New York: Madison Square Garden in the heart of Manhattan, where Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi captivated nearly 20,000 Indian-Americans with an inspiring can-do address, is the city’s premier venue for sports and entertainment, but it has also played a key role in US politics launching three presidents on their way to the White House.
Echoing the famous “I have a dream” words of former American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi told thousands of Indian Americans that “I have a dream (about India)” and “I will make the Bharat of your dreams.”
Concluding his hour-long address, Modi thanked the 20,000-strong gathering gathered at the Madison Square Garden for their love which he said had remained unstinted for almost 15 years.
“You have so much love for me; probably no other Indian leader has received this kind of love… Mein iska karz chukaoonga (I shall repay this debt), to make the the Bharat of your dreams,” Modi said, to loud chants of “Modi, Modi”.
“Together we will serve our country, for the motherland where we got birth and our learning,” he said.
US lawmakers in strength at Modi’s reception
Several US lawmakers, including the only Indian-American Congressman and the first Hindu House member, made a beeline for the Madison Square Garden in New York to hear Prime Minister Narendra Modi and boost India-US relations.
It was quite a change for a man US had shunned for nearly a decade over his alleged role in the 2002 Gujarat riots under his watch as chief minister to have four US Senators, 36 House members and one state governor in the audience.
Besides meeting them individually backstage before starting his speech, Modi also sat down separately for nearly 15 minutes with Robert Menendez, Democratic chairman of the crucial Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
Ami Bera, the first US lawmaker from Modi’s home state of Gujarat, said in a statement:”I am excited for America to realise the full potential of our relationship with India.”
“Today was a key step toward what I believe can be a defining relationship of the 21st century between the US and India.”
‘Rock star’ Modi makes a big splash in US media
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s rock star like reception by a rapturous Indian-American community at Madison Square Garden made quite a splash in the US media too ahead of his summit Monday with President Barack Obama.
Modi “sold himself on Sunday as a onetime tea vendor who wanted to lift India to glory by cleaning up the country, clearing the way for business and preparing its young citizens to be the work force of an aging world,” wrote the New York Times.
“His speech at Madison Square Garden telegraphed a wish list on the eve of his first meeting with President Obama, while also deftly rallying an influential diaspora to his side,” suggested the influential daily.
“Modi is here to sell a new New India, with himself as the man who can be trusted to deliver on its promise,” noted the Times.
Dancers, drummers, conch-blowers and Tibetan Yak dancers created an impromptu mela-like atmosphere outside the Madison Square Garden as thousands gathered hours ahead of the reception for Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sunday.
The 18,500 people with the much-sought-after tickets to the event lined up in a queue stretching several street blocks, as others milled around in a futile hope for tickets.
Entertaining them were several groups. Women in glittering saris performed garba dance. Members of the Tibetan community put up a yak dance performance. Drummers beat out a frenetic rhythm and conch-blowers blew auspicious notes.
“A dazzling, Bollywood-style show with dancers warmed up the crowd before Modi appeared. About 30 US lawmakers attended – ringing the stage as the Indian leader came into the auditorium under a spotlight like a boxing champion,” the US news agency reported.
And noting that Monday, Modi will meet Obama at the White House, AP commented: “Being courted by Washington marks a major change since 2005, when the US denied Modi a visa for his alleged complicity in sectarian violence in his home state of Gujarat.”
