Prime Minister of India - Narendra Modi arrived in the U.S. for an Official State visit last week. A Joint Statement from the United States and India affirmed both countries’ commitment to enhanced collaboration on a number of strategic priorities including: research, technology, scientific infrastructure, pandemic preparedness, and bilateral education partnerships. 

Johns Hopkins University was pleased to participate throughout the important occasion. This momentous event not only reaffirmed our longstanding partnership with India but also showcased our university-wide presence and commitment to enhanced collaboration and education.

Here are some highlights:

A Force for Partnerships 

In preparation for the visit, Dr. Amita Gupta, Florence Sabin Professor of Infectious Diseases and founder and Co-Chair of the Johns Hopkins Gupta-Klinsky India Institute, worked for several months on the Association of American Universities Task Force on Expanding U.S.-India University Partnerships to facilitate growth in partnerships. These efforts are paving the way for enhanced collaborations between Indian and U.S. academic institutions. The AAU recently issued preliminary recommendations for this.

Intellectual Exchanges

Prime Minister Modi’s U.S. visit began in New York, where he met with a small gathering of notable scholars, including JHU’s own Dr. Peter Agre, Bloomberg Distinguished Professor, Director of the Malaria Research Institute, and 2003 recipient of the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. This provided a unique opportunity for knowledge exchange as Dr. Agre discussed his malaria research. 

Alumni take part in a warm welcome

An exclusive invitation-only Washington Welcome, held on the White House Lawn, brought together alumni of Johns Hopkins University. Among the attendees was Ankita Kakkar (2023 SAIS Graduate) representing our university with pride.

“It was an honor to be invited by the President of the United States to the state arrival ceremony to welcome Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the US,” Kakkar said. “As a professional focused on Indo-Pacific affairs, witnessing the ceremony was a profound experience, as it was symbolic of the strengthening ties between the world's oldest and largest democracies, from diplomacy to defense cooperation and people-to-people exchanges.”

Ankita Kakkar outside the White House

Showcasing Cutting-edge Student Research



At the National Science Foundation, Prime Minister Modi and Dr. Jill Biden connected with 11 students making insightful research presentations. Two of our own students, Resham Talwar, an undergraduate in Biomedical Engineering and Computer Science, and Swati Tanwar, a post-doctoral fellow in Mechanical Engineering, had the honor of showcasing their innovative projects. Talwar's research focused on the early diagnosis and prevention of colorectal cancer, while Tanwar's work centered around the early detection of cancer using nanosensors and Raman spectroscopy, inspired by the renowned Indian physicist Sir C.V. Raman (link). Their presentations were met with enthusiasm, and they had the privilege of engaging in discussions with newly appointed U.S. Ambassador to India, Eric Garcetti. Dr. Jill Biden noted that “Education is the cornerstone of the bond between India and the United States. Students from both countries are learning and growing alongside each other, discovering the people that they want to become and building a better world together.”  

Building Bridges at the State Dinner

Members of the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute Advisory Board, including Co-Chair Raj Gupta, Sunil Wadhwani, and Deepak Raj, enjoyed a beautiful evening at the White House State Dinner hosted by President Biden and Dr. Jill Biden. The gathering is only the third State Dinner of this administration.

A Big Finish

The visit's final day featured a luncheon convened by Vice President Kamala Harris and U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken. Faculty member, Joshua White, Professor of Practice in International Affairs at SAIS and the inaugural director of the U.S.-ASEAN and U.S.-Pacific Institutes for Rising Leaders, attended the event along with the entire Presidential Cabinet. This luncheon emphasized the importance of continued collaboration and partnerships.

The conclusion of the visit took place at the Kennedy Center, where the Prime Minister delivered an awe-inspiring speech organized by the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF). In a powerful address, he underscored the immense significance of the U.S.-India relationship, stating, "I can confidently say that this partnership is not just of convenience but of conviction, compassion, and shared commitment for a better future. The foundation of this partnership is you."

His words highlighting the pivotal role played by the citizens of both nations in fostering this enduring alliance. It was an honor for Dr. Amita Gupta, Raj and Kamla Gupta, and Melody McCoy, Executive Director of the Gupta-Klinsky India Institute, to be in attendance.