Full Circle

By KRITTIKA SHARMA

South Africa. I was interested in how democracy is strengthened when people take an active part in local decisionmaking. From South Africa, it was a natural connection to come to India, given similar threads in the two countries’ democratic movements. The early anti-apartheid movement was influenced by India’s own independence struggle, for example; and of course, Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of nonviolent resistance took root during his time in South Africa.

How did your Fulbright experience in India influence you as an attorney in the United States?

My interest in going to law school was always to promote social justice, advocate for those who might be marginalized in society, and support them in their fight for their rights. This focus was closely aligned to my Fulbright research on empowering women to participate in public decision-making. I was inspired during my Fulbright year talking to villagers about the power in their own hands to make change—India has a rich history of this and I remember connecting to people through references to giants such as Mahatma Gandhi and his vision for village-level self-government. I saw the same inspiration in clients I later represented who spoke truth to power or exercised their right to vote. In both cases, a combination of top-down law and policy and bottom-up empowerment efforts drove change.

What were your thoughts when you got to know that your first tour with the U.S. Department of State will be in India?

I was thrilled, although it wasn’t a total surprise because I had placed India very high in my list of preferences. I thought it would be very meaningful to come back and start my Foreign Service career here. Back in 1998-99, I heard it said that Fulbrighters straight out of college, as I was, would be the future diplomats of the bunch. I didn’t give it much thought until many years later, when I was considering the Foreign Service, and then it felt like things were coming full circle. I was conscious even during the Fulbright of how people-to-people connections built through the program can deepen mutual understanding between the two countries. So to come back in an official role to further that relationship was very meaningful.

What is the most exciting thing about working as a U.S. diplomat in India?

Serving as a U.S. diplomat in India has been an absolute privilege. I’ve had access to places and experiences that have afforded me unique insight into culture as well as the bilateral relationship. But when I think about my time in India, without a doubt the greatest privilege has been connecting to and learning from incredible people— whether those I interact with on a daily basis or those I have met in an official capacity.

I think, for example, of the Tibetan government-in-exile official who greeted me warmly and described herself as Bharat ki beti (a daughter of India). Or the social entrepreneur working on transforming municipal solid waste into energy. Or the interns at a disability-rights organization who showed me what it means to look out for one another. Or my local staff colleagues at the Embassy who have repeatedly answered the call to promote diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility—and have brought so much heart and talent to the effort. The moments where I have felt the most connected, delighted, or moved have been those moments of connection with people. That has made this tour truly extraordinary.

Fulbright-Nehru Fellowships

www.usief.org.in/FulbrightNehru-Fellowships.aspx https://in.usembassy.gov

Top: Sandhya Gupta came to India in 1998-99 as a U.S. Fulbright scholar to study women’s participation in panchayati raj. Her research was focused on women in rural Haryana.

Above: Gupta (third from left) with members of a panchayat at a conference.

(November 2022)

(October 2022)

(September 2022)