A prominent college in the US has kick-started "India Year" celebrations to mark Indo-US affinity in diverse areas amid a call for US support for India's bid for a permanent UN Security Council seat.
The celebrations began at the Des Moines Area Community College with a film screening and a food festival. Indian Ambassador to US Ronen Sen inaugurated the celebrations.
Congressman James Leach, in his remarks on the occasion, called for US support for India's inclusion as permanent member of the UN Security Council without further delay.
Those present at the inauguration also included Governor Tom Vislack, college president Robert Denson, Iowa State Representative Swati Dandekar and the main coordinator and initiator of the "India Year", Reggie Sinha.
During his visit to Iowa state, Ambassador Sen also held discussions with scientists at the Iowa State University on implementation of the Indo-US knowledge initiative on agriculture. He discussed with representatives of various companies about establishment of commercial linkages between the two countries in agricultural activities.