Belkind becomes president of America's National Press Club

Myron Belkind, the former Associated Press bureau chief in New Delhi, has been elected president of America's prestigious National Press Club.
Belkind, who now teaches at George Washington University (GWU), was sworn at a gala held at the press club yesterday that was attended by diplomats from several countries, including India.
The National Press Club, located in Washington, is a professional organisation and private social club for journalists.
This was probably the first time in over 100 years that India featured as a dominant theme of the inaugural gala at the Press Club, which was founded in 1908.
In addition to a Bhangra dance by students of George Washington University, "Namaste" was adopted as the official greeting of the club for this year.

Former Associated Press photographer, Pulitzer winner Max Desfor, presented to Belkind a rare iconic photograph of Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru taken in 1946. The picture will be kept in the office of the new president.
Belkind, the 107th president of the National Press Club, worked with the Associated Press during 1962-2004 as editor of the New York National Desk (1962). He was sent to New Delhi as a correspondent in 1966 and was there till 1967.
He returned to New Delhi as the AP Bureau Chief in 1968 -- the position which he held for nine years -- and reported on historic events like the India-Pakistan war of 1971 and the creation of Bangladesh.