VISAKHAPATNAM: Visit of US Ambassador Richard R Verma to GITAM University on Friday bolstered the spirits of the students. Richard Verma, the 25th US Ambassador to India, shared his childhood experiences which inspired the students. Richard also said that India had gone a long way since then, creating a great platform for the students who should aim to reach global heights.
Reminiscing his boyhood days, Richard said that it was his parents and grandmother, who had given importance to education. “My father was a teacher who gave importance to the education. My mother and grandmother in my family had access to education and given importance to it. They worked hard and 50 years from then, I am standing in front of you as US Ambassador to India and all because of education,” added Richard.
GITAM University president MVVS Murthi felicitated the US Ambassador along with the varsity V-C Prof G Subrahmanyam, registrar M Potharaju, and others. The ambassador presented floral tributes at Mahatma Gandhi statue on the campus. US Consulate General (Hyderabad) Michael C Mullins, Political and Economic officer Peter McSharry, Political and Economic specialist Siba Prasad Tripathy, Public Affairs Officer Gabriel Hons-Olivier, Cultural Affairs advisor Salil Kader, Carnegie Mellon University Mechanical Engineering Assistant Research Professor Dr Albert Presto participated. Students had their best time ever during a short interaction with Richard. The Ambassador appreciated Sneha, a student, who asked about the role of women in the Smart City development. Richard said, “I cannot forget the ability of my mother and grandmother in helping my family. Women will be given equal importance irrespective of gender.”
Richard also visited the Smart City exhibition organised by the GITAM University students and appreciated their efforts.