{"id":37994,"date":"2015-02-01T00:14:52","date_gmt":"2015-02-01T05:14:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=37994"},"modified":"2015-02-01T18:23:55","modified_gmt":"2015-02-01T23:23:55","slug":"how-narendra-modi-tried-to-match-upto-barack-obama-and-failed-miserably","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dbsjeyaraj.com\/dbsj\/?p=37994","title":{"rendered":"How Narendra Modi Tried to “Match Up” to Barack Obama and Failed Miserably."},"content":{"rendered":"

by<\/p>\n

Vrinda Gopinath
\n<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"pic<\/a>

pic via: facebook.com\/narendramodi<\/p><\/div>\n

1.<\/strong> Let\u2019s face it, Narendra Modi\u2019s exuberant bear hugs, vigorous handshakes, lingering hand-clutching and uncontrollable waving with US President Barack Obama as a desi version of \u201cGimme Five\u201d was ludicrously over the top. The bear hug and hand shaking on the tarmac at Delhi airport where Modi broke protocol to personally receive Obama to more handshakes and waves at Rashtrapati Bhavan, to another bear hug and more vigorous handshakes and clutches before and after the press meet at Hyderabad House, then at the Indo-US CEO forum, Republic Day Parade etc etc, must have left Obama thanking the Lord that the bump and grind hadn\u2019t reached 7 Race Course Road yet.<\/p>\n

Now, we know the touchy-feely M.O.D.I Luvin’ was for telly marketing and photo ops for millions across the country, but could Modi have been so effusive with Asian, Latin-American or Anglo-Saxon world leaders? Apart from the standard, vigorous handshake (and a bit of backslapping with Australian prime minister), Modi was certainly trying to get into the groove with Cool Obama, who has famously fist- bumped and high-fived his way across the world. Modi must give Bro Obama a big thank you for the slammin\u2019 and jammin\u2019 the way only Obama can. For real cool, it\u2019s time Modi rapped \u201cAmerica avi gayo\u201d.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

2.<\/strong> The most embarrassing moment was when Modi referred to Obama as \u201cBarack\u201d at the formal joint Press meet after their luncheon at Hyderabad House. Now, Obama has addressed British Prime Minister David Cameron as Bro\u2019 informally, but did Modi have to refer to Obama by his first name at the formal joint press conference when the world\u2019s media, cabinet ministers and officials were sitting attentively? There was no question that Obama blanched and turned his attention to Modi, who carried on blissfully and referred to the US Prez as Barack yet again. Modi was talking in Hindi and the deliberate message of familiarity was being beamed to desi viewers, but it was gauche, awkward and clumsy.<\/p>\n

3.<\/strong> The bespoke pinstriped dark navy wool suit that Modi wore to the bilateral talks with Obama at Hyderabad House was no ordinary pinstripe but his name Narendra Damordas Modi embroidered all over the fabric. While the last world leader to don such a suit (it costs around 15,000 sterling pounds or Rs 15 lakhs today) was deposed Egyptian tyrant Hosni Mubarak, it certainly out-dazzled Obama\u2019s working dark grey suit (to cut down on non-vital decisions, the US Prez only wears grey and blue ). However, if Modi was thinking hip-hop bling and ice accessories (his fave diamond Movado watch), it certainly got Obama to make a mention at the President\u2019s banquet when he foxily pointed out how a newspaper back home wrote, \u201cMove aside, Michelle Obama. The world has a new fashion icon.\u201d It must have not passed Obama\u2019s notice that Modi had changed his attire thrice that day.<\/p>\n

4.<\/strong> If the fashion barb was not enough, Obama even referred to Modi as a Bollywood star. Obviously, Obama had not forgotten Modi\u2019s Central Park cameo last year during his visit to the US soon after he became prime minister, when Modi strode on the stage at a performance and mouthed the Star Wars credo, \u201cMay the force be with you.\u201d Later, Modi\u2019s Madison Square Garden address to NRIs was a lurid pageant to himself rather than a Jay Z high energy concert. Now, does Modi want to be seen as a statesman or be compared to a leader\u2019s spouse in the fashion sweepstakes?<\/p>\n

5<\/strong>. So much so, after calling Obama \u201cBarack\u201d, it was a slightly piqued Obama who stressed that it was not the \u201cpersonal friendship\u201d between him and Modi that they were able to build in a \u201cbrief amount of time\u201d, but they were reflecting the warmth and affection between Indians and Americans, and the values shared between India and US that makes the bond so strong and promising. Obama referred to the Indian prime minister as Modi only when he was recounting a personal anecdote \u2013 on how many hours of sleep they both get. That\u2019s rap for Modi, from Obama. Chilla.<\/p>\n

6<\/strong>. Finally, it was a forceful Obama who underlined the gospel of African-American cool \u2013 the testament of Martin Luther King Jr and Mahatma Gandhi, the US president’s revered gods of non-violence, equality, freedom, liberty, and democratic ideals of modern society. Wonder what Modi thought when Obama passionately said at his Town Hall address, that \u201cIndia will succeed so long as it is not splintered along the lines of religious faith.\u201d And that \u201cevery person has the right to practice their faith, how they choose or to practice no faith at all, and to do so free from persecution\u201d, finally concluding, \u201cNowhere is this more important than in India.\u201d<\/p>\n

Is Modi willing to play the Obama gig? There\u2019s no music yet. Everyone\u2019s waiting.<\/p>\n

Courtesy: Scroll.in<\/em><\/p>\n

Tweet<\/a><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

by Vrinda Gopinath 1. Let\u2019s face it, Narendra Modi\u2019s exuberant bear hugs, vigorous handshakes, lingering hand-clutching and uncontrollable waving with US President Barack Obama as a desi version of \u201cGimme Five\u201d was ludicrously over the top. The bear hug and hand shaking on the tarmac at Delhi airport where Modi broke protocol to personally receive …<\/p>\n

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