Obama's Indian classmate to attend his inaugration

Four persons have been invited to the inaugration of Barack Obama in Washington. America. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his wife, United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi, business tycoon Mukesh Ambani and Dr Surat Singh, a lawyer at the Supreme court who was Obama's class mate at Harvad Law School.

"I was estatic to learn that a representative change and a fresh vision has taken American leadership. It is a triumph of hope over despair, victory of spirit over circumstances and a celebration of human values over cynicism," Surat Singh told rediff.com in an exclusive interview.

Singh will leave for America to attend the inaugration ceremony on the January 17. " I have requested for a meeting with him. But I would be meeting some of the members of his team, particularly people like his chief economic advisor Larry Summers, former president of Harvard University and now director of the national economic council. I hope to meet the important dignitaries of his cabinet who have Harvard connections," he said.

While in Washington, he would address a series of meetings including one at Reed Smith on the changing legal landscape in India.

The invitation had come through the Harvard Law School Alumni Association and Dr Singh is the president of All American Universities Alumni and a former president of the Harvard Club of India and Asia.