S.M. Krishna received a Master of Comparative Law from SMU in 1959. (AP)
One of India’s highest-ranking government officials, Minister of External Affairs S.M. Krishna made his first public appearance in Texas at SMU. Dedman School of Law hosted the minister as part of the Carrington Endowed Lecture Series Wednesday night.
Krishna graduated with a Master of Comparative law degree from Dedman Law in 1959. He served a variety of government positions in India from 1962 to 2008 and was appointed minister of external affairs for India in 2009.
The lecture, “India Now,” discussed contemporary India and its role in global development and welcomed community members from all nationalities and ages. Indian Ambassador to the U.S. Nirupama Rao was also in the audience.
Krishna began his lecture by briefly citing the colonial history of India and noting the enormous change that has happened since its liberation. Following China as the fastest growing economy in the world, India has thrived despite global financial crisis.
“India [has] transformed in diverse ways and diverse sectors,” Krishna said. “[India is the] engine of global economic growth.”
Krishna said that global interest in India has increased by “leaps and bounds.” While India’s strategic partnerships with other countries bring optimal benefit to India and the other countries involved, Krishna accredited most of India’s economic success to a “domestic economy embedded with resilience.”
“India is a [large] civilization,” he said, addressing India’s cultural variance and population of 1.2 billion people. “Sometimes change occurs at a slow pace.”
He compared American development with India’s. While the U.S. implements economic policies and advances in phases, in India everything is occurring at the same time.
“American capitalism had a free run in the 19th century,” Krishna said. “Indian capitalism is taking its root in a [new] democratic framework.”
Krishna pushed for a “new strategic and economic partnership” between India and the United States to develop clean and renewable energy sources worldwide. India’s population is requiring more and more energy as it continues to develop.
“Renewable sources of energy [as] it is the biggest energy security challenge to India,” he said.
A question from the audience led to a conversation about relations between India and Pakistan. Despite controversy over the 2008 Mumbai attacks, he said there is a great sense of positivism between the two nations on a “people to people level.”
Movement of people across the border has helped developing a greater understanding between the two countries.
Krishna recently attended a U.N. session, and shared India’s and other developing nations’ interesting in reforming the peace organization’s framework. He said that India wants to see more African representation in the U.N. Security Council and engagement of P5 countries trying to develop.
“Roadblocks [to that] are the countries that have the power to veto,” he said.
When asked about India’s lack of support of the Nuclear Proliferation Treaty, Krishna said India did not sign the treaty because of its discriminatory nature. He emphasized that India will not continue testing and has maintained a positive track record in that area. The audience welcomed his response with applause.
Krishna concluded the lecture by expressing hope and optimism for the collaborative partnership between the Lone Star state and India.
SMU Dedman School of Law followed up by presenting Krishna the Distinguished Global Alumni award in recognition for his work in the global community. Feeling nostalgic, Krishna said it was a “happy homecoming” returning to SMU.
“I owe my success to knowledge [I received] at this great institution of learning,” he said.
