Monday, May 01, 2006
Remembering a Real Ambassador
It was with regret that I heard about the recent passing of John Kenneth Galbraith, Harvard economist, advisor to Presidents, and U.S. Ambassador to India among other things. Even though his economic views may be disparaged at the present, he did have a lasting influence nonetheless. Not least of all were new terms he coined which have now become part of our everyday culture among these being “affluent society” and “conventional wisdom”.
I’m not an economist nor have I studied the subject. Neither have I read most of Dr. Galbraith’s works, including his most famous, The Affluent Society. Yet, I’m aware about how influential Galbraith was in the larger world, especially in the two countries of which he was fond – the United States and India.
Next to Michael Harrington’s The Other America about poverty in the U.S. in the mid-20th Century, no other book had as much influence on American domestic policy as The Affluent Society. Galbraith was a key architect of President Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society” which was meant to alleviate the disparities mentioned in both books.
Although, in today’s America, most of those programs and policies have now been gutted, there are those who remember the idealism and the promise that was offered. However, just as the U.S. turned its back on Galbraith, India, the nation where he represented the U.S. as its ambassador, took up many of his ideas and called them their own. In fact, I was recently told that the newly appointed Indian ambassador to the United States made a point to visit Harvard and personally thank Dr. Galbraith. Apparently, the recent upsurge in India’s economy and presence on the world stage can be attributed to John Kenneth Galbraith and his advice to Prime Minister Nehru back in the early 1960s! There’s a lesson here if someone wishes to see it!
My own family has a personal connection to the ambassador. When my father was a professor at an engineering college in North India, Galbraith came by on one of his goodwill tours. He met the faculty and their families, which included my parents. For Galbraith, it was just another “meet-the-locals” tour, but for my parents, Galbraith was the first American they ever met!
Shortly after my father’s passing, I wrote a letter to Dr. Galbraith where I mentioned this brief visit of his which had a huge impact for my parents – and larger family – to which the professor replied about how much he was thrilled being reminded of a time he enjoyed well. He also noted that it was unfortunate that he only met my father for that brief moment. It was signed JKG. You can be sure that I treasure it deeply and it has a prominent place in my family’s archives. Thank you Dr. Galbraith for all you have done for your country and the world!
I’m not an economist nor have I studied the subject. Neither have I read most of Dr. Galbraith’s works, including his most famous, The Affluent Society. Yet, I’m aware about how influential Galbraith was in the larger world, especially in the two countries of which he was fond – the United States and India.
Next to Michael Harrington’s The Other America about poverty in the U.S. in the mid-20th Century, no other book had as much influence on American domestic policy as The Affluent Society. Galbraith was a key architect of President Lyndon Johnson’s “Great Society” which was meant to alleviate the disparities mentioned in both books.
Although, in today’s America, most of those programs and policies have now been gutted, there are those who remember the idealism and the promise that was offered. However, just as the U.S. turned its back on Galbraith, India, the nation where he represented the U.S. as its ambassador, took up many of his ideas and called them their own. In fact, I was recently told that the newly appointed Indian ambassador to the United States made a point to visit Harvard and personally thank Dr. Galbraith. Apparently, the recent upsurge in India’s economy and presence on the world stage can be attributed to John Kenneth Galbraith and his advice to Prime Minister Nehru back in the early 1960s! There’s a lesson here if someone wishes to see it!
My own family has a personal connection to the ambassador. When my father was a professor at an engineering college in North India, Galbraith came by on one of his goodwill tours. He met the faculty and their families, which included my parents. For Galbraith, it was just another “meet-the-locals” tour, but for my parents, Galbraith was the first American they ever met!
Shortly after my father’s passing, I wrote a letter to Dr. Galbraith where I mentioned this brief visit of his which had a huge impact for my parents – and larger family – to which the professor replied about how much he was thrilled being reminded of a time he enjoyed well. He also noted that it was unfortunate that he only met my father for that brief moment. It was signed JKG. You can be sure that I treasure it deeply and it has a prominent place in my family’s archives. Thank you Dr. Galbraith for all you have done for your country and the world!
