IT was a brief appearance at President Pranab Mukherjee’s customary ‘At Home’ on Monday, but US President Barrack Obama and First Lady Michelle won many hearts, greeting every minister personally and waving at the crowds. For some ministers such as Najma Heptulla, it was a continuation of the conversation she had with Obama during the President’s banquet on Sunday night. Heptulla’s youngest daughter, Asma, who lives in Chicago, was a volunteer for Obama’s campaign. During the banquet, she told him about Asma and how she had even got an invite for Obama’s swearing-in, but could not make it. “He greeted me at the ‘At Home’ and asked me about her, what she is doing. I said she is working there, lives just two houses away from his Chicago campaign office, and worked really hard during the campaign. He asked me if I travel to US a lot. I told him that with three daughters living there, I do go there often. I told the First Lady how the dress she was wearing had a very Indian print. She was very happy,” said Heptulla. The US first couple made their way through the three rows where ministers and their spouses were seated, speaking to each of them, before going back to their seats and engaging in long conversations with their immediate neighbours — Michelle with Vice President Hamid Ansari and Obama with his wife Salma. Former prime minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi were among those who turned up for the function, though Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi gave it a miss — he had not been present at the presidential banquet on Sunday night either. BJP veteran L K Advani, party president Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis too were present. “I told Michelle Obama that I have always admired her, that I follow her activities and efforts towards social causes and she is a role model for women worldwide,” said Fadnavis’s wife Amruta. Mukherjee and Obama had a short exchange, during which the President told the visiting dignitary that he was “very happy to receive him in India” and the US President thanked him and complimented him by saying “it’s wonderful to have such an experienced person as the President of India.” The two also posed for photographs. Most of the cabinet ministers were present, though Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi did not turn up. HRD Minister Smriti Irani was among the first to arrive. Though the US first couple hardly tasted anything, the food at the high tea included fish Amritsari, chicken malai tikka, mutton puff, cheese cucumber sandwiches, aloo-matar ke samose, paneer wrap and anar bhog.
