Indian ambassador to US will speak at Baker Institute Nov. 6

BY FRANZ BROTZEN
Rice News staff

India’s new ambassador to the United States, Meera Shankar, will discuss the “Partnership for Prosperity” between the U.S. and India during a Nov. 6 lecture at the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy.

	WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY LAWRENCE JACKSON
	President Barack Obama welcomes Ambassador Meera Shankar of the Republic of India to the White House May 20 during the credentials ceremony for newly appointed ambassadors to Washington, D.C.

Shankar’s speech comes at a time of increased mutual interest in bilateral relations. The United States is involved in two wars in Southwest Asia and is looking to India to promote stability in the region, while India’s growing economic power offers the world’s largest democracy an opportunity to play a larger role on the world stage.

Shankar joined the Indian Foreign Service in July 1973. She has held several important assignments during her career: She served as director in the Prime Minister’s Office from 1985 to 1991 and was posted to Washington and served as minister of commerce from 1991 to 1995. Thereafter, she headed the Indian Council of Cultural Relations in New Delhi, where she oversaw India’s cultural diplomacy. Subsequently, in the Ministry of External Affairs, she headed two important divisions dealing with the South Asian Association of Regional Cooperation and relations with Nepal and Bhutan.

After promotion to the rank of additional secretary in 2002, she held the responsibility for the United Nations and International Security. Her last assignment was as ambassador of India to Germany from December 2005 to April 2009.

Shankar arrived in Washington as ambassador to the U.S. April 26.

Edward Djerejian, founding director of the Baker Institute, and Rice University President David Leebron will deliver introductory remarks.

The event will begin at 6 p.m. in Baker Hall’s Doré Commons. There will be a reception from 5:30 to 6 p.m.

Rice faculty, staff and students who want to attend must RSVP by e-mail (bipprsvp@rice.edu), by fax (713-348-5993) or on the Web at http://bit.ly/4po2Ab.