"In a place like Mauritius where 70 percent of the population is of Indian origin, such an assignment is both a difficult and a privileged one for me," says Singh. "It's difficult, because the Indian people make more demands on me and expect more from me because I'm Indian, and let me tell you, it's quite hard to fulfill their needs," he explains.

Singh is openly proud of his heritage and his country. "I don't see any other country in the world which has made so much progress in such a short time of its history," he says. "Although India's per capita income is very low, India has taken great strides in industrialization and modernization in the last 35 years."

"We even export assistance to over 90 countries in the Third World," he says, smiling.

Singh says he is especially interested in the relationship between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, and he has a strong fear of the ongoing arms race between the two superpowers.

"I believe that man is not aware of the degree of the danger of the arms race," says Singh. "I'm sure that once the people of the world become fully conscious of the dangers and start raising their voice, the leaders will be compelled to listen to their voices."

Singh quotes an Indian yogi to explain his fear of the nuclear dilemma. "Man is both the mischief maker and the tool for the liberation of man."

Singh adds, "I am not pessimistic. I do believe that human beings have the capability to rise, but when things go wrong, man is the worst of all animals."

At the end of our interview, Singh smiles as he quotes Gandhi. "I do not hate man for his wrongdoings; I hate the wrongdoings," he says.