Modi vs Obama

The extraordinary love affair that the media have with Modi continues in its coverage of the Indian PM at the G20. A sizeable media entourage from India has accompanied the PM although that does not explain why even a newspaper like the Hindu has gone overboard in its adulation for Modi, even claiming that he was the favourite at the G20 – the PM that everyone else wanted to be seen with.

While Modi certainly has his well-wishers, prominent among which is the diaspora business community, to claim that he has credentials as a leader with international stature is I think premature. While he did address students at the Queensland University of Technology, the leader who set the tone for the G20 was undoubtedly President Obama at an address given at the University of Queensland on the 15th of November.

I am not suggesting that Obama is better than Modi – just that Obama happened to blow the audience away with his charm, his oratory, his easy familiarity with a range of topics and issues and his sense of humour. Climate change and women's rights, rights for the LGBT community and the need for inclusive growth were covered by Obama. I look forward to the day when PM Modi will articulate a similar breadth and vision for all in India and, beyond being merely a spokesperson for corporate India.

Pradip Thomas 
Brisbane, 
November 16, 20214