Vrinda Gopinath - Six hilarious ways Modi tried to match Obama’s cool quotient (but failed miserably) // Exemplary Patriotism of our Vastrapurush
1. Let’s face it, Narendra Modi’s exuberant
bear hugs, vigorous handshakes, lingering hand-clutching and uncontrollable
waving with US President Barack Obama as a desi version of “Gimme
Five” 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’t reached 7
Race Course Road yet.
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’ and jammin’ the way only Obama can. For real cool, it’s time Modi rapped “America avi gayo”.
2. The most embarrassing moment was when Modi referred to Obama as “Barack” at the formal joint Press meet after their luncheon at Hyderabad House. Now, Obama has addressed British Prime Minister David Cameron as Bro’ informally, but did Modi have to refer to Obama by his first name at the formal joint press conference when the world’s 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.
3. 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’s 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’s banquet when he foxily pointed out how a newspaper back home wrote, “Move aside, Michelle Obama. The world has a new fashion icon.” It must have not passed Obama’s notice that Modi had changed his attire thrice that day.
4. If the fashion barb was not enough, Obama even referred to Modi as a Bollywood star. Obviously, Obama had not forgotten Modi’s 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, “May the force be with you.” Later, Modi’sMadison
Square Garden
5. So much so, after calling Obama “Barack”, it was a slightly piqued Obama who stressed that it was not the “personal friendship” between him and Modi that they were able to build in a “brief amount of time”, 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 – on how many hours of sleep they both get. That’s rap for Modi, from Obama. Chilla.
6. Finally, it was a forceful Obama who underlined the gospel of African-American cool – the testament of Martin Luther King Jr and Mahatma Gandhi, theUS
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 “India will succeed so long as it is
not splintered along the lines of religious faith.” And that “every
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”, finally concluding, “Nowhere
is this more important than in India .”
Is Modi willing to play the Obama gig? There’s no music yet. Everyone’s waiting.
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’ and jammin’ the way only Obama can. For real cool, it’s time Modi rapped “
2. The most embarrassing moment was when Modi referred to Obama as “Barack” at the formal joint Press meet after their luncheon at Hyderabad House. Now, Obama has addressed British Prime Minister David Cameron as Bro’ informally, but did Modi have to refer to Obama by his first name at the formal joint press conference when the world’s 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.
3. 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’s 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’s banquet when he foxily pointed out how a newspaper back home wrote, “Move aside, Michelle Obama. The world has a new fashion icon.” It must have not passed Obama’s notice that Modi had changed his attire thrice that day.
4. If the fashion barb was not enough, Obama even referred to Modi as a Bollywood star. Obviously, Obama had not forgotten Modi’s 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, “May the force be with you.” Later, Modi’s
5. So much so, after calling Obama “Barack”, it was a slightly piqued Obama who stressed that it was not the “personal friendship” between him and Modi that they were able to build in a “brief amount of time”, 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 – on how many hours of sleep they both get. That’s rap for Modi, from Obama. Chilla.
6. Finally, it was a forceful Obama who underlined the gospel of African-American cool – the testament of Martin Luther King Jr and Mahatma Gandhi, the
Is Modi willing to play the Obama gig? There’s no music yet. Everyone’s waiting.
Exemplary Patriotism of our Vastrapurush
Citizens' Statement against Capitulation to the US on Nuclear Liability
Press Release | Contact: Kumar Sundaram +91-9810556134
We are deeply disturbed by media reports that the Indian
government has capitulated to aggressive U.S. demands and agreed to a deal
that indemnifies American nuclear vendors from the consequences of accidents
caused by design defects in their reactors.
Preliminary reports suggest that the government has agreed to create an insurance pool, backed by public sector companies, so that any potential American liability can be redirected back to Indian taxpayers. This creates a “moral hazard”, where the Indian people could end up being responsible for mistakes made by a multinational corporation.
The 2010 Indian liability Act is already a weak law heavily biased towards the nuclear industry. It caps the total liability for an accident at a paltry Rs 1,500 crores and takes away the rights of victims to sue the supplier. The much-discussed supplier liability is very limited: the government alone, as the operator, has a right of recourse against the vendor.
So, we fail to understand the Modi government's motivation for weakening this law even further. TheU.S.
has nothing attractive to offer in terms of nuclear commerce. The Indian
government has agreed to purchase the AP1000 reactors from Westinghouse, and
the Economic Simplified Boiling Water Reactor (ESBWR) from General Electric.
Both these designs are untested. The ESBWR technology is so immature that the
design received certification from the U.S. nuclear regulatory commission—the
first step before a reactor can be constructed—only last September.
Recent reports suggest that construction of AP1000 units has run into trouble
in China .
Independent estimates suggest that the cost of electricity from these reactors may exceed Rs. 15 per unit. This is much higher than the tariff from competing sources of electricity.
Therefore, the reality behind the grandiose proclamations made by the Indian government is rather sobering.India
has agreed to pay billions of dollars for immature American technology, and
then ensured that American companies will not be held to account for any design
defects.
We hope that progressive forces and concerned citizens throughout the country will unite to oppose this disturbing development.
Signatures:
Praful Bidwai,
Achin Vanaik
Lalita Ramdas
Anil Chaudhary
Suvrat Raju
Abey George
Preliminary reports suggest that the government has agreed to create an insurance pool, backed by public sector companies, so that any potential American liability can be redirected back to Indian taxpayers. This creates a “moral hazard”, where the Indian people could end up being responsible for mistakes made by a multinational corporation.
The 2010 Indian liability Act is already a weak law heavily biased towards the nuclear industry. It caps the total liability for an accident at a paltry Rs 1,500 crores and takes away the rights of victims to sue the supplier. The much-discussed supplier liability is very limited: the government alone, as the operator, has a right of recourse against the vendor.
So, we fail to understand the Modi government's motivation for weakening this law even further. The
Independent estimates suggest that the cost of electricity from these reactors may exceed Rs. 15 per unit. This is much higher than the tariff from competing sources of electricity.
Therefore, the reality behind the grandiose proclamations made by the Indian government is rather sobering.
We hope that progressive forces and concerned citizens throughout the country will unite to oppose this disturbing development.
Signatures:
Praful Bidwai,
Achin Vanaik
Lalita Ramdas
Anil Chaudhary
Suvrat Raju
Abey George
Abhishek Shrivastava
Meher Engineer
Ashish Kothari
EAS Sarma
N D Jayaprakash
Aruna Roy
Harsh Kapoor
Satya Sivaraman
Vidya Dinkar
Pamela Philipose
Zoya Hasan
Anand Patwardhan
Githa Hariharan
Priyamvada Gopal
Mohan Rao
Sumit Sarkar
Tanika Sarkar
Anitha Sharma
S P Shukla
Rohan D'Souza
S P Udayakumar
Nitasha Kaul
Dwijen Rangekar
