The Ambassador of India to the United States, His Excellency Taranjit Singh Sandhu, visited The Ohio State University on December 16 to meet with university leadership, engage with members of the Indian community, interact with current student leaders, discuss potential partnerships with President Kristina M. Johnson and tour the new controlled environment complex. Randhir Jaiswal, Consul General of India, New York, accompanied the ambassador, as did Avdhesh Kumar, Protocol Officer, Consulate General of India, New York and Karthik Iyer, First Secretary, Embassy of India, Washington D.C.
Ohio State leaders from across the campus appreciated the opportunity to meet with the ambassador at the newly opened Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex at Waterman Farm. Vice Provost for Global Strategies and International Affairs Gil Latz served as master of ceremonies for the event. Eric Toman, professor and interim director, School of Environment and Natural Resources, provided an overview of the university and Anil Makhija, Dean, Fisher College of Business, discussed the ongoing partnerships and trainings taking place in India. Nirmal Sinha, Trustee Emeritus, Federation of Indian Association of Central Ohio, noted the role Indians play in both Columbus and Ohio.
Distinguished university professor Rattan Lal presented a set of photos to the ambassador from the university archive featuring Sandhu’s parents during their time at Ohio State. Both earned graduate degrees before returning to India. The Ambassador appreciated seeing these images of his Buckeye parents for the first time.
Ambassador Sandhu requested a session with current students and was encouraged by the discussion with the undergraduate and graduate student leaders from Undergraduate Student Government, Council of Graduate Students, Punjabi Students Association, Indian Students Association and Global Leadership Initiative.
President Johnson joined the session with students and met with the ambassador to examine how India can combine strengths with Ohio State to tackle global issues in the fields of healthcare, agriculture, IT and energy.
During the tour of the Controlled Environment Agriculture Research Complex, the ambassador learned about critical research on sustainable food production as well as how Ohio State is striving to improve nutrient density and flavor in crops.