Even before they met, they decided to pen a joint editorial. Was this confidence in their respective staffs' abilities to find common ground and meeting of minds or, was it this urgent desire to match step even before the music has played?
Writing an op-ed in the Washington Post, the leading daily in the American capital, President Obama and Prime Minister Modi write "India and the United States are bound by common values and mutual interests. We have each shaped the positive trajectory of human history, and through our joint efforts, our natural and unique partnership can help shape international security and peace for years to come."
This itself, is a major step forward. India has traditionally bristled at the term 'partner' when describing its relationship with the most powerful country in the world. Ally maybe. But partner, it's 'complicated'.
So, we are committing ourselves now in a partnership with the United States on security matters. Not a bad thing, per say. Maybe things will move forward on that Headley issue. And maybe some more pressure regarding Hafiz Saeed and JuD and sundry other groups.
"As nations, we've partnered over the decades to deliver progress to our people," the two heads of government write. Again that word, 'partnership'. Here, the two talk about partnering in the Green Revolution and IITs. Agriculture and education. Now that's not a bad thing either. Ivy Leagues in India maybe? Talk about that has been going on for years. Those students who thought they would benefit from that partnership have finished with their college education. Or maybe Americans will invest in rural schools, no seriously. Maybe IITs will open a branch in Boston. Or we could get Washington apples in Delhi. Wait, that is already there. Tastes like coagulated cardboard.
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"Today, our partnership is robust, reliable and enduring, and it is expanding," write the American President and Prime Minister Modi. Here they are talking about "two militaries, private sectors and civil society."
The BJP government has already taken steps to increase investment in the defense sector, including by raising the foreign direct investment cap to 49 per cent. So, with a shopping budget of USD 100 billion in defense procurement over the next 10 years, we are talking about major purchases.
On the trade front, according to various sources, American exports to India have increased by 491 per cent since 2001.
Bilateral trade between the countries has reached USD 100 billion and may rise to USD 500 billion by the end of the decade. So, there is an undeclared partnership going on there for quite some time now.
On the civil society front, here is a time for the off-track relationship to be brought on track. The distrust and suspicion that has characterized diplomatic relations since the Khobragade episode has to be worked at.
A columnist in the Washington Post writes about the Obama-Modi meeting, "On that front, the White House has a chance to contrast Modi's visit against the bilateral meeting between Modi and Xi in New Delhi two weeks ago."
A lot of comparisons being are drawn in the American media during Mr. Modi's visit.
Talking about cooperation in science and technology, Obama and Modi write "and in this partnership, the Indian American community has been a vibrant, living bridge between us."
Lets just say not just living but dancing and exulting and vociferous. We saw that at Madison Square Garden. And, at almost every interaction that the Prime Minister has had with NRIs here.
"As nations, as people, we aspire to a better future for all; one in which our strategic partnership also produces benefits for the world at large." That word partnership again. This time on strategic issues. Afghanistan maybe? Lets wait and watch. They also say, "As global partners, we are committed to enhancing our homeland security by sharing intelligence, through counterterrorism and law-enforcement cooperation, while we jointly work to maintain freedom of navigation and lawful commerce across the seas." Now, that is ambitious and interesting.
President Obama and Prime Minister Modi have expressed the desire "we can go beyond modest and conventional goals."
So, the small steps by a small person who has small desires doesn't hold true. The Indian Prime Minister has big dreams when it comes to national interests. And, he will take leaps if necessary, not just small steps. Chalein Sath Sath they say. In step.
