Will Obama take Indo-US relations to a new level?

For the past two weeks, Ganpat Shinde has been busy beautifying the streets of South Mumbai, particularly the stretch where Obama’s cavalcade was expected to pass through. This MCGM ( Municipal Corporation of Greater Mumbai) worker is – contrary to his daily moods vis-à-vis his job – is quite excited to do his bit for the VVIP. “After all, he is the most powerful man on earth. If he is going to visit us, it will be one helluva big event – as big as Diwali!” he says, swelling in Marathi pride. He’s right, and there are many Ganpat Shindes in the government and private sectors who have been working round the clock to ensure the US President Barack Obama has a comfortable and successful stay in India.

His visit to the country in the first term of his presidency – the first president to do so – speaks volumes about the importance he puts on US relations with India . That is something that has been parroted repeatedly by all the members of his government at various fora. In the past, US presidents didn’t even think of a stopover in India during their Asia visits. Time has changed, and how!

Mumbai was agog with Obamamania and now the fever has shifted to the capital. While the establishment – both Indian and US – are tightlipped about details and developments of his trip, political watchers globally are keenly watching what the Obama-Manmohan tango will deliver, including Pakistan of course. As the Dawn reports, “The US president is likely to make a statement on the war against terror ... while "anxious eyes in Islamabad will meticulously examine how the American president manages ties with India without impacting long-term partnership with Pakistan.”

Will the Prez dance the Bush way, who undoubtedly was the best US president for India in recent times? Or will his decisions alter the future of Indo-US relations? Time will tell, but for starters, there are many things that both parties want from the other . India would want to know the US’s position on strategic issues in the sub-continent and a bigger role in Afghanistan, on outsourcing, US support on India’s candidature for a permanent seat in the US Security Council and inclusion in the Nuclear Suppliers Group, and a greater access to the US market.

The US on the other hand, would want a bigger role in Asia from India; inroads into the defence market; access to the Indian market, and a prominent role in the Indian civilian nuclear market. Time will tell what the impact will be.