"I am delighted at the news of the award of the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009 to you. Please accept my heartiest congratulations.

The citation for the Prize admirably reflects your personal qualities of leadership and the new perspectives that you have brought to bear on the conduct of relations between different countries and cultures, and on some of the most burning issues of our times.

The world today is in need of a healing touch. Your pursuit of an inclusive approach to problem solving, and primacy to dialogue as an instrument of policy are setting new benchmarks for the world community. I am confident that the world will be the better for it.

Peace and non-violence are part of India's ethos. Your recent statement that the America of today has its roots in the India of Mahatma Gandhi therefore has a particularly evocative resonance in India.

I look forward to working with you to advance the goals of a more secure, equitable and just world, and extend my best wishes for your success as the President of the United States of America."