#ObamaInIndia: 13 Powerful Quotes from President Obama’s visit to the world’s largest democracy

Wrapping up his 3-day state visit to India today, US President Barack Obama’s trip has been one of pomp, pageantry, inspiring anecdotes and hope for fresh progress between the world’s largest and most powerful democracies.

His parting 20-minute speech at New Delhi’s Siri Fort auditorium before an audience of 2000 people, including Nobel Prize winner Kailash Satyarthi, focused on key issues including women’s empowerment, education, religious freedom and, of course, humorous personal anecdotes.

Although he is well known for his oratory skills and soaring rhetoric, these quotes by President Obama delivered a powerful message, hit all the right notes and deserve to be highlighted.

Here are some of our favorite quotes during the President’s 3-day visit to India:

1. “Even as we live in a world of terrible inequalities, we are also proud to live in countries where the grandson of a cook can become President, or even a Dalit can help write the Constitution and even a tea-seller can become Prime Minister.”

2. “Our nations are strongest when we uphold the equality of all our people – especially our women. I am married to a strong and talented woman. Michelle is not afraid to speak her mind or tell me when I am wrong – which happens quite frequently.”

3. “What Dr Martin Luther King Jr said then remains true today – “the spirit of Gandhi is very much alive in India Today. And it remains a great gift to the world. May we always live in his spirit of love and peace- among all people & nations,” President Obama wrote in the visitors’ book at Rajghat, a memorial to Mahatma Gandhi.

4. “My confidence in what our nations can achieve together is rooted in the values we share.  For we may have our different histories and speak different languages, but when we look at each other, we see a reflection of ourselves.”

5. “Senorita..bade bade deshon mein…ah you know what I mean” (A popular quote from the Bollywood film ‘Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge’)

6. “We are strongest when we see the inherent dignity in every human being.”

7. “If nations really want to succeed in today’s global economy, they can’t simply ignore the talents of half their people.  And as husbands and fathers and brothers, we have to step up — because every girl’s life matters.  Every daughter deserves the same chance as our sons.  Every woman should be able to go about her day — to walk the streets or ride the bus — and be safe, and be treated with respect and dignity. She deserves that. ”

8. “Our nations are strongest when we empower our young people –- because ultimately, you’re the one who has to break down these old stereotypes and these old barriers, these old ways of thinking.  Prejudices and stereotypes and assumptions — those are what happens to old minds like mine.  I’m getting gray hair now.  I was more youthful when I first started this office.  And that’s why young people are so important in these efforts.”

9. “Here in India, most people are under 35 years old.  And India is on track to become the world’s most populous country.  So young Indians like you aren’t just going to define the future of this nation, you’re going to shape the world.”

10. “My confidence in what our nations can achieve together is rooted in the values we share.  For we may have our different histories and speak different languages, but when we look at each other, we see a reflection of ourselves.”

11. “We believe that the circumstances of our birth need not dictate the arc of our lives.”

12. “Across our two countries, we have Hindus and Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Jews and Buddhists, we remember the wisdom of Gandhiji who said, “for me, different religions are flowers from the same garden, or branches of the same majestic tree.”

13. “The peace we seek in the world begins in human hearts.  And it finds its glorious expression when we look beyond any differences in religion or tribe, and rejoice in the beauty of every soul.”

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