In traditional Indian attire Robert D Blackwill and wife Wera stood by the door of their imposing official residence on Tuesday evening as Delhi's powerful and beautiful walked in through rain to bid adieu to the American ambassador and his wife.

On Wednesday evening as the residents of Roosevelt house walked out through the visa gate of the US embassy, curtains were pulled down on an eventful tenure of one of the most memorable US ambassadors to India in recent times.

Robert D Blackwill, the Harvard professor who after returning to the US will play a larger role in America's foreign policy, bid adieu with a gesture laden with symbolism.

His preference for visa gate to the more imposing main entrance gave weight to the figures that he gave mediapersons earlier -- 600,000 visas in the last two years.

When he arrived in India in summer of 2001, serpentine queues of Indians outside the visa counter was a daily affair.

Prodded by Secretary of State Colin Powel during one of his visits to India, Blackwill set out to reduce the problems of Indians. And he succeeded to a great extend. During his tenure India became the topper in number of students to US, second largest number of legal migrants to US and has broken new grounds in H1 and L1 visas.

His stay in India, by his own admission, has transformed his life forever.

"Thank you India for every single thing that I have discovered here. Mother India has changed my life -- forever," Blackwill said Tuesday.

His farewell speech to the industry captains on Wednesday morning reflected his endearing affection towards India. The speech quoted liberally from the vedas, spoke of the variety and vibrancy of India and brought out his deep affections for its democracy.

"I needed more than two lifetimes," Blackwell said, "in this uncommon land."

The ambassador was eloquent on India's 'profound wellsprings' of spirituality, about its architectural splendours, its people, its culture and its fight against terrorism. "I will return to India. How could it be otherwise?" he said.

In the evening, Blackwill, in a white kurta, and Wera, in a stunning yellow silk saree, were the epitome of grace as they bid farewell to friends, well wishers and some fierce critics.

It was a power packed crowd. Deputy chairperson of the Rajya Sabha Najma Heptullah, political leaders such as Manmohan Singh, Vijay Goel, Kapil Sibal, foreign secretary Kanwal Sibal, chief of integrated staff Lieutenant General Pankaj Joshi, senior journalists, several analysts, retired intelligence agency officers, artists, and others turned up.

There was unanimity among analysts and other observers at the farewell about the contributions made by Blackwill towards steering Indo-US relations to new levels.