Celebrations to mark the 180th year of the U.S. Consulate in Mumbai on Friday began with a one-minute silence being observed for the lives of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel lost in the terror attack at Pulwama.
Celebrities, corporates and officials from other diplomatic missions were also witness to a U.S. Marine Corps Colour Guard performing a traditional flag presentation ceremony, and the playing of both Indian and American National Anthems, on the occasion.
U.S. Consul General Edgard Kagan said when the Consulate was opening in Mumbai, then Bombay, the U.S. was barely 60 years old. Back then, the consulate only catered to seafarers from the United States and facilitated the movement of goods between Bombay and the U.S. “We continue to do this for seafarers. The movement of goods has, however, been replaced by people,” Mr. Kagan said.
‘Need to build on success’
He also pointed to how the U.S. had turned into a fast-growing destination for Indian students. “The number of Indians studying in the U.S. has increased for the fifth consecutive year. A large chunk comes from western India. There are also record numbers of American students studying in India. Our challenge is to build on this success,” the Consul General said.