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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 
 
NEW DELHI 00000126  002 OF 003 
 
 
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 
 
NEW DELHI 00000126  003 OF 003 
 
 
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. 
WHITE