I would like to use this opportunity to pay my tributes to successivegenerations of American scholars who have kept interest in India alive in theUnited States. I recall the days of John Kennedy and the Peace Corps where alarge number of young, idealistic American youth came, served in very difficult,distant parts of our country and brought to those areas a ray of hope. Then,there was a period of hope. India had just become independent. There was a lotof enthusiasm that we are going to write a new page in the history ofdevelopment. And I recall the contribution of Prof. John Kenneth Galbraith, thescholars at the M.I.T and other distinguished American scholars who gave toIndian development process the initial push. Later on, I recall in the early1971, when India was faced with a flood of migrants from Bangladesh because ofthe atrocities being committed in that region, the American establishment stoodsilent, but it was the strong resurgent voice of the American academic communitywhich spoke the truth and told the world what was happening in that unfortunatecountry at that time. I therefore, deem it a great pleasure and privilege torenew our contacts, contacts between the American academic community and thegovernment and the people of India. When I see before me such a distinguishedalumni, I recognize the need what a great contribution they have and they willmake to further propelling the processes of social and economic change in ourcountry.