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Many-sided collaboration between India and U.S.A.
In this bicentennial year of the USA, in 1976. I would like to convey through the Asian Society the sincerest greetings of the people and the Government of India to the American people and their Government. It is an interesting feature of the bicentennial celebrations that the American people seem to be rediscovering the richness of their ethnic diversity under the homogeneity of one language, one banner and a federal system of government. In this respect, our two nations have much in common. Both the USA and India have emerged from the melting pot of races and religions. Unity amidst diversity and the versatility of a composite culture have been points of our strength, not weakness.
The first Americans to set foot on the soil of Asia were the missionaries and travelers who visited China, Japan and Korea. Merchants and entrepreneurs followed in their wake. The trans-Pacific traffic has continued ever since. But the route to India, Burma, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Singapore which were then part of British Empire, was always via London.
This has a bearing on the habit that has unfortunately persisted — the habit of looking at the realities in this area through the eyes of others. Any U.S. effort to look at Asia independently is welcome. Hence the importance of the work of the Asia Society, which is dedicated to the cause of deepening American understanding of Asia and stimulating meaningful intellectual and cultural exchanges.
It is not enough that assessments of the changing roles and relationship in Asia today are made in learned seminars and journals. Without a deeper understanding of the Asian people, their art, civilisation and culture as well as their contemporary urges and aspirations, the process of appreciation and analysis will remain incomplete.
To seek to promote an understanding of the complex Asian scene is a stupendous task indeed. Asia today constitutes half of the human race. It is the birth place of all the major world religions. Its river valleys have cradled three ancient civilizations. Its history of the last five thousand years is a testimony to the inner vitality of the civilizations which have waxed and waned and yet endured in the ethos of the peoples. It is a matter of satisfaction to us that the Asia Society should devote its energies to this challenging task of building of understanding between Asia and America.
