Local students receive books from First Ladies

New Delhi | April 11, 2011

Mrs. Sally Roemer, wife of U.S. Ambassador Timothy Roemer, accompanied by Secretary of Culture Jawhar Sircar, presented 1,000 books to ten area schools today in a ceremony at the American Center.  The books are a symbol of the friendship between U.S. First Lady Michelle Obama and Mrs. Gursharan Kaur.

Mrs. Roemer and Mrs. Shailaja Chandra, Chairperson of the Delhi Public Library Board, spoke of the First Ladies' love of books and the importance both place on reading and education.  Mrs. Roemer reflected on Mrs. Obama's visit to India with her husband in November 2010, recalling how impressed she and the President were with Indian youth and their eagerness to learn.

The Scholastic books represent a mix of storybooks and fun, informative non-fiction designed to introduce primary and secondary students to American history, culture, and historical figures. In addition to books, the schools received complimentary membership to the American Library and the option for an American volunteer to visit the school to read the books at a later date.

Recipient schools included Kendriya Vidyalaya INA Colony, Kendriya Vidyalaya Andrews Ganj, Sarvodaya Vidyalaya, Darbari Lal DAV Model School, Kendriya Vidyalaya R.K. Puram, DAV School Yusuf Sarai, Kendriya Vidyalaya AGCR Enclave, Tagore International, Hansraj Model School and Government Sarvodaya Mehram Nagar.