US President Barack Obama may leave Bill Clinton streets behind when it comes to ?performing? before an Indian audience. Former US ambassador Naresh Chandra, who contributed greatly to India?s strategic partnership with the US, reckons Obama?s speech to the joint session of Parliament on November 8 could be one of the best ever delivered in the Central Hall.
?He is a great speaker and will deliver a speech that will resound in our ears for a long time to come,? said Chandra. Chandra, who knows and understands the American establishment like very few do, makes an interesting observation based on his own experience as ambassador in Washington during the famous Clinton visit to India. Chandra said he had then advised Prime Minister Vajpayee, in one of his briefing sessions, that Clinton himself, with his immense personality, will ensure the visit is a big success. You have to do little and just watch such people perform, was Chandra?s advice.
And Clinton did his job to perfection, even when he spent time with Rajasthani dancers in Jaipur, which was a suggestion gently put forth by Chandra to his American counterparts.
So, Chandra believes Obama may do several notches better than Clinton, given the uniqueness of his personality?a black US President with a multicultural background. There is a reason for the speech to be especially memorable, Chandra told FE.
India, as one of the two global pre-eminent rising powers, provides a very important setting for the US president to make a special effort to make his New Delhi speech, ring. The circumstances of the visit, with the American audience riled on the issue of outsourcing and India asking for more commitment on anti-terrorism makes for as significant an occasion as any.
Chandra, who was deeply involved with the visit of Bill Clinton to India, said he had taken the risk of forecasting to the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and foreign minister Jaswant Singh that the visit would be a huge success. ?I know for sure it will be a success because the president of USA has decided,? he told them in his pre-tour briefing. ?So we have to do nothing. Just sit back and enjoy the show.?
Speaking about the highly feted visit of Clinton to villages around Jaipur during his visit, Chandra claimed some credit for it. He said the original plan was for Goa, but Chandra convinced Singh that a peek at Jaipur would be more appropriate for Clinton to get a feel of India and its civilisational heritage.
Returning to the Obama theme, Chandra said he (Obama) has been studying very hard for this and ?will make one of the most successful speeches of his life?. The diplomat, who has also headed several successful government initiatives on economic issues including corporate governance, said the speech will be obviously directed to his constituency back home, but ?he will impress our MPs no end?. On substantive issues, Chandra said Obama might use the visit to signal the end of the road for the control regime on export of technology, which has often held up business by Indian public sector companies in defence and space research with the US.
Some indications of Obama?s plans are already there in his reported desire to hold a townhall-like meeting with the students and faculty of St Xaviers? college in Mumbai a day after his arrival. This is the first time any US President will hold such an informal meeting. Before Obama, four presidents have visited India, including Obama?s predecessor George Bush.