New Delhi, November 8
It was just the send-off US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle deserved after a more-than-fruitful India visit- a traditional welcome reminiscent of the desert sands of Rajasthan, a lavish spread of food, culture and warmth on the sprawling Mughal Garden lawns, a Diwali setting with ‘diyas’ filling up all open spaces with light and a perfect hostess in President Pratibha Devisingh Patil.
At the official banquet in Rashtrapati Bhavan tonight, Obama and Michelle savoured the finest flavours of India, ending up looking every bit relaxed and smitten, so relaxed that the American President even made a candid admission: "One thing I realised on this trip is that my wife is a better dancer than I am."
While Obama was seen chatting up with his “friend” PM Manmohan Singh for most part of the evening, Michelle engaged briefly with Vice-President Hamid Ansari, mostly keeping to herself. For company at the
high table, the Obamas also had UPA chief Sonia Gandhi, Chief Justice of India SH Kapadia and his wife.
Among other guests were leaders of the Indian industry- from Ratan Tata, Sunil Mittal to Chanda Kochar, Mukesh and Nita Ambani. The latter was the only to arrive with his spouse. For a change, there was no Bollywood presence though chief of social organisation SEWA sat in the gathering, as did all
MPs, Cabinet Ministers and leaders of the Opposition, including LK Advani, Arun Jaitley and Sushma Swaraj. With about 120 guests in attendance, the President kick started the event raising a toast to the good health of Obamas, to the prosperity of the US people and to the further strengthening of the bonds of cooperation and friendship between India and the US.
As most guests raised a toast with champagnes, the President sufficed with a glass of lemon/juice, hailing Obama’s visit as “a historic milestone in India’s and US’ shared journey”. She made a cryptic address, touching every point of importance to India- from the need to make the world safer and the urgency to reform global institutions to the importance of Indo-US Civil Nuclear Deal and democratic ideals that have inspired both the nations.
An hour after Obama admitted he couldn’t have been the President but for Gandhi, Patil invoked the memory of Martin Luther King Junior to say how India and the US believed that democracy was a universal ideal and justice, dignity and opportunity were universal aspirations.
“At important moments in our history- during India’s freedom struggle and the American Civil Rights Movement- we have inspired each other. Nothing echoes this better than the words of Martin Luther King who said if humanity is to progress, Gandhi is inescapable,” she went on to add, setting the tone for the evening that unfolded as a perfect blend of American and India cultures with carefully chosen performers doling out the best of both the worlds.
Kishore Kumar classic “Pal pal dil ke paas” and Eric Clapton’s charmer “Wonderful Tonight” was playing from the same dais, Shillong Chamber Choir, the winners of this year’s India’s Got Talent, the Rashtrapati Bhavan’s own Navy Band was at the helm. The Ministry of External Affairs, it seems, purposely chose the Shillong Choir to make a statement before Obama. After all, the Choir is the find of the show modeled on the US hit “America’s Got Talent”.
For a start, however, the Obamas had the feel of the sand dunes as Manganiyars, the celebrated folk artistes from Alwar and Barmer, sang the classic “Kesariya baalma aao nee padharo mhare des”. Following the welcome song was a 10-minute classical performance with artistes presenting Bharatnatyam, Odissi and Kathak. The unique presentation was based on the musical renditions of three vedic mantras that preach “vishwamaitri” (world friendship). Taking over from the pure classical performers were the Shillong Choir that remembered to raise a musical toast to the newly found Indo-US friendship. So they sang “Yeh dosti hum nahi bhoolenge”, the ultimate tribute to bonding, Bollywood style.
