VAK discussion session on President Barack Obama's Speech at Cairo University with Consul General of USA Hon. Paul Folmsbee held at American Center on Wednesday 24th June 2009.

Vishwa Adhyayan Kendra organised a path breaking joint program with American Center, Mumbai to discuss President Barack Obama’s Speech at Cairo that was delivered on June 4th 2009 at Al Azhar University.

The discussion session was held at American Center, New Marine Lines on Wednesday 24th June 2009 from 6 to 8 in the evening.

Interaction with American Center started from 15th June onwards and despite the short period, focused efforts were made on select 150 members of VAK to attend this prestigious event in the history of VAK.

8 gatnayaks were assigned the task of contacting the target group and ensuring their attendance by repeated follow-ups. Since the security at American Center was a major issue all efforts were done in a very confidential manner. 58 members were present and some 40 had mentioned their keen interest to attend but were unable to do so due to prior commitments.

The programme commenced with a welcome speech by Ms. Elizabeth Koffman, Director of American Center, Mumbai. She informed that the American Center was delighted to know that VAK was interested to have a discussion on President Obama’s historic speech at Cairo and hence readily agreed to the same.

Shri Ratan Sharda later did the Introduction to VAK

He mentioned the objective of formation of VAK is to create a Think Tank on foreign policy matters that would provide an alternative view point to the Indian policy makers in this area.

He mentioned that VAK came into being at a time when India was trying to come out of its self imposed ideas about world affairs dictated by policy makers whose thinking was moulded and frozen in cold world rhetoric and basically anti-capitalist hence anti US.

“It was strange paradoxes where Indian people loved America and influenced by its open democracy and liberal ideals but Indian policy makers hated or at least were suspicious of American government and policies.

Where majority of Indians were suspicious of Russian government but dominant establishment intellectuals were enamored by it. It was a policy frame work frozen in time warp, in spite of major tectonic shift with collapse of Communist power centre.

The foreign policy perspectives were defined by a stand point dictated by history understood from British perspective and not Indian perspective. It is said that a view point is defined by the stand point. VAK resolved to provide a view point from purely Indian stand point “ he pointed.

He also added that VAK is clear that nobody takes you seriously unless you speak from a position of strength and are seen to be powerful in your own right.

He also pointed out that though VAK is working from the commercial capital and not the political capital of India, we believe that by building up a network with consulates of various countries in Mumbai, and some other think tanks we can slowly build a body of work. Focus of VAK is more on cultural and economic understanding of various communities world over and build bridged based on similarities and human relations.

“This programme is one of such initiatives and VAK is hopeful that such exchanges will help build better understanding between Indian people and American people” he concluded.

The Speech of President Barack Obama that was delivered at Cairo was later shown in full which mesmerized the audience. The fact that he spoke for almost 40 minutes extempore and with such clarity of thoughts and flow of words was a real treat. He never paused even for a while and delivered the message he had come to deliver.

Hon. Consul General of USA in Mumbai Hon. Paul Folmsbee later addressed the audience and gave the background for the speech from his personal and first hand experiences in Baghdad and Pakistan as a diplomat among other places.

Shri Sanjay Kelapure, President of VAK moderated a very explosive and interesting Q & A session. Hon. Paul Folmsbee gave convincing replies to the questions and jokingly requested to avoid questions on Pakistan – India relations and conflicts. Almost 20 members posed questions ranging from Guantanamo Bay prisoners to India USA strategic relations to exchange information on terrorists.

The Q&A session lasted for more that 45 minutes but was thoroughly enjoyed ny one and all. Shri Sanjay Kelapure concluded the session by a short vote of thanks to the Council General, Director of American Center, Lynne and all other members of American Center for such a candid and emotional exchange of thoughts and ideas through a memorable discussion session.

Shri Sanjay Hegde and Dr. Satish Modh presented Paul Folmsbee and Elizabeth Koffman with mementos of VAK.

Well over 45 minutes after the conclusion of the programme both the Consul General and Liz Koffman spent time in personal interaction with members of VAK.

In conclusion it may be mentioned that the long cherished wishes of many of VAK’s members to have a program of useful interaction with some important consulates in Mumbai was finally not a dream anymore.