The US presidential visit heralds symbols of not just hard power

The excerpts of the forthcoming memoirs of the evocatively named Reggie Love — US President Barack Obama’s former ‘bodyman’, or aide — have certainly come at the right time for his Indian hosts.

While his dislike for any footwear other than dress flats may be put to the test during the scheduled visit to the Taj Mahal, as aam tourists are made to doff their shoes to protect the monument’s delicate marble, his food tastes may be the bigger challenge. Love avers that his exboss’ no-nos included salads (“only in emergencies”), “gum wrapped in tiny papers” and “nothing battered or fried”.

Add to that the First Lady’s highly-publicised advocacy of healthy eating and there may be as much pressure from the US presidential advance team to knock pakoras, dosas, samosas and jalebis off the menu as to put American snipers atop buildings overlooking Rajpath on Republic Day.

It also seems likely, therefore, that there will not be any unctuous kebab platters named (or renamed) after the Presidential couple at five-star eateries this time around as well, leaving the Clintons to continue their tandoori domination there. Khandvi, dhoklas and rosogollas, however, do not fall into that category, it may be noted, and may offer a new common ground between the leaders of both nations. Healthy, grounds, one could add.