A summit, A handshake , A few catch Phrases

Summits between global leaders these days have become a media affair full of sound bites and catch phrases. Gone are the days when summits could be held in conference rooms behind closed doors. No amount of security or wall of secrecy can prevent details from finding their way out to the ever nosy press and media.

So why hide. Instead keep the press occupied my continuesly giving them information that keeps them satisfied. A gesture here, a few words there and smiles and handshakes everywhere, keeps the media bouncing around in glee. All part of a carefully orchestrated circus.

So, ended the media tamasha surrounding the Bush-Singh summit at India's capital New Delhi. And what a dramatic way to end the summit with a well written speech, eulogizing India and her democracy, delivered amiably by the President at the historic Purana Qila (old fort) of Delhi. The setting, to say the least, was breath taking.

And to add to the drama, Bush walks to the podium from behind the stage like an Emperor walking out of the Purana Qila in the background to address the gathered people. Whoever choreographed this one, should be congratulated. Good job. (Comrades should take the above description on the lighter side)

Anyways, a summit of such extravagant proportions surely belted out a few catch phrases and words that caught the media's web and also could be heard echoing off everyones lips.

The most hackneyed word was "Perpetuity". In the run up to the summit even before Bush had entered the South Asian airspace, this word was thrashed all around in the print and visual media. Would the reactors be open to inspections in perpetuity, would nuclear fuel be available in Perpetuity, should India even be accepting this Perpetuity clause, etc etc.

Arundhati Roy's "...pint of blood..." phrase that she used to describe Bush's visit to the Raj Ghat made a impression on me. And it was negative. Its totally within your rights to express your opinion but for a booker prize winner to use such dramatic words seemed a bit awkward and crude, to say the least.

Ofcourse the twin words of "Imperialism" and "Bush go Back" kept up the protests till the very end. Surely the Lefts love for age old concepts and outdated phrases is quite apparent with the usage of words like "Imperialism".

News just in, the magic words that Bush conjured up to get the deal through - "I want that Deal". This magic incantation, according to the media, was whispered into the Indian national security advisor's ears by Bush, as soon as he alighted from Air Force One !! Word of caution, this magic incantation does not work for everyone, it works only when uttered by a person holding the post of US President.

"Namaste", the fist word the President uttered from the Purana Qila. His apparent attempt to Indianize his speech as much as possible, worked. An applause followed.

"God Bless India", the last words the President uttered from the Purana Qila. I was hoping for a Jai Hind, but this is good enough.

India has entered the "World Stage", according to some media interpretations of this historic civilian nuclear deal. One of the most widely abused words. So much that it has become a joke to use such words nowadays.

Has India "matured" ? A naive question put to a three member panel in a TV program discussing the just clinched deal between India and the United States. The day India stops saying that the US would help her become a global power, that is the day when we can call ourselves mature. Interesting reply from one of the panelists.

Until then, India would still be in her teens, quipped Omar Abdullah.