The idea of working together is not alien to India and the United States, as they have already been working together for decades and have labored extensively to nurture their relationship, much to the benefit of Indians and Americans alike. They have fought on similar grounds, faced common challenges, conquered these together, and have thrived on each other’s capacity and concern to support the partner in times of adversity.

SPANNIVERSARY WINNERS

This essay by Rupesh Bhandari of Amritsar, Punjab is the winner of SPAN’s 50th Anniversary Article Contest. The second- and third-place winners are Sidharth Balakrishna of New Delhi and Mira Desai of Mumbai. All three essays will appear in the November/December issue of SPAN e-zine, available for free by sending an e-mail to ezinespan@state.gov

The winner of SPAN’s 50th Anniversary Cover Art Contest is Bhawana Choudhary Chandra of Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh. Her painting will appear on the cover of the January/February 2011 issue of SPAN. Bhandari and Chandra have each won an Apple iPad.

SPAN thanks all of those who entered the contest and all our readers and contributors.

Talent and capacity, of which there’s no dearth in either country, have been successfully utilized, not only for their own benefit, but also for others. With a dedicated and focused effort to enhance their mutual capacities to judiciously use the available talent and resources, many milestones can be reached. From the fight against terror to nuclear proliferation, India and the United States have already been collaborating on a whole gamut of issues. The gist is to zero in on the core ones that collectively form the robust foundation of understanding and cooperation.

Safety and security of our people and borders is an issue crucial for both India and the United States, as both face threats from outside forces conniving to disturb peace, harmony and happiness. A massive and mutually supportive strategy to take on the enemies, within and without, can reap rich dividends in the shape of lasting safety and security from unwanted elements. The apt thing to do to achieve this objective would be to enrich existing partnerships in the defense infrastructure and to conduct regular combined exercises of the defense forces, enabling them to learn and benefit from each other’s capabilities and strengths.

Scarcity of fuel is a common problem, faced by many other countries as well. Scientists on both sides can work together to devise alternative fuels to reduce dependence on the Gulf countries for the supply of oil. Motivating companies in both countries to concentrate on lowering their emissions and to obtain carbon credits by employing technologies that facilitate a cleaner and greener environment is yet another important aspect of cooperation. Once achieved, sustainable energy and stabilized economic development will be a corollary.

Increasing the existing flow of trade and investment between the two countries and facilitating an honest, open and conducive environment for their economies to thrive in can be another big booster for strengthening the bond between India and the United States. Jobs and opportunities that it will create for the people of both countries will bring tremendous mutual welfare and prosperity, which will further cement the bond of trust and reliance.

Fighting climate change brought about by global warming is a crucial concern. Mutually taking this on by spreading awareness and taking concrete steps to reduce emissions, carbon footsteps and dependence on fossil fuels by both countries will show results on a global level. India and the United States, owing to their size, power, resources and collective efforts, can contribute the most for this noble cause.

India is a hub of agriculture in the world and the United States is a pioneer in the technological aspect of agriculture. Together, they can do wonders by enhancing their capacity to produce safer food, preserve it for longer durations, utilize the existing resources to the optimum, innovating new products, processes and technologies to resolve the food crisis present worldwide. Increasing bilateral, educational and entrepreneurial exchanges to enhance the skills and abilities of the talent on both sides and to increase its size and scope is also one of the promising possibilities of this relationship.

From the history of their successful partnership in so many spheres, we can safely say that India and the United States are destined to work together, not only for their own benefit, but also for the betterment of other countries. The challenges, opportunities and possibilities are truly infinite.