I HAVE always believed and said that it is the creativity of India’s human resources — its people — much more than its natural resources, that has made India leapfrog to become a leading economic and industrial powerhouse.

The swearing in of Nikki Haley as South Carolina’s first woman Indian-American Governor (and, at 38, the youngest one) was a proud moment for all Indians. Bobby Jindal, Governor of Louisiana State in the US, was the first Indian-American Governor when he took office in 2008.

Nikki Haley took the oath on Jan 13 and started her inaugural speech by saying: “I stand before you today, the proud daughter of Indian immigrants,” swelling every Indian chest with pride!

Born in Bamberg, South Carolina, to Sikh parents from Amritsar, Nikki (Namrata) Randhawa is married to Michael Haley and has two young children. Pointing to her mother in the audience, she said: ‘When you grow up with a mom like her, the word “can’t” is not in your vocabulary!’

Her swearing-in ceremony was attended by India’s ambassador to the US, Meera Shankar, and many other dignitaries. Proud Indians are looking forward to seeing many more political victories of Indian-Americans in their adopted country.

What a coincidence that Nikki Haley took the oath of office just two weeks before India’s 61st Republic Day wherein this year we warmly welcomed Indonesia’s president.

K.B. KALE Jakarta, Indonesia