Modi mania gripped New York as soon as he arrived in city to attend the 69th session of the UNGA.
"Modi Modi Modi" chants, which had captured the imagination of India and the world during a high decibel general elections held earlier this year, rippled and reverberated in New York like Mexican Wave, as the Prime Minister PM opted to disembark from his tightly guarded cavalcade to shake hands with his fans in almost all locations that he visited during his recent visit.
Fans of Modi followed him like a shadow, whether it was to the 9/11 memorial and the UN headquarters in New York, or visits to the Mahatma Gandhi Statue, dinner at the White House or a visit to the memorial dedicated to American civil rights activist Martin Luther King.
What amazed everyone was Modi's tireless ability and memory recall. He shook hands with over 750 guests invited for a reception by Indian Ambassador S. Jaishankar. Each and every handshake was clicked, and Modi had a thing or two to say to all of them.
Fans welcomed Prime Minister Modi with Garba and Bhangra folk dances; posters and greetings.
Everyone was just keen to touch "their hero" Narendra Modi.... toddlers to 85-year olds....from California to Chicago to Las Vegas. Age and distance to be travelled was no bar...Enthusiastic Modi followers tracked their leader wherever possible, putting the New York Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service in a tizzy at most times.
I even saw long queues of diehard fans outside his New York Palace Hotel suite.
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Then, there was the much talked about blockbuster event at Madison Square Garden, which was referred to in the media as "Modison Square"; given that the venue was choc-a-bloc with people draped in all kinds of clothes, carrying Modi paraphernalia, to listen to the Prime Minister's address... and he did not disappoint.
Those who failed to get a Madison Square seat went to Times Square to hear Modi speak on mega screens. The absence of audio set ups, made fans use their cell phones and cheered him all the way.
After the long and captivating speech, I spoke to people from all walks of life to gauge the impact that he made through his visit. Some called it a pomp and show event, while others termed it as media hype.
Others said the mega show was the outcome of an infusion of huge amounts of corporate and NRI money. The cavaliers among them told me that what was better on Sunday than to gather for a get together at Madison Square and Times Square to savor free Gujarati food made by the popular joint Raj Bhog, and having big screens to see "Shud Desi Manoranjan in the U.S.
Back home, the Congress Party termed the Madison Square event a sheer waste of money
However, Manoj Ladwa, who was the backroom boy of Team Modi during the elections, differed, saying people who were questioning the event, couldn't even attract four people to listen to them in New York.
The most quotable quote I got was from Swami Chidanand of the Parmarth Trust. He said "India happened today, a big change is taking place, it is a journey of India-from Mahatma Gandhi to Mahatma Modi"
Modi's charm offensive doesn't end here. Congressman Pete Sessions told me that Prime Minister Modi will prove to be the next Ronald Reagan as he knows how to get things done.
Former U.S. envoy to India Frank Wisner described Modi as a very impressive man after listening to his speech at the New York-based Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), where Modi gave his world view.
Ambassador Wisner said Modi's ideas were very clear.
Top business honcho Anand Mahindra also praised Modi's "Make in India pitch". . And, so did American CEOs he met over breakfast.
A majority of supporters, mostly from Indian Americans said it was India's good luck that they have got a Prime Minister like Modi
A student from Andhra Pradesh said, "Modi should create opportunities for us back home so that we don't have to come here."
Whether it was hype or blitz, managed or engineered showmanship, Prime Minister Modi undoubtedly was a show stopper in the five days that he was in United States.
Even U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said, "We can't match Modi's Madison show."
Last year, when I came to New York, there was no less action, but for all the wrong reasons.
Rahul Gandhi tore apart an ordinance undermining then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's authority... Nawaz Sharif's unsavory and demeaning description of Dr. Singh as a "Dehati Aurat" also captured the attention of the media.
This time, however, it was a different ball game from a reporter's point of view. This time, it was all about resetting Indo-US ties with positivity, innovation, rejuvenation, passion, and ultimately hope by a new leader from India-Narendra Modi.
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