John,
Right now I’m in India, leading a bipartisan congressional delegation to celebrate India’s Independence Day at the Red Fort on August 15, an event that my grandfather, Amarnath Vidyalankar, sacrificed so much of his life for.
My grandfather was a freedom fighter, a tireless champion for Indian independence. For several years during World War II, he was imprisoned alongside Gandhi for demanding an end to British rule. Even behind bars, Amarnath stayed strong, and after independence, he joined India’s first parliament.
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Please take a moment to read about the trip in USA Today.
My grandfather died when I was nine, but the stories I heard about him while I was growing up sparked my imagination and inspired me to go into public service.
But this trip is more than just a celebration; it’s about building relationships with the largest democracy and growing economic force in the world. We have the opportunity to have a balanced economic relationship with India—one that will create jobs in America and increase our exports.
If my grandfather were alive today, I believe he would want a partnership based on our shared founding values of democracy, freedom of the press and assembly, and human rights with an added focus on tackling the climate crisis, combating global poverty, empowering women, and bolstering education. And that’s my focus as well. Onward, Ro |
