Obama shares Bollywood dreams in New Delhi

New Delhi: Barack Obama had his version of Narendra Modi’s Madison square garden moment with an electrifying Town Hall speech in Delhi’s Siri Fort auditorium. 

There were Obamaisms and plain speak that characterised his speech that was an instant hit with his young crowd. His speech had enough Bollywood, from the popular Shahrukh Khan’s dialogue from Ddlj’s señorita: Bade Bade Desho mein …., to Aamir Khan’s Mitwa number from Lagaan, the Obama script was well choreographed to woo his audience.

He said India and the US could be best partners and backed the greater role for India in the Asia Pacific. With a major breakthrough in the nuclear deal, Obama said the world without nuclear weapons should be the goal for both the countries. 

He loudly endorsed India’s bid for a permanent seat at the UN Security Council and said America supported the reform of the UN Security Council which would see India as a permanent member. He added however, that with power came great responsibility.

In attendance at the town hall speech was Nobel peace laureate Kailash Satyarthi. Acknowledging him, he said human trafficking needs to end, along with the scourge of modern day slavery. 

He spoke about his grandfather who was a cook for the British army in Kenya. “There were moments in my life where I was treated differently because of the colour of my skin.” Obama candidly admitted to discrimination in the US.

Obama’s visit to India has generated great applause, but more so reflected on the growing camaraderie between him and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He reflected that the grandson of cook became a president; and a tea seller (referring to Modi) became a Prime Minister. 

Prejudices, stereotypes and assumptions, he added, bogged people and their decisions. And with India being on track to be the most populous country, he said the youth would shape the world, adding that a nation was strong when all were equal and seen as the children of God. 

Obama spoke of faith and how many were betraying that faith and attacking people, a clear indication of the many terrorist’s factions and fundamentalists wreaking havoc the world over. 

“Every person has the right to practise faith as they choose. The peace we seek in the world begins in our human hearts. We must rejoice in the beauty of every soul.”

Speaking of India in this regard, he said it living in diversity and accepting that diversity was nowhere more important than in India. “India will succeed if it’s not splintered because of faith, splintered because of anything.”

Adding that diversity was the strength of the nation, he said it was not just the size of the economy that mattered but what mattered was the respect that was shown to each individual.

With a large majority being young people of the national capital, Obama spoke directly to them, asking to make the changes necessary to make the tomorrow better.

Speaking on the importance of education he said, “Michelle and I do not come from wealthy backgrounds. Without the education we would have not been here today,” adding that a nation was strongest when the young people were empowered.

With the latest atrocities on women shaking whole of India, he spoke to thunderous applause that every woman and girls should be able to travel on public transports, work and thrive.

“Our nations are strongest when we uphold the equality of all our people and that includes women.” He added that when women are able to work then not only are their households stronger, but the countries are more prosperous.

Taking the example of his wife Michelle he said she was a strong woman who always spoke her mind. 

“Every girl matters, every woman matters,” Obama added, going to speak about India’s young women who played an instrumental part to making you’re the country’s voice heard.  

He went on to invoke that every child in India should be able to breathe clean air and drink clean water. 

Speaking about climate change he said to them, “It’s your generation and your children that will affected. I’ll be gone by the time global warming hits us.”

Adding that with rising seas, melting Himalayan glaciers, cyclones getting stronger and few countries than India will be affected.  

Obama ended his much talked about visit in the capital with the speech which was truly dynamic, speaking on key issues that not only India but the world was dealing with. And as he signed off Obama left with quite an impression amongst the young crowd that chanted ‘Obama’ as he and Michelle shook hands and waved to them.