It can only happen in America and India, says Obama

At 7.30 AM, Delhi hardly wakes up except the school going kids. But when it was to hear American President Barack Obama, there were long queues outside Siri Fort Auditorium here on Tuesday, where he was to deliver a speech. 10.40 AM was the time given on the invitations though the speech started little late around 11 AM. The event started with First Lady Michelle Obama making an entry to the dais. She waved her hand to the audience and sat in the first row of the hall with kids from Delhi. One of them, Vishal later found a mention in President’s address. Right behind her was Nobel Peace prize winner Kailash Satyarthi. On the other side was Nancy Powell, former US ambassador to India.

Followed by a brief introduction came the man for whom the crowd had waited for more than three hours and he didn’t disappoint them. ‘Namaste’- his first word and that was enough for the crowd to cheer. This was just the beginning. Once Obama started, he went on like a pied piper and the crowd played completely to his tunes. With every mention of India or an Indian, the crowd reciprocated with loud applause.

When you address young Indians, how can you forget Bollywood. So Senorita, Bade Bade Deshon mein- You know what I mean and Shahrukh Khan became part of his mesmerizing speech. Right from Swami Vivekananda, Mahatma Gandhi to Marry Kom, Puja Thakur, Milkha Singh and Vishal, the young boy who he met on his first trip and now, everyone was weaved eloquently. The loudest cheer was reserved for two occasions. First, when he said- “We are one of the few nations who have gone to both Moon and Mars.” This was complementing the India’s recent successful Mars Mission. Second, when Obama equaled himself with India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “It can only happen in America and India where a cook’s grandson can become a President and a tea seller can become a prime minister.”

In the later part of his speech, Obama emphasised on women power and that got support from both boys and girls from the crowd. “The girl who commanded the Guard of Honour, it’s a sign of great pride and strength. Nations are more successful when their women are successful.” Some stood from their seats to pledge support with the statement.

Once the US President finished his speech he invited Michelle on the dais and together they came down from the stage and walked along the first row of the hall. They shook hands, hugged and even obliged to selfie requests.

Some students couldn’t get over the fascination of seeing an American President. “He is black but he looks whiter than me. He has got a fair skin by Indian standards,” a girl student was whispering to her friend. On the departing note Obama stole the heart of all those who were present inside the auditorium.

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Kumar Anshuman