"Consular Services at the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata will be closed on August 26, 2009.  In case of an emergency involving an American Citizen, please call 91-33-3984-2400 and ask to speak with the Duty Officer."

American Expert Discusses Ways to Save Indian Forests

Mr. Andrew Goetzl, President of Seneca Creek Associates in the United States and an authority on sustainable forest development, visited Kolkata and the Sunderbans at the invitation of the American Center.  While here he spoke with local officials and NGOs about ways to develop forest resources.

Consul General Participates in La Martiniere Debate Program

Consul General Beth Payne presents ‘Best Speaker’ trophy to a student at the InterMartiniere Fixtures 2009 Girls’ debate competition held in Kolkata on August 19.  Ms. Payne was the Chief Guest of the program, in which students from Kolkata and Lucknow La Martiniere schools participated.

American Center Shows President’s Cairo Speech At Muslim School

The Kolkata American Center showed President Obama's June 4 Cairo speech in the city’s biggest English Medium Muslim Higher Secondary School on August 20. More than 150 girl students watched the speech, which was followed by a lively free discussion with the American Center’s Assistant Public Affairs Officer, Mr. Moulik Berkana.

Consul General Visits Serampore College

On August 17 Consul General Beth Payne visited Serampore College, in the Hooghly district of West Bengal.She delivered a speech on “Higher Education in the USA: Opportunities and Challenges” and fielded questions from students.The CG was the chief guest at the event which celebrated the birth anniversary of Rev. Dr. William Carey.

New English Access Microscholarship Program

On August 17, 2009 Public Affairs Officer Moulik Berkana launched the selection process for 100 students for the new English language learning program at the Sir Syed Group of Schools in Kolkata. Through the two-year program the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata supports the teaching of English to students from disadvantaged communities.

American Consulate Organizes Madrassa Teacher Conference

The Kolkata Consulate and the Regional English Language Office (RELO) of the U.S. Embassy, in collaboration with the Indo-Arab Cultural Association, organized an English Language Skill Course August 3-14 in Kolkata.  More than 35 Madrassa teachers from West Bengal, Assam, Jharkhand, Bihar, and Orissa, participated in the workshop inaugurated by Consul General Beth Payne. Kevin McCaughey, a senior English Language Fellow, conducted the workshop.

Annual Literature Seminar Features Keynote Address by American Speaker

At the American Center, August 13-14, 2009, the Kolkata American Literature Study Circle marked its12^th anniversary with an annual seminar featuring American speaker Professor Gary Weaver’s keynote address on “Understanding American Cultural Values.”  Nearly 50 academics, writers, research scholars and graduate students from eastern and northeast India participated.

Consul General Visits the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy (IICP)

August 14 Consul General Beth Payne visited the IICP in Kolkata.  She interacted with those under doing training to become teachers for those with special needs and toured the Institute’s facilities.  The visit is part of post’s continued outreach and programs on subjects of health and service.

Kolkata Students Discuss Secretary Clinton’s Visit to India

 On August 12 at the American Center young scholars participated in a seminar on “U. S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s visit to India: Implications for South Asia.”  The event was organized by Foreign Policy Study Circle, supported by the U.S. Consulate in Kolkata.