Mr Verma comes to India

Richard Rahul Verma, the first Indian American to serve as US Ambassador to New delhi, quips that surviving the first month in India is his first goal.

After being sworn in by United States Secretary of State John F Kerry as the first ever Indian American Ambassador to India, an emotional Richard Rahul Verma said, «Only in America can canada goose outlet location the son of these canada goose outlet online reviews immigrant parents represent the United States in this country of India, with which we have so much in common so many shared values and so much affection.»

uk canada goose Earlier, he spoke emotionally about his parents and canada goose outlet buffalo grandparents, and «how much they’ve sacrificed in order for us to be standing before you.» uk canada goose

Image: Richard Rahul Verma, the first canada goose outlet reviews Indian American to be appointed US Ambassador to India.

Verma said his parents came from small villages «at a time of great turmoil when India was being divided,» and noted that their journey in the United States canada goose outlet hong kong was not easy.

He recalled how «in the summer of 1971, when they and their wood paneled station wagon and the five kids ages two to 12 and everything they owned rolled into Johnstown, Pennsylvania, into our 1930s era duplex; the first Indian family in this community.»

«While we never lost our culture and heritage,» canada goose outlet black friday he said, adding, «my parents set out to build ties with the new community. I can still remember my mom standing at the bus stop to receive the kids canada goose outlet as they arrived from school in her sari with the blowing snow. My dad was working around the clock. But they never complained.»

«Our story in not unique, it is the American experience repeated millions of times for so many in this room. So, to all those from the South Asian subcontinent who came before us, thank you.»

buy canada goose jacket cheap «And for those of you still fighting to make it, we stand with you. And, for those trailblazers in this room academics, journalists, Surgeon General (Dr Vivek Murthy was among the nearly 250 guests) and others, thank you for paving the way.» buy canada goose jacket cheap

Verma noted other dignitaries among the guests, including past US ambassadors to India, senior White House and State Department officials, and India’s Deputy Chief of Mission Taranjit Singh Sandhu, who Verma described as «one of perhaps the most talented Indian diplomats.»

Canada Goose online «We first met in the 1990s and I don’t think any one of us could have predicted this moment would be possible,» Verma said of Ambassador Sandhu. «Thank you for canada goose outlet toronto your friendship and all what you’ve done to build this partnership.» Canada Goose online

canada goose uk black friday His swift and unanimous confirmation by the US Senate on a voice vote, Verma said, «is less about me, but the bipartisan support for the US India relationship on Capitol Hill.» canada goose uk black friday

Turning to Kerry, Verma said, «Mr Secretary, I am really thrilled that you will be in India in mid January, and then, goodness, the President in the third week of January and (Commerce) Secretary (Penny) Pritzker and (Treasury) Secretary (Jacob) Lew.»

To guffaws of laughter, Verma added, «When people keep asking me what my goals and objectives are when I get there, I say just to survive the first month or two. It’s a modest but fearful goal.»

«Thank you for the trust you’ve shown in me,» Verma told Kerry, «and in all seriousness, I will work very hard to follow the vision you have set in strengthening our security partnership and expanding our trade and economic relationship, strengthening the climate and energy ties, and working to strengthen democracy and human rights and so much more.»

canada goose clearance sale «So, we have a lot of critical work before us at this very important time of the relationship.» canada goose clearance sale

uk canada goose outlet Verma’s appointment as the first Indian American envoy to New Delhi «represents a homecoming of enormous consequences,» Kerry said before swearing Verma in at the ceremony in the historic Benjamin Franklin Room at the State Department. uk canada goose outlet

cheap canada goose uk In September, Kerry had hosted a luncheon along with Vice President Joe Biden for Prime Minister Narendra Modi at this very venue. cheap canada goose uk

«I am really excited about being able to swear in Rich Verma as our next ambassador to India,» Kerry said, calling it «one of the most important ambassadorial posts for the United States.»

Image: US Secretary of State John F Kerry at the swearing in. Ambassador Richard Verma and his wife Pinky can be seen on the left, back row.

Among the guests were several former ambassadors to India like Frank Wisner, Tim Roemer, Nancy J Powell, senior White House, State Department and www.gooseyou.com Congressional officials.

Besides Verma family, scores of his friends from his high school and college days and also his military and private sector stints, were present.

«This is no surprise,» Kerry said, «because Rich has covered a lot of bases and during that journey has made a lot of friends.»

Kerry explained why Verma’s appointment was a homecoming.

«Half a century ago, Kamal Verma and his late wife Savitri Verma left India the country they loved to build a life in the canada goose outlet website legit United States, and it’s a great American story. Today we return the favour, by sending a new generation of Vermas to India.»

canada goose Image: Richard Rahul Verma, the first Indian American to be appointed US Ambassador to India, with President Obama in the White House. canada goose

Canada Goose sale «The President’s decision to nominate Rich Verma to represent the United States in Delhi is not just another ambassadorial appointment. It continues canada goose outlet winnipeg address a long standing American tradition of sending our very best diplomats to be our representatives in India,» Kerry asserted. Canada Goose sale

«Rich Verma has more than two decades of experience working in the military, the State Department, the private sector and on Capitol Hill, and in that time has proved through his energy and intelligence, tremendous creativity and ability, a sound judgment and he knows how to get things done.».