The Bush dinner was marked by a strict formality -- perhaps in deference to a leader who likes events choreographed to the last nanosecond -– but the Hu meal had moments of endearing informality.
President Kalam, a Master of the light human touch, navigated the almost robotic Chinese leader to interact at some length with guests like Professor Arun K Tiwari, co-author with the President of the best-selling Wings of Fire and the forthcoming Indomitable Spirit, and Dr K Kasturi Rangan, the former chairman of the Indian Space Research Organisation and now a member of the Rajya Sabha.
Another scene to behold: Sonia Gandhi -- described merely as an MP during the presentation ceremony though she stood only a few places behind Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Dr Singh, Speaker Somnath Chatterjee and Chief Justice Y K Sabharwal and ahead of L K Advani, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha -– and Gursharan Kaur, the prime minister's wife, conferred for a few moments before springing up to make conversation with Liu Yong Qing, Hu's wife, dressed in a smart skirt and top.
It was almost like a scene from an Indian wedding where ladies from the bride's home khus-phus before deciding to make a lady visiting from the bridegroom's side welcome.
*Chhukar Mere Manko, composed by Rajesh Roshan for Yaarana
Image: President Hu addresses guests at the banquet.
Also read: The President in China
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