At home with the President

The Saudis are everywhere at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In the President's special enclosure for very, very important people. Outside the enclosure, on all sides.

One overhears two young Saudis discuss Indian history in the context of the magnificient background of India's Presidential palace -- a quick trip from the Mughals to the British to the present day, all recounted with accuracy.

Deferential to their king, the Saudi delegation -- who rise en masse from their seats everytime Abdullah stands to greet the Indians who come by to see him; there is none of the imperial air about the man who has forbidden his native Saudis from kissing his hand in obedience -- and appear a pleasant bunch, truly appreciative of the honour the Indian government has accorded their nation by inviting Abdullah to be the chief guest this Republic Day.

More than the much publicised transformation in India-US ties, one believes the apparent breakthrough in the Indian Republic's relationship with the Saudi kingdom deserves much more analysis and attention. Here is a nation that treated India with disinterest -- if not disdain -- for years, reserving its affection and generosity for Pakistan, which even renamed one of its cities (Lyallpur) Faislabad (where the absurd second cricket Test was played this week), after the Saudi monarch, King Faisal.

Now, the first trip overseas Abdullah takes after becoming king is to China and India -- not to the United States, which has put its considerable weight behind the Saudi monarchy for almost a century -- signalling a clear shift in how the kingdom views the world. The king has even spoken of India (which has the second-most number of Muslims in the world after Indonesia) becoming an observer at the Organisation of Islamic Conference and Pakistan sponsoring India's nomination!

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Many members of the Saudi delegation, which had also a few women (seen here with President Kalam), get their pictures taken alongside a couple of the President's Bodyguard, the way tourists get their photographs shot besides the queen's guards at Buckingham Palace. We daresay the President's Bodyguard, all of who are over six feet tall, look far more impressive than those dull Englishmen.

Photograph: Raveendran/AFP/Getty Images