Ahmedabad, DeshGujarat

American Congress woman Tulsi Gabbard interacted at Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry(GCCI) in Ahmedabad with business community. In her opening address she spoke about her experience in India and in Gujarat. She also spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to America. She spoke about US-India relations. She spoke about Hawaii and Aloha. Describing the meaning of ‘Aloha’ she said it means, I greet you with the deepest respect and an open heart. Tulsi in her opening address said that she has received Great inspiration from Lord Krishna’s teaching to Arjuna. She said Krishna’s message to Arjuna is applicable for everyone regardless of identity or location. She said the message that lies in Gita is really one that defines true happiness and success. She said ‘Aloha’ spirit reflects from Gita. She specifically mentioned the principal of Karma Yoga. Presented above in video is her opening address.

Tulsi Gabbard: Background Note

Tulsi Gabbard was born in Leloaloa, American Samoa in 1981, the fourth of five children. At the age of two, Tulsi and her family settled in Hawai’i where as a teenager, she co-founded the Healthy Hawai’i Coalition, a non-profit teaching children to take care of themselves and the environment. An advocate for environmental policy, Tulsi ran for the Hawai’i State Legislature in 2002 and became the youngest person ever elected. A year later, Tulsi joined the Hawai’i National Guard to serve Hawaii’s citizens and our country.

In 2004, Tulsi voluntarily deployed to Iraq with her fellow Soldiers of the 29th Brigade eventually serving two tours of combat duty in the Middle East. Tulsi was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal during Operation Iraqi Freedom, was the first female Distinguished

Honor Graduate at Fort McClellan’s Officer Candidate School, and was the first woman to ever receive an award of appreciation from the Kuwaiti military on her second overseas tour. Tulsi continues to serve as a Captain in the Hawai’i National Guard’s 29th Brigade Combat Team. In between her two tours, Tulsi worked in the U.S. Senate as a legislative aide to Senator Daniel Akaka, where she advised the senator on energy independence, homeland security, the environment, and veterans’ affairs.

In 2010, Tulsi ran for the Honolulu City Council and served as Chair of the Safety, Economic Development, and Government Affairs committee and Vice Chair of the Budget committee. Representing Hawaii’s 2nd Congressional District, Tulsi is one of the first two female combat veterans and the first Hindu to ever serve as a member of the U.S. Congress.She took her oath of office on the Bhagavad Gita.

Tulsi is a practicing Hindu who was raised in a multi-racial, multi-faith, family. Studying the Bhagavad Gita alongside other religious/spiritual teachings. She grew up appreciating a common central message of the Bhagavad Gita: that we can only truly be happy if we are using our life in the loving service of God and humanity. This selfless service to God and all people i.e. servant leadership based on Karma Yoga, rooted in the understanding of Sanatan Dharma, is a guiding principle in Tulsi’s life.

Tulsi met Prime Minister Modi during his recent visit to the United States of America, where she voiced her strong support for the celebration of World Yoga Day. She also promised to advocate forit within the United States.

Tulsi firmly believes that the potential for the U.S. and India is very bright, but cannot be realised by economic development alone. “We cannot have a compassionate and truly prosperous society if the people themselves are greedy, selfish, angry, and envious. So we must ask ourselves how can we contribute to the development of a compassionate and caring societyand world?The answer is by being servant leaders.We need to be leaders who transcend political partisanship, personal ambition and greed. Leaders around the world in every country have to be examples to their people.”

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