Trump spoke about the significance of lighting diyas on Diwali and said that it is a “symbol of faith in the victory of light over darkness”.

For decades, families in India have dedicated years and much of their finances toward a singular goal: getting their children a degree from a US university. Despite the hefty cost – often bore in staggering loans – the risk was palatable because the reward was likely a career launchpad that no other country in the world could offer.