships will more than double.  But we see this as only a beginning.  With further support of our friends in the private sector and elsewhere, we expect the number of scholars will grow quickly - a goal of 1000 scholars annually within a few years is both reasonable and practicable with the launch of this newly expanded program.  Moreover, we visualize greater specialization within the program in a wide variety of selected fields.

Many people worked to make this agreement a reality.  I want to recognize the support and dedication of the State Department's Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs, especially Deputy Assistant Secretary Tom Farrell.   I also want to recognize the hard work of my Minister Counselor for Public Affairs Larry Schwartz - for whom today's signing is the culmination of 2 years of creative work both in Washington and here in New Delhi.

I want to publicly thank Foreign Secretary Shivshankar Menon, who clearly saw the value and the promise of this initiative, and to his talented Joint Secretary Gaitri Kumar for working out this agreement with our people.  Together, we have seized upon the importance of bringing new energy into our longstanding agreement.  What we have done today will bring priceless benefits to thousands of young people in both our countries in the years ahead.  It is an accomplishment of which we can all be justly proud.  Thank you.