On Thursday, 30 May 2024, US Ambassador Shefali Razdan Duggal delivered the William J. vanden Heuvel Memorial Lecture titled “Inclusive Democracy.”
Shefali Razdan Duggal, the current US Ambassador to the Kingdom of the Netherlands, was born in Haridwar, India, and moved to the US at a young age. She holds degrees in Mass Communication and Media Ecology and has an extensive background in political finance and campaigns, including serving as National Co-Chair of Women for Biden in 2020.
Appointed as the US Ambassador in 2022, Ambassador Razdan Duggal is known for her commitment to human rights and democratic values. On International Women’s Day, 8 March 2024, a tulip was named after her, marking her as the first ambassador in the Netherlands to receive such an honor.
During her lecture, Ambassador Razdan Duggal focused on the shared commitment of the United States and the Netherlands to democracy and human rights. She emphasized the importance of addressing complex and painful aspects of their shared history, including the transatlantic slave trade, as a way to build a more inclusive and fair future.
The relationship between the United States and the Netherlands remains one of the longest unbroken diplomatic ties with any foreign country. After more than 200 years, the bonds between the two nations are strong and continue to thrive.
Reflecting on this shared past and her personal background as an immigrant to the US, Ambassador Razdan Duggal highlighted the need to confront historical injustices and embrace tolerance to foster more equitable societies.
During the event, which was sponsored by The William J. vanden Heuvel 2017 Revocable Trust and Provincie Zeeland, Ambassador Razdan Duggal also announced the winner of the 2024 Theodore Roosevelt American History Award, an accolade presented by the RIAS that recognizes the most outstanding MA thesis on an American history subject composed at a Dutch university during the past academic year.
Ambassador Razdan Duggal’s inspiring speech and presence were a powerful reminder of the enduring values that unite the United States and the Netherlands, and we are grateful for her visit and thoughtful reflections on these important issues.
To view the full invitation, click here.
