RT team
During the inaugural Independence Day celebrations at the newly-established Indian Consulate in Seattle, Bill Gates lauded India as a pivotal leader in pioneering global innovations across technology, agriculture, and healthcare sectors.
Event Highlights: Speaking to an audience of over 2,000 Indian-Americans, Gates, as chairman of the Gates Foundation, accentuated India’s critical role in producing affordable vaccines and spearheading the development of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI). He remarked on how India’s inventive strides are benefiting not only its citizens but also the global community, with many countries in the Global South adopting India’s DPI model.
The celebrations, marking India’s 78th Independence Day, were also attended by political dignitaries including Congresswoman Suzan DelBene, Congresswoman Kim Schrier, and Congressman Adam Smith. The event featured cultural floats and performances that illustrated India’s diverse cultural fabric, themed ‘Unity in Diversity’.
Community and Cultural Recognition: The occasion was further commemorated with proclamations by local authorities and the lighting of significant buildings in Seattle and Bellevue in the colors of the Indian flag, celebrating India’s rich heritage and achievements.
Gates’ Long-standing Admiration: Reflecting on his longstanding admiration for India, Gates recounted his initial engagements with the country during a podcast with Nikhil Kamath of Zerodha. He highlighted the historical connection starting from recruiting Indian IT professionals for Microsoft, which subsequently led to establishing a major development center in India, now a workplace for 25,000 employees.
Gates also shared his optimism about India’s forward trajectory in a pre-visit blog post, expressing enthusiasm to see the country’s advancements post-pandemic, particularly in tackling global health and climate challenges.
Recent Visits and Collaborations: Earlier in the year, Gates visited Odisha to review India’s digital initiatives and discuss potential AI applications in agriculture with the then Chief Minister, Naveen Patnaik. Since 2017, the Gates Foundation has been collaborating with Odisha’s agricultural and fisheries departments to innovate data-driven solutions that benefit local farmers and fishermen, highlighting a deep-seated partnership that champions social and economic progress.
