This Article is From Dec 01, 2017

In New Delhi, Barack Obama's Message To Future Leaders: Highlights

In New Delhi, Barack Obama's Message To Future Leaders: Highlights

Former US President Barack Obama addresses young leaders at a town hall in New Delhi.

New Delhi: Former US President Barack Obama held a town hall in New Delhi. Barack Obama interacted with around 280 young leaders from across the country. The town hall was organised by the Obama Foundation in a bid to aid young leaders understand how Obama Foundation can help them in their field of work. 

After arriving in India on Thursday, Mr Obama attended the HT Leadership Summit earlier today. Speaking about elections in the US and the role of media, the former President said, "If I watched Fox, I wouldn't vote for me." He further said that those who watch Fox News and those who read The New York Times "live in separate realities" before adding that multiple realities can make a democracy difficult to function.
 

Here are the highlights of Barack Obama's Town Hall:

Dec 01, 2017 16:43 (IST)
A transgender member of the audience speaks about Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code, talks about the "state terror against gender minorities - be it sexual minorities or based on class and caste" and about how there are no discussions on LGBTQ rights. The member asks, "How do we fight them?"

To this, Mr Obama says, "It begins with what you just did: finding your voice."

Dec 01, 2017 16:28 (IST)
Speaking about change, Barack Obama says, "Change is a slow process. It took 20 years to see the effects of ending racial segregation in the US after a Supreme Court verdict. We have to accept that change is hard. So divide your problems into bite-sized pieces and make sure you are listening to the people you want to help."
Dec 01, 2017 16:25 (IST)
"Technology can isolate people, reinforce pre-existing biases. The digital network in Obama foundation allows people to meet, converse and forces people to have conversation outside and meet and engage with other people. If you do that you have a powerful tool," says Barack Obama.
Dec 01, 2017 16:23 (IST)
"Technology cannot replace teachers," says Barack Obama at the Delhi town hall. 
Dec 01, 2017 16:13 (IST)
Talking about technology and its influence, Barack Obama says, "Technology is an incredible force for good but also has limits. We should look at how we avoid traps of technology." He further adds, "Social media played a big part in my campaign. We were using MySpace back then. Facebook, Twitter did not exist - that's how old I am."
Dec 01, 2017 16:09 (IST)
Former US President speaking on climate change and Delhi pollution says, "Want to do something about climate change. As you are aware in Delhi, clean air is a very important investment."
Dec 01, 2017 16:07 (IST)
Barack Obama says, "Charting the course of the future depends on us. More children are going to school than ever before. Want women to get same opportunities as men."
Dec 01, 2017 16:03 (IST)
Talking about the growth in global life expectancy and how the world has never been "healthier and wealthier", Barack Obama says, "Despite what newscasts will make you think, we've come a long way. If you could choose the time when you were born - you'd pick now. Despite remarkable cruelty and suffering, there is less violence This did not happen out of luck, it happened because people chose to make it happen"
Dec 01, 2017 16:00 (IST)
Speaking on the Indian population and the youth of the country, Barack Obama says, "You've got the largest population of young people. There has never been a better time to be a young person."
Dec 01, 2017 15:59 (IST)
Barack Obama says India and US have a common set of values. 
Dec 01, 2017 15:57 (IST)
Speaking about his Obama Foundation, Barack Obama says, "The single most important thing I want to focus on is the next generation of leadership. That's the central goal of the foundation."
Dec 01, 2017 15:56 (IST)
The former US President says, "The partnership between the oldest and largest democracy could be a defining relationship for the 21st century."
Dec 01, 2017 15:56 (IST)
Speaking about the Indian diaspora in the US, Barack Obama says, "US has a strong Indian community. Both countries are incredibly diverse."
Dec 01, 2017 15:55 (IST)
Barack Obama says, "I had the honour of being the first US president of joining India's Republic Day. I've also had privilege to address your parliament."
Dec 01, 2017 15:54 (IST)
Barack Obama starts speaking at the Townhall, says, "Let me see if I can't get this right "Bahut Dhanyavad"" amid roaring cheers from the crowd. 
Dec 01, 2017 15:33 (IST)
PM Narendra Modi meets former US President Barack Obama. PM Modi tweets, "It was a pleasure to meet, once again."
Dec 01, 2017 15:12 (IST)
Told PM Modi Privately That Country Shouldn't Be Divided On Religious Lines: Barack Obama
Barack Obama said he "privately" told PM Narendra Modi that a country shouldn't be divided on religious lines. 
Dec 01, 2017 15:09 (IST)
Taking a dig at US President Donald Trump, the former President of the US said, "If you see a politician doing things that are questionable, one of the questions you can ask yourself as a citizen is 'am I encouraging this?'"
Dec 01, 2017 15:07 (IST)
Speaking about how both India and the US have overcome years of colonialism, Mr Obama said, "India and US have thrown off the yoke of colonialism and have drafted the constitutions that begins with the same three words: "We, the people""
Dec 01, 2017 15:04 (IST)
At a Leadership Summit in Delhi, Barack Obama said, "For a country like India where there is a Muslim population that is successful, integrated and considers itself as Indian-which is not the case in some other countries-this should be nourished and cultivated."
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