US Embassy counsellor for political affairs Uzra Zeya (centre) at the meet at American Corner of Indian Institute of Business Management in Patna on Wednesday. Picture by Nagendra Kumar Singh

Patna, March 2: For Uzra Zeya, the counsellor for political affairs at the US Embassy, New Delhi, it was a homecoming of sorts.

Invited to discourse on Indian-American relationship at the American Corner of the Indian Institute of Business Management (IIBM) in Patna today, Zeya said she was thrilled to visit the state.

“I am absolutely thrilled to come here — it is both a professional and a personal visit. My ancestors are from Bihar, so for me it is like coming home,” said Zeya, who was earlier a deputy executive secretary with the US secretary of state.

Zeya added collaboration between India and the US is the key for the growth and development of the global economy in the 20th century. She said: “The growing importance of India can be gauged from the fact that President Barack Obama visited here during the first year of his tenure. India is becoming an increasingly important global player. India’s influence cannot be denied. By 2025, it will be the third largest economy in the world. The partnership between India and the US will be crucial.”

Zeya also said Indian music, theatre, art and literature are very popular in the US. Her knowledge of Indian culture impressed IIBM student Surya Bhushan. He said: “She even knows about Madhubani paintings and the litchis of Muzaffarpur. She said the US government would help in the growth endeavours of all the states of India.”

For students interested in the US, Zeya had a special piece of information — the Kennedy Centre and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations are organising Festival of India in the US this month.