Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NEWDELHI126
2009-01-21 11:53:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

SPECIAL REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF

Tags:  KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN 
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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000126 

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STATE FOR INR/MR

STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO

STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU

STATE FOR AID/APRE-A

USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: SPECIAL REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S INAUGURATION ON JANUARY 20

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 NEW DELHI 000126

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NP, AC, PM

STATE FOR INR/MR

STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO

STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU

STATE FOR AID/APRE-A

USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY

E.O. 12958:N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: SPECIAL REPORT: INDIAN MEDIA COVERAGE OF
PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA'S INAUGURATION ON JANUARY 20


1. SUMMARY: On Tuesday night (22:30 India time) urban
India was glued to their TV sets as "history was being
made, and hope and change being ushered in" for the
United States. Live telecasts, with Indian language
commentary and voice-overs, ran on all mainstream news
channels. Leading broadcasters roped in politicians,
diplomats, academics, think-tankers, and US-based media
persons and experts for special reactions and analyses
that ran until the wee hours of the morning; non-stop
coverage of the new Administration continues on TV a day
later.

The morning newspapers January 21 were no less jubilant,
splashing the event across front pages below euphoric
headlines. All newspapers published the President's
speech, complete or in part. Although the breadth of
comment included some skepticism, Indians were deeply
impressed by the American transition and Inaugural
ceremonies for our emphasis on change, youth, racial
equality and multiculturalism. END SUMMARY.

'WE ARE A NATION OF CHRISTIANS AND MUSLIMS, JEWS AND
HINDUS - AND NON-BELIEVERS'


2. India's newspaper of record THE TIMES OF INDIA - one
of the largest circulating newspapers in the English
language - highlighted India's pride at the President's
acknowledgement of Muslim- and Hindu-Americans in his
Address. The paper reported that Indians watching the
event on TV and internet were transfixed by Obamania.
Executives finished work early, students rescheduled
their tutorials, and housewives finished with their
dinner chores early to watch the event, the paper
reported.

-- SUFI BLESSINGS, ROCK VIDEO FOR NEW PREZ


3. The TIMES OF INDIA reported that, in an unprecedented
act, a special sufi 'qawwali' [group musical performance]
was organized in Delhi in one of India's most important
Muslim shrines to honor the new President. Similarly, a
television channel aired a special video tribute by an
Indian rock band, called "Obama, Tu Nay Macha Diya
Hangama" [Obama, you shook up the world]!

-- "MORNING, MR. PRESIDENT"



4. Welcoming the new President in the above headlined
editorial, THE TIMES OF INDIA set an Indian agenda for
him. "For the sake of the world's security, Obama must
press Islamabad to clamp down on these [terror] groups
and close down their bases, something that the Bush
administration failed to do for most of its run. And then
there is the Middle East mess..."

'ARE YOU LISTENING MR. PRESIDENT?"


5. A leading English daily, the HINDUSTAN TIMES,
published a four-page special on President Obama. The
paper reported that a new 17-nation BBC World Service
poll has revealed that as many as 63 per cent of Indians

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anticipate America's relationship with the rest of the
world improving under his presidency.


6. According to the poll, Indians believe the U.S. should
emphasize dealing with the global financial crisis (47
per cent top priority, 21 per cent important) and
improving America's relationships.

-- 'YES IT'S CHANGE, BUT NO SURPRISES'


7. Editorially, THE HINDUSTAN TIMES predicted change
would be most evident in the new Administration's
economic policy. "There is no reason to detract from the
hope and excitement Obama has been able to bring to the
global stage. But no one should have any illusions. Obama
will be a hard-nosed advocate of U.S. interests in a time
of scarcity," the paper said.

-- 'OBAMA TO BAT FOR STRONG INDO-US TIES'


8. THE INDIAN EXPRESS reported that, while there may be
some anxiety in India about how the Obama administration
might deal with the sub-continent, Obama has personally
voiced his commitment to further build a close strategic
partnership between the two countries.

'OBAMA PROMISES BREAK WITH BUSH'


9. Analyzing President Obama's inaugural speech,
influential South Asia strategic expert C. Raja Mohan
wrote in the INDIAN EXPRESS "Obama also left no one in
doubt about his commitment to pursue the war on Terror
that Bush had launched after 9/11. At the same time,
Obama signaled that his way of fighting terror might be
fundamentally different from that of his predecessor. In
a bow to the near universal criticism of the Bush foreign
policies, Obama promised both restraint and resolve in
the conduct of American policy in the coming years."

-- "PRESIDENT OBAMA: LESSONS IN GRACE"


10. "One has to hand it to the Americans. They know how
to celebrate," exclaimed THE ASIAN AGE, a paper often
critical of U.S. policy, commenting on the inauguration
event. In a glowing tribute to America, the paper said,
"The American spirit is too bright and too hopeful to
make such a historic journey somber or operatic. It looks
forward rather than behind."


11. In admiration, the paper further said, "The world may
not agree with America and Americans at all times and on
all issues, but in almost no other major country does one
see the victor accept his laurels with such magnanimity
and the vanquished the lesson of defeat with such grace."


12. Drawing comparisons with situations in India, the
paper said: "We in India pride ourselves on being the
biggest democracy in the world: but here the victor
revels and the vanquished sulks; and the celebrations
often degenerate into taunts, muscle-flexing and
bitterness. Why can't we ever see such grace in this

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country?"

-- URDU PRESS RELIEVED AT "PROSPECT OF PEACE"


13. The common refrain in the Urdu press, mirroring
India's Muslim public opinion, was that the prospects of
international peace have brightened with President
Obama's arrival, and more importantly President Bush's
departure. The normally antagonistic Urdu daily RASHTRIYA
SAHARA, also India's number one, showed signs of
mellowing, with a special page of Obama photos from his
childhood to the present. The banner headline: "New Hope
for the Peace-loving People of the World."


14. The paper said Muslims all over the world are glad
the "Bush era of aggression" has come to an end.
Editorially, the paper said: "Obama has several
challenges, the most important one being the Middle East.
Israel has to be stopped."


15. India's number two Urdu daily SIASAT said: "Obama
should see that Bush is penalized under American law for
his grave mistakes." In a similar diatribe, the HAMARA
SAMAJ Urdu daily said: "By the grace of the Almighty,
humanity has got rid of the ugliest and most hot-headed
American ruler, George Bush." Leading Urdu daily INQUILAB
said, "Obama will have to remove the anti-human elements
from US policies, so that hatred against America may
deescalate. George Bush has left a lot of work for him to
do."


16. COMMENT: The reporting and commentary on President
Obama's inauguration was highly positive. The euphoria is
such that a TV commentator was forced to remind excited
panelists and Indian viewers -- "Wait a minute, he's the
President of another country!" Reports also highlighted
Vice President Joe Biden's credentials as a close friend
of India. Biden, the former chairman of the Foreign
Relations Committee, was a strong backer of the Indo-U.S.
nuclear deal, and played an important role in securing
Congressional approval for it, stories noted. As
reported by THE TIMES OF INDIA, the only "sore note" is
the new Administration's inclination to draw a link
between the situation on the Pakistan-Afghanistan border
and the India - Pakistan Kashmir dispute. The Democrats'
focus on CTBT and NPT are also reportedly seen as likely
bones of contention. Media coverage of President Obama's
inauguration, however, suggests that while official India
has its apprehensions and anxieties, the Indian public is
reveling in the "new friendly face of America." For block
quotes and editorial excerpts from India's English and
language dailies, please see the separate Media Reaction
Report.
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