You know, the things that REALLY grab global headlines.
President Barack Obama’s arrival to New Delhi kicked off with a bang and hug, when India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi himself — ready with a warm embrace for his American counterpart — greeted the President on the tarmac, and launched the already geared-up Indian press into declaring a full-on “bromance.”
An Indian TV station that likes to use animated intros for some of its news stories kept replaying a cartoon of Obama’s and Modi’s motorcades driving side by side, with a big red heart forming over the two of them. “Namaste, Obama!,” the taglines read.
The Indians loved that Obama mentioned how well Modi was received in Madison Square Garden during his trip to the U.S. in September, and they reciprocated by branding Obama a “rock star” by day 3 of his trip here.
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Plus, Obama gained an extra few points at the end when he quoted — or tried to, kind of — a famous Bollywood movie. One that strangely had the word “senorita” in it. Basically telling young people and activists not sweat the small stuff. (Like maybe, someone’s persistent gum habit…) Assuring them that progress is possible, and the opportunities are great.
The shortened trip meant that there wasn’t time for a visit to the Taj Mahal, but if the hospitality from this past visit was any indication, there’s always next time.
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