Interview with Nikki Haley, Governor of South Carolina

Question: Why did you write this book? It’s being released months before the presidential elections. Do you have to say on the timing of the release of the book?

Nikki Haley: When we ran for office, we heard from people that they’d never run for office if they had to go through what we went through. But what we wanted people to take away from our story is the exact opposite. This book was my way of bragging about our great state and reminding people that, only in this country, can someone fight all odds and succeed.

Question: What was it like growing up in one of the few Indian American families in rural South Carolina? What do you have to say about your Indian heritage?

Nikki Haley : While there were challenges growing up as the only Indian family in our area, as you can read in our book, Bamberg, a little town in rural South Carolina, came to wrap its arms around us – and we’ve never forgotten it.”

Question: As you have mentioned in the book about your parents coming from Amritsar, do you still maintain contacts with your relatives and family members in India?

Nikki Haley: We absolutely do – and were honored to have some of them visit South Carolina for our inauguration.

Question: When was it last that you visited India? Do you have any plans to travel to India as Governor of the State? If yes when?

Nikki Haley: Although I haven’t visited since I was a young girl, I will never miss an opportunity to sell South Carolina and would love to visit India. We are always excited to talk about the great things our administration is doing to make our state the most competitive in the country for business development.

Question: The Indian Ambassador to the US was recently in your State. Both of you addressed a joint news conference? What kind of relationship South Carolina has with India? In which sectors would you like Indian companies to invest in South Carolina?

Nikki Haley: It was an honor to host Ambassador Rao – a woman of great intelligence, strength and grace. As I became governor, what I saw was an opportunity – it’s an opportunity to partner with a country that continues to be strong when it comes to jobs and innovation. And so what I’ve asked is, ‘how do we get Indian companies to come and do business in South Carolina?’ I talked to the ambassador, and we are going to continue to talk.

Question: Gov Haley, you are not only a rising star of the Republican Party, but also a role model for the large number of Indian Americans. What is your own view about Indian Americans and their contribution in the development of the US. What would be your message to young Indian Americans who want to join politics like you?

Nikki Haley: Get involved. As you can read in our book, we always say great things about India – and one of my favorite things is how committed Indian-American citizens are in America. I love the fact that they are great at medicine, great at engineering, great at business and less dependent on government assistance. Leaders with that kind of background – who understand that government is there to secure the rights and freedoms of the people, not be all things

to all people – are the people we need running for office.

Question: What will you say if Romney asks you to be his Vice President nominee?

Nikki Haley: I would say ‘thank you but no thank you.’ The people of South Carolina took a chance on me, and I intend to do the job they hired me to do – and continue to deliver results to the people.

Question: What are your thoughts on Mahatma Gandhi? Have you read his books? Do you believe he is still relevant in today’s world?

Nikki Haley: Anyone who reads my book will see that I love leaders like Mahatma Gandhi who encourage people, as I always do, to find the power of their voice.

Question: Gov Haley, recently there were allegations of IRS investigations into you involvement into the finances of a Gurdrwara? People keep on levying allegations against you at frequent interval, which later end up being a false one. Do you think, this is because of your ethnicity?

Nikki Haley: First of all, we have been clear: those allegations were false — as the IRS itself said. And what you can read in our book is that South Carolina’s political establishment has relied for decades on distraction and dirty tricks to try to stop those of us who stand up to them. It’s everything that’s wrong with politics, and what we say in our book is that they can continue to do this stuff but it only motivates me more.