‘Howdy, Modi’ showcased that India, US have shed Cold War baggage | The Indian Express

‘Howdy, Modi’ showcased that India, US have shed Cold War baggage | The Indian Express

Written by Sunanda Vashisht |Updated: October 1, 2019 10:41:54 am

Sunanda Vashisht is a columnist and author based in Houston.

‘Howdy, Modi’ showcased that India, US have shed Cold War baggage

The largest and oldest democracies have found a unique way to work with each other, collaborate with each other and promote shared interests.

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US President Donald Trump arrives to speak at the “Howdy Modi: Shared Dreams, Bright Futures” event with Prime Minister Narendra Modi at NRG Stadium on 22, 2019. (AP/PTI Photo)

I was among the 50,000 people who watched Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Howdy, Modi event in Houston on September 22. Along with him on the stage were US congressmen and senators, Republicans and Democrats. The Mayor of Houston was on the stage. And then the President of the United States joined him. Other than when they congregate in the US Congress, I have not seen that many American lawmakers of both parties on one stage, and that too with 50,000 people cheering them in a football stadium. None of this was familiar ground for Modi, except perhaps 50,000 deliriously cheering crowd. Yet he stood there, owning every moment of that event. He played the host and the guest both, with remarkable finesse.