The strategic partnership between India and the US is the 'mahagathbandhan' (grand alliance) that the world needs, Mastercard CEO and President Ajay Banga has said, asserting that strong ties between the two greatest democracies can make a difference in the world.
"What I want to really see is a time in the world when the two greatest democracies are engaging at every level -- socially, culturally, politically and economically, Banga said at the Second Leadership Summit of the US India Strategic and Partnership Forum (USISPF) here on Thursday.
"I want to see more American students studying in India, not just Indian students studying in America. I want to see more American students going there to serve," he said.
On the occasion, the CEO was presented with the 2019 Global Excellence Award in recognition of his significant contribution to strengthening economic ties between the US and India by Jarred Kushner, senior adviser and son-in-law of US President Donald Trump.
Banga said he wants to see more doctors, more bureaucrats, more artists from both countries, exchanging ideas and practices freely and caring about each other's opinions.
"In fact there is an Indian word called mahagathbandhan, which means the grand coalition. This, this is the mahagathbandhan, the India-US partnership, the grand coalition that can make a difference in the world," he said.
"The fact is people like us in business and people like the others here who come from public service together, we can make music out of this whole orchestra and the kind of music that I think would be music to everybody's ears."