American Corner opened in city

PATNA: US Consul General, Kolkata, Beth A Payne on Wednesday said that books have an energy, a life, which can be opened again and again.

She was here to inaugurate an American Corner at the Indian Institute of Business Management (IIBM) at a function held at Taramandal.

The Corner would provide information related to the US through an extensive book collection, magazines, Internet, e-journals and audio and video products, said Payne and added that its membership would be open to everyone. “As you people cannot travel to the US, we came to your doorstep,” Payne said.

The Corner will also act as an important outpost of the US Embassy in Delhi and Consulate in Kolkata. She said, in many ways, it would serve as a Satellite American Centre and American Library.

“The American Corner would help strengthen the rapidly growing partnership between the US and the people and institutions of eastern India,” Payne said, adding, “I believe the American Corner, through its various activities, will foster people-to-people ties between the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy.”

Residents of Patna can get updated on accurate and current information on cultural, educational, political, economic and social trends in the US. The Corner can also serve as a platform for the screening of videos and films, book discussions, programmes by US experts and orientation sessions for students. She said the important aspect of this venture is the partnership with IIBM.

Earlier, Payne said, “I feel wonderful to be back in Patna.” She said that in the coming days many more American officials would be coming to the city.

Governor Debanand Konwar, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said the Corner would be a source of great information and knowledge. “This partnership is both symbolically and practically important as it would provide information through various sources, including books and Internet,” Konwar said.

He said that Bihar from time immemorial has been a great seat of learning and added that when the world was in the midst of darkness and ignorance, both Nalanda and Vikramshila universities flourished.

American Library, Kolkata, director Sushant Banerjee; founder and director-general, IIBM, U K Singh; and IIBM executive director, Rohit Singh; were present.