Not exactly, but almost.  President Obama’s new book is set for launch soon.  A preview of the book named A Promise Land discusses various accounts and meetings between Mr. Obama and world leaders as well as wanna be leaders.  One of those accounts happens to be of Rahul Gandhi, aka Pappu. 

Obama is to have dedicated about 1400 words writing about his visit to India and describing various people he had met during the visit.  He describes then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as “wise,” “thoughtful” and describes Mr. Singh as “the chief architect of India’s economic transformation.”  Mr. Obama also acknowledges the lack of handling of the Pakistani Lashkar-e-Taiba- Pakistani Intelligence joint terrorist attack on Mumbai and Singh’s lack of handling of it in tune with public demand and outrage. Obama seems sympathetic to Sing’s integrity and honesty. 

The former President then describes his interaction with Antonia Maino – aka Pappu’s mother.  He uses adjectives such as “shrewd” and “forceful.” Obama also described Antonia as “striking” and “regal.”  Unfortunately Antonia was not showered with praise but Obama saw right through the well-dressed sari exterior.  He mentioned that she chose Singh because he posed no threat to Pappu. 

Antonia was the ringmaster, Singh, the manager and Pappu, the circus monkey.

Obama said the following about Pappu – he “seemed smart and earnest, his good looks resembling his mother’s.”  “He offered up his thoughts on the future of progressive politics, occasionally pausing to probe me on the details of my 2008 campaign.”  He then describes that “there was a nervous, informed quality about him, as if he were a student who’d done the coursework and was eager to impress the teacher but deep down lacked either the aptitude or the passion to master the subject.”  In other words, Pappu failed to launch.  Yet again.

There isn’t an in-depth description of the current Indian Prime Minister – Narendra Modi yet.  Perhaps Mr. Obama is saving that for the second book.

Pappu Sena leader Sanjay Raut denounced the former United States President’s remark on the Congressi Pappu and the party.  Raut is angry about a foreign politician (Obama) giving opinions on Indian political leaders.  The other boot lickers – MP Manickam Tagore has since unfollowed Obama on Twitter.  Congressi Tariq Anwar has defended poor Pappu and said that he’s evolved a lot since age 40 when he met with Obama. 

All in all, this tamasha is fun to watch.  Perhaps this is the straw that will break the defunct Congress party for good.  I personally feel bad that an American President had to spend more than 2 seconds of his precious time with a non-leader such as Pappu.  Obama is more shrewd than anyone at any table and there was probably no doubt in his mind that Pappu is like a wet firework; a permanent failure to launch. 

Image: Times of India

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