During their half-an-hour meeting at the White House, US President George W. Bush and Indian Deputy PM L.K. Advani had different issues weighing over their minds. Iraq loomed large over Bush’s thoughts, while Advani’s priority was Pakistan. The moment Bush requested that India lend its troops for stabilising (read policing) Iraq, Advani remarked: ‘‘Our troops are performing many duties which they are not supposed to.’’ His reference was to the policing of the terrorist-affected Jammu and Kashmir by the Army.Cash-boxA group at a luncheon-lecture by Advani under the auspices of the World Affairs Council at Los Angeles hit upon an innovative idea for raising funds. They started collecting $ 10 from each couple wishing to be photographed with Advani. However, they committed a tactical mistake. Unaware of the the identity of a member of Advani’s entourage, they asked him if he also wanted to get photographed with the Deputy PM. The member alerted Advani against his conversion into a cash-box. Needless to say that thereupon, the business came to an end.Levelled, all!Their high-sounding designations not withstanding, it was a sight watching India’s Ambassador to the US Lalit Mansingh, Home Secretary N. Gopalaswami, Intelligence Bureau Director K.P. Singh, Joint Secretary (USC) in the MEA Jayant Prasad, Advani’s OSD Ajay Prasad and Private Secretary Deepak Chopra being frisked at Dulles Airport at Washington. They had their shoes removed, their coats taken off and their hands raised — all for a security check. The Americans, mercifully, spared Advani.Special item! The compere at a reception hosted by the South California Indian community at Hotel Westin Bonaventure at Los Angeles announced: ‘‘Ladies and gentlemen, we have a special item for you this evening. She is Hema Malini. Give her a big hand.’’ The audience obeyed. Hema Malini offered tough competition to Advani for photo sessions. In fact, she had a larger queue waiting to be photographed with her.Nearer the altar.Advani, despite being a movie-bug, skipped a visit to Hollywood. His favourite films include Titanic and Bridge on the River Kwai. One could mark a touch of saffron at Hollywood with images of Ganapati towering over the Egyptian Gods at a popular square.We can beat themA cheering crowd of people in front of a string of shops lining the sea-face on the Santa Monica Beach at Los Angeles was shouting ‘‘huba, huba’’. A magician was busy conducting a show. He climbed on to the back of a chair and shouted: ‘‘Should I jump on to the glass below,’’ he asked pointing at the glass pieces piled over a sack. ‘‘Yes,’’ the crowd shouted in a chorus. ‘‘Oh my god,’’ he cried and then yelled: ‘‘Ladies and gentlemen, say huba, huba’’. The ritual over, and he jumped on to the glass. The audience, totally moved by this act of bravery, started paying up liberally. Another young man, holding a pair of plastic snakes, was trying to entertain a set of people close by. This being the level of the trade, if only our saperas and madaris get a chance, they would give these Yankee magicians a good run for their money.
