"This has been an emotional and a very special day for the both of us. What I want everyone to know is that we are here to give our respects. I am not here as a Governor, I am here as someone who feels honored and emotional to be here on this very special day." She said fighting off tears. This is South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley.
She took some time to recover herself and was given water to drink. Then she was asked, "How special is this visit for you?"
She replied, "It was a very special day. I had heard lots of special things from my parents, but it was very special to be here, it was very special to experience it. I feel very humbled and very honored to have been here. It took me forty years but it was worth the wait."
Then the questions turned to business. The purpose of her trip to India was to recruit business partnerships that would increase trade and relations with her state.
The final question was back on a religious topic, "Was it a political conversation for you to adopt Christianity?"
"No. No, I am very proud of my upbringing. I'm very proud that I grew up in gurdwaras. What happened was just, I think the issues of when you live in America, I don't understand the language. So while I felt what it was like to be in a gurdwara and I felt the faith and I felt the strength, at some point you have to understand the word, you have to understand the speaking. So in Christianity spoke to me in that I could understand it. But you come to a holy place like this, you FEEL IT. So yes, we converted to Christianity but it wasn't political, it was out of the fact that when you change and when you grow up you need more and when you don't understand the language that can be difficult."
It is certainly heartening to see her sincerity and humility.