U.S. Ambassador to India Presides Over 247th Independence Day Event in Chennai
United States Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti, who is on his first official visit to Chennai, presided over the 247th anniversary celebration of U.S. Independence, hosted by the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai on Thursday, June 15, 2023.
A press release said,”American Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July in the United States, commemorates the adoption of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.”
The event highlighted U.S.-India areas of cooperation, including in the Indo-Pacific, gender equity, innovation, space, and climate change, while also recognizing robust U.S.-India people-to-people ties and institutional partnerships.
Speaking at the event in Chennai, Ambassador Garcetti hailed the strong and growing partnership between the United States and India, particularly South India.
“The deep ties between the U.S. and India are gaining strength in many key areas and South India has a key role in the partnership. The upcoming visit to the U.S. by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a prime example of the accelerated collaboration between our two countries. The U.S.-India partnership is one of our most consequential relationships. We look forward to continuing to work with India on our shared goals in the Indo-Pacific region. We continue to engage India to deepen our cooperation on the vital issues of peace, prosperity, the planet, and our peoples.”
He expressed appreciation to the guests in attendance, referring to their contributions as “the engine behind the vibrant and robust U.S.-India relationship.”
Representing Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin, Minister for Industries, Investment Promotion, and Commerce T R B Rajaa was present to deliver remarks. Wishing all Americans on the occasion of Independence Day, Minister Rajaa said, “It is a great honor for me to participate in today’s celebration as a representative of Tamil Nadu, which has deep ties with the United States. Tamil Nadu values freedom, diversity, and equality as much as the U.S. does, and we wish to deepen our ties by collaborating on sustainable industrial growth, in the spirit of these values.”
Rear Admiral Michael Baker, Senior Defense Official and Defense Attaché at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, Geoffrey Parish, Deputy Minister Counselor for Commercial Affairs at the U.S. Embassy in New Delhi, and U.S. National Science Foundation Director Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan also attended. U.S. Consul General in Chennai Judith Ravin and Vice Consul Camille Zoe Swinson were the masters of ceremony.
Highlights of Chennai’s Independence Day reception include Chennai’s new Marine Corps detachment’s first Color Guard march, U.S. and Indian anthems sung by students of Chennai’s KM Music Conservatory, and a dance performance by Beatfreakz to Indian American rap singer Raja Kumari’s Bindis and Bangles. Political cartoonist and Fulbright-Nehru Scholar Satwik Gade designed a special backdrop highlighting U.S.-India cooperation.
YouTube Link to U.S. Ambassador to India Eric Garcetti’s remarks at the 247th anniversary celebrations of U.S. independence, hosted by the U.S. Consulate General in Chennai on Thursday, June 15, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uz8T5QN_vPY