Namaste Obama, writes Nina Pillai

The air in the capital has a high octane frisson as Republic Day draws near. The chief guest, The President of the United States Of America, Barack Obama is the hot topic of conversation in everyone's living rooms. The chemistry he shares with Prime Minister Narendra Modi arises from what they share in common - spectacular first time elections, their personal charisma, their humble beginnings, both are powerful orators who spun their way into history with acumen and use of the social media, appealing to a powerhouse of Industry, common man and youth.

Their bonhomie was apparent when PM Modi was given a personal 15-minute tour of the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial in Washington by the President. This gesture will be reciprocated when the President visits Raj Ghat with Mr Modi on his arrival in India. The President of India will host a dinner in honour of President Obama and his wife Michelle to which a host of industrialists, actors and cricketers have been invited. By contrast, the Prime Minister will host a private dinner at his residence with just a few close members of his cabinet in attendance. The Obamas leave by the 28th for the USA. The CEO round table where captains of Industry meet the President is another key highlight of their visit.

The cacophony of the Delhi elections, the endless debates on the perfect murder, the cricketing drama all dim into insignificance as soon as one talks of the state visit and Rebuplic Day Chief Guest. Conversations in Delhi range from how handsome Obama looks, how statesman-like both leaders are, to who got an invite for what and who didn't!!
There is something for everyone. My guess is that this R-Day parade will be like no other with over half a billion people watching the parade and then over a billion people will listen to a joint address by both leaders on radio --a first of its kind ever!

Kudos to PM Modi has brought a fresh august presence, actually the most powerful man on the planet to India as our Chief Guest for the Rebublic Day Parade. The President gets to see a very different India, he last came in 2010 under the UPA regime, is something I am certain of, as Mr Modi is known to pull a diplomatic rabbit or two out of his hat and I am certain some very serious trade, nuclear and other agreements will be signed, my wish would be for India to get MFN (most favoured nation )status something the Chinese got almost two decades ago.

The women who lunch that have not managed to get into the elite dinners, are hustling to at least get into one of the First Lady Michelle Obama's social cause visits in the hope of perhaps doing the jig with her a la Mumbai when she danced impromptu along with underprivileged children. The First Lady is being gifted a hundred Benarasi saris by the PM especially woven for her in Varanasi, that's more than any Indian lady gets in her trousseau!! She will need the expertise of Naim Khan my friend and one of her favoured designers of Indian origin to convert it to pristine gowns.

My only grouse to the visit is that all our stray dogs have been rounded up as one brave stray stopped the Presidential calvacade last time. So no stray dogs, no holy cows, no beggars... that's a first of sorts for sure. As for the US threat to Pakistan to make sure there is no drama during the Presidential visit and the banning of a few terrorist outfits from across the border, the Pakistan Government has frozen certain jihadi accounts. Wish these were permanent steps taken in the name of peace, not just for the visit.

This trip of the Obamas besides the pomp and glory of Rebublic Day celebrations and the bilateral agreements is highlighted as one of the most strategic partnerships of our times, Namaste Obama!!