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Obama cares for the world, say Indian supporters
It's admiration all the way for Democrat Barack Obama whose 21-month campaign for the White House was closely watched and discussed at dinner time and weekends with the last few weeks gripping everyone's attention.
- By Pamela Raghunath, Correspondent
- Published: 17:37 November 5, 2008
Mumbai: It's admiration all the way for Democrat Barack Obama whose 21-month campaign for the White House was closely watched and discussed at dinner time and weekends with the last few weeks gripping everyone's attention.
This time, the extensive coverage by Indian TV channels as well as the print media stirred up not only an interest in the American election process but also evoked a respect for the oratory of the two presidential candidates—Obama and Republican John McCain.
“If the victory speech of Obama was polished and spontaneous, his opponent McCain was equally articulate and gracious in his defeat,'' says Vasumathi Badrinathan an accomplished Carnatic vocalist and Bharat Natyam dancer. “I liked the presentational quality and content of their speeches,'' she says.
There is all around high regard for Obama who, people feel, is young, full of energy and new ideas, sincere and hopeful for the future. Atul Shah, BJP president of South Mumbai, who has observed the American election campaigns since a student goes all out to say, “Obama cares for the world.
“I thoroughly enjoyed the presidential debates that were so genuine and wish India could learn a lesson or two,'' he says. “A national debate between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and L K Advani (BJP's prime ministerial candidate) would be worth watching,'' he notes.
At the same time, he thinks India has not done bad at all, considering “we are a young democracy, just 60 years old, as compared to US with a 300-year history of democracy.''
A young executive working in an international bank is elated at Obama's victory and feels this something to party about. “I was worried that conservative Americans will eventually vote for McCain even though Obama had breezed through his campaigns like a celebrity.''
Why this keen attention on the USA? Jatin Desai of Pakistan-Indian People's Forum and a commentator on Gujarat media, comes up with an answer.
“Whatever happens in the US generates a lot of interest in India, especially in Gujarat. For many Indians, that country is still the final destination and therefore the curiosity.'' This time, the mood was pro-Obama right from the start. For the first time, people of Indian and African origins in the US worked together for Obama, says Desai.
“All of us here are delighted at Obama's win though it was expected. His victory is a social revolution in the US. It's like a Dalit becoming the prime minister of India,'' he says.
Meanwhile, the telecast of the final countdown of the elections was also watched at a hip restaurant in central Mumbai where over 200 guests were invited by the American Consulate here.
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