Prez visit adds sheen to India image

President Patil's twin tour may have been ceremonial in nature, but it helped in underlining the growing profile of India abroad
Sanjay Kapoor London/ Nicosia

From its sprawling courtyard, London's famous stone structure, Guildhall, seemed strangely silent. Its low illumination heightened its dark, brooding countenance and an agelessness that comes easy to stone structures. Its sprawl and expanse rested lightly on the grand banquet that was hosted by Lord Mayor of London for Pratibha Patil, the Indian President to travel to London in 19 years.

In a scene straight out of an Elizabethan era period cinema, lords, ladies, jurists, aldermen, commoners turned out in their traditional attire of flowing gowns and robes. Men in stirrups and scarves sticking out of their hands looked particularly stiff with their collars tightly buttoned. Some of them carried maces with the emblems signifying their position in the tradition-bound British power structure.

In this formidable bastion of British tradition, which in the past vied for influence with the Buckingham Palace as it represented the business and financial district of this great city, more than 700 guests had converged to welcome the Indian President. Watched in the grand hall by the mythical images of Gog and Magog, protectors of London, this place has hosted grand banquets since it was built in the 14th century. It resonated with noisy chatter between strangers seated thoughtfully by the organising committee.

Indian invitees were particularly sought out by the British gentry. They were interested to know about the changes taking place in what was earlier their colony. There was excitement, curiosity about India's emergence as a formidable economic power and how it was impacting Europe and the world in times of global slowdown. The warmth and informality among the guests seemed to overwhelm the forbidding gothic interiors of Guildhall, steeped in history.

Suddenly, the master of ceremonies called for silence and asked the guests to stand up to welcome India's first woman President. Curiosity about the Indian dignitary was palpable. Guests craned their necks to see President Patil enter the hall resplendent in a royal maroon jamewar sari. With her head covered with her sari's pallu (one end of sari), a beaming President confidently walked through rows of scepticism, famed British stiffness and snobbery. India had indeed arrived.

As the guests settled down to food and cocktail, Alderman Ian Luder, Lord Mayor of London, hailed India as a "key global power with immense potential to promote prosperity and stability". The Lord Mayor, who represents the financial district of London, also lobbied for reforms in India's economy and allowing greater access to British banks in rural and urban areas.

President Patil has this ability to surprise those who are not aware of her ample experience as a politician and an administrator. She seemed at home with all the pomp and show put up by her host. In her firm and unwavering voice, she recalled the historical relationship between the two countries and the contribution of the British residents of Indian origin in deepening ties between the two countries.

Perhaps cognisant of the changed circumstances and the rising profile of India, the British government pulled out all stops to welcome her. The ceremony put together at the 900-year-old Windsor Castle, perhaps the grandest living castle in the world, was breathtaking. Officials of the British foreign office never tired of reminding Indian hacks that this was only the seventh time that the Queen had hosted a head of State in the Windsor Castle. The Queen accompanied the President in an Australian coach through the sovereign gates.