New Delhi, Jan 26 (IANS) The friendly warmth and camaraderie between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Barack Obama was on full display Monday as the two chatted and laughed like old friends over a two-hour period while watching India’s Republic Day parade and pageantry.
A day after the two leaders - one the prime minister of the world’s largest democracy and the other the president of the world’s oldest democracy - got down to referring to each other in first person terms - “Barack” and “Modi” respectively - their easy friendship was visible for the world to see.
Amid a steady drizzle that at times almost threatened to spoil the celebration of India’s military might, cultural diversity and technological prowess, Modi was seen carrying on a steady conversation with Obama, explaining to him the different facets of the Republic Day parade as it marched down Rajpath.
The two leaders chatted, mostly without the help of an interpreter, who was seated within the bullet proof enclosure. Within the enclosure was also President Pranab Mukherjee, US president's wife Michelle Obama, Vice President Hamid Ansari and his wife Salma.
Modi, whose sartorial vibrancy was also remarked on by Obama, was attired in a dark bandhgala and topped with a colourful tricolour Rajasthani turban. Modi is known to pay special attention to his attire and has become known for changing his dress for different occasions.
On Sunday, during the presidential banquet, Obama had complimented Modi’s dressing style and said “Tonight I was thinking about wearing a Modi kurta myself” - a reference to the popularity that Modi has brought to the kurta, matched with differently coloured sleeveless jackets.
While Obama was wearing a formal dark grey suit, with a lavender coloured tie, Modi topped his attire by donning a pair of stylish shades.
Michelle was seen chatting with Salma Ansari, but mostly kept quiet and watched the proceedings.
In the initial moments of the parade, when the tanks, missiles and armoured cars were wheeled on Rajpath, Obama looked on with interest, and continued to look interested in the long march past by different wings of India’s armed forces.
Towards the end of the march past, when the mounted floats from different states and the folk dancers came in a steady stream to showcase their cultural splendour, the attention of the US president appeared to flag.
But his companion, in Modi, kept up a lively chatter - explaining each bit with an expressive show of his hands.
Ironically, many of the showpieces exhibited at the parade are of Russian vintage - an indication of India’s reliance on an old ally for its important weaponry and armaments.
Among the exhibits were the BrahMos, the world's fastest short range ramjet supersonic cruise missile, jointly developed by India and Russia. The T-90 Tank, Bhishma, was also exhibited. It is originally a Russian third-generation main battle tank and a mainstay of the military. The Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters from Russia swooped down on the sky towards the finale.
Obama did get to see some of the US-made acquisitions of India - the Indian Air Force’s C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemaster III - that flew down at low level formation over the Rajpath.
The daredevil motorbike stunts by men of the Border Security Force had the US president and his wife visibly interested and both clapped with enthusiasm.
On Sunday, Modi and Obama had taken a stroll in the lawns of Hyderabad House and chatted over tea -- in informal talks without aides, in what was called a “Chai pe Charcha” moment.
The talks Sunday also saw the two sides announce clinching of the agreement for implementation of the civil nuclear agreement, a major highpoint in India-US ties and the elevation of the bilateral relationship with a new India-US Delhi Declaration of Friendship.
The successful holding of the Republic Day parade, which marks perhaps the longest period of time that the US president has spent in the open in any country, went off without a hitch -- marking a high point for the security detail put in place for the VVIP guest who has the highest level of security in the world.
Modi’s invite to Obama to be chief guest, and the latter’s acceptance of the invite, has been described as a major triumph in diplomacy by the Modi government that has taken major strides in foreign policy since it came to power seven months ago.
Obama did come in his own car, The Beast, to the Rajpath, in a break from protocol and not in President Mukherjee's black limo.
South star Pawan Kalyan's long-delayed film 'Hari Hara Veer Mallu' has finally been released toda
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday called Mukul Roy, BJP's national vice president and part
Microsoft has announced its new cloud data center in India. This center will be set up in Hyderab
Swine flu claims six lives in Karnataka
Bengaluru, Feb 8 (IANS) The dreaded swine flu has claimed six lives in Karnataka, including fou
Goa Tourism targeting beach shacks
Panaji, Feb 14 (IANS) The social wing of the influential Roman Catholic Church in Goa has accus
Hardik Pandya hit a 109-meter six, and Shivam Dube hit a 107-meter six against Namibia on Thursda
A unique astronomical event will happen today i.e. on Friday. Today at exactly noon, the shadow w
China's 'digital Spying' is a big problem for India
Who is spying for China? This question has become a big challenge for security and intelligence a
India will face Zimbabwe in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday at the MA Chi
The cold wave is now intensifying in North India. Since Tuesday, a cold wave has intensified acro
