Odd PM out

Not all the participants, however, found the summits so uncongenial. India’s normally reserved prime minister was beaming with enthusiasm at a press conference on board the special Air India aircraft that was bringing him back from Rio. After the press conference ended, he even shook hands with journalists, and enquired after some of them. Whether it was the prospect of returning to take charge of the finance ministry, or the memory of delivering a dressing-down to European leaders, or the simple fact of being away from the ceaseless demands for action that has marked the past year of his premiership, is not known. Whatever the reason, one journalist suggested to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh that he should always look confident, even back home. Dr Singh nodded with a smile — but, as usual, without speaking any words.