Obama tried to upstage Biden by commenting on India: African-American Singer Mary Millben

WASHINGTON DC: Mary Millben, a renowned American singer and actor, captured the hearts of Indians with her performance of the National Anthem at the International Day of Yoga held at the UN Headquarters on June 21, where she paid tribute to Prime Minister Modi. Her mesmerizing performance and gesture of touching the Prime Minister’s feet not only earned her admiration from the Indian community but also elevated her to a star status back in India.

Millben, known to be a strong African American voice advocating peace and unity, has had an illustrious career as a cultural ambassador and envoy of the US State Department. She is also the official singer for White House events and ceremonies.

Throughout her journey, she has had the privilege of performing for several US presidents, including Bush, Obama, Trump, and now Biden. With her unwavering love for India and Prime Minister Modi, Millben sees him as one of the world’s greatest leaders, capable of addressing the global issue of attacks on faith.

In this exclusive interview with Executive Editor Rohan Dua, she candidly expresses her support for Modi and calls out former US President Obama for making untimely remarks about India’s integrity during the Prime Minister’s state visit.

She also says that she finds it greatly disturbing that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi speaks negatively about India everywhere he goes, while stating that there is no greater leader than PM Modi who can strengthen US-India relations.

Finally, a great fan of Lata Mangeshkar, she expressed her desire to live her Bollywood dream. Shah Rukh Khan and Sri Devi top the list of her all time favourite Bollywood actor and actress.

Excerpts from the interview: 

ROHAN DUA: First of all, I want to congratulate you, Miss Millben, because when you sang the national anthem there on stage in front of thousands of Indian diaspora and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, what was that feeling like? Take me through that moment.

MARY MILLBEN: It was such an honor, I tell you, to be a part of the official state arrival visit for His Excellency Prime Minister Narendra Modi, certainly to celebrate the US-India relationship. It was a remarkable week, and to have been invited to be a part of that was the greatest honor. To share the stage with the Prime Minister and have an official meeting with him, I was deeply honored. I have great respect and admiration for the Prime Minister. So I was honored to be a part of that and to experience this beautiful culture and land that has become my family, India. It’s like a big family to me. Having the opportunity to celebrate the US-India relationship and the Prime Minister’s work in India was deeply meaningful to me.

ROHAN DUA: You must be considering the fact that one of your videos that went viral is of you touching the feet of the Prime Minister. Was it impromptu or planned? What was the thinking behind it?

Mary Millben: To be honest, it was really an impromptu moment. I wasn’t aware that the Prime Minister was going to be on stage during the singing of the anthems. When he started to make his way up to the stage and the audience erupted with excitement, it was a beautiful moment. I thought, “Wow, this is a moment where I can formally honor the Prime Minister.” As I have sung for four consecutive US presidents and other heads of state, there are moments on stage with leaders where you honor them. My parents taught me how to honor a great leader and respect elders. In my Hindi classes, we learned about the values and traditions of Indian culture, including respect for elders. There are similarities between Indian and African American cultures in that regard. In those few seconds before walking out on stage, I said a little prayer. It was God who said, “Take this moment and honor the Prime Minister in front of this audience and the world watching.” I believe it’s important for young people and the world to see how we honor our leaders and elders. As soon as I finished, I didn’t expect the Prime Minister to walk towards me, but I felt it was a moment to honor him. He was gracious and complete in his response.

ROHAN DUA: Moving from one administration to another, what differences do you see between the Bush administration, the Obama administration, and now the Biden administration?

MARY MILLBEN: What I have seen all of them do well, and what we do well in America, is to be kind and gracious to our friends. I have spent a lot of time with President Bush because I worked intimately there, and I spent a significant amount of time with President Trump singing for the Trump administration. As a performer, I honor the President, regardless of party affiliation.

READ MORE: PM Modi slays White House Muslim reporter on minority rights issue

ROHAN DUA: I want to ask you about Mr. Obama’s recent statement in an interview where he said that India may start pulling apart if minority rights are not protected. Do you think this comment was unnecessary, especially considering the condemnation from the White House and his own party about the timing?

MARY MILLBEN: Well, Rohan, I’ll be honest with you. People who know me well know that I am not shy and I am honest when asked a question. So I’ll be straightforward. I felt that it was quite arrogant of the former president to upstage the current President of the United States, who happened to be his vice president in his own party, during such an important week for both the President and the Prime Minister. I found it to be quite arrogant, to be honest. That being said, I understand the concerns many people have about religious freedom worldwide. This is not just an isolated conversation in India.

The conversation about the attack on faith across the world is crucial because we are witnessing a rise in religious persecution globally. As someone who values faith deeply, both myself and Prime Minister Modi, we share a common bond in our strong belief. Just like the United States and India share the common values of faith, strong families, and freedom, religious freedom is an integral part of that. While the timing of the former president’s comments was wrong, I do believe that the conversation about religious freedom needs to be at the forefront with every world leader.

READ MORE: In US, Indian expats bat for PM Modi’s re-election

I want to use my platform and voice to assist the Prime Minister, whom I consider a new friend, in addressing the conflicts and challenges related to religious freedom in India, including the situation in Manipur. As a Christian woman, I have been following and witnessing the events there, and it is my belief that no person should face persecution based on their faith, regardless of their religion. Religious freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, and I know that the Prime Minister deeply cares about protecting this freedom and ensuring that individuals of all faiths can practice their beliefs without fear. I would be honored to come to India, sit with the Prime Minister, and bring together faith leaders from various religions to discuss reconciliation, peace, and finding solutions to the conflicts we are witnessing. Our goal should be to prevent the destruction of churches, temples, or mosques, and to ensure that no individual faces persecution because of their faith. Instead of using his platform to criticize our strongest democratic partner, the former president could have used it to bring forth constructive solutions for the global conflicts we are facing.

ROHAN DUA: Do you believe that the US has learned from the events that took place in 2001, such as the Pentagon attacks by Al Qaeda, which were largely motivated by radical elements within Islam?

MARY MILLBEN: While I may not be the most knowledgeable person to comment on these sensitive policy matters, particularly regarding the horrific events that occurred in the United States, what I can say is that we are currently witnessing the greatest attack on faith worldwide. This assault on faith is not limited to any particular religion, but rather a broader attack on faith in general. As a believer in Jesus Christ, I closely follow what’s happening within the Christian faith. However, it is important to note that this assault extends to all faiths. It is a dangerous escalation that cannot go unnoticed or unaddressed. When I was asked about Manipur, I chose to withhold my comments until after the Prime Minister’s visit, as I did not want to overshadow his visit or the President’s visit. I know that faith is important to the Prime Minister, and I am aware of his concerns regarding the escalating attacks on faith in India and around the world. World leaders must not shy away from speaking out against terrorism and religious extremism, as they are connected and pose real threats. The G20 summit in India provides an excellent opportunity for these important discussions to take place.

ROHAN DUA: Opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi, has also been traveling to the United States recently. Did you pay any attention to him?

MARY MILLBEN: Well, I caught glimpses of his speeches and thoughts, and honestly, I don’t personally know Mr. Rahul, so I don’t want to make unkind comments. However, it’s difficult for any country to support a leader who constantly speaks negatively about their own nation.
A true leader appreciates their heritage and values their country. That’s why Prime Minister Modi is adored in India and respected worldwide.

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