Bush Fires in Delhi

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Usually, the foyer and restroom chatter in Summit-type events are a decent enough barometer to judge the audience's level of intrigue, interest and expectations from the high profile speakers. All through the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, the George W Bush session on Day two was expectedly high on the must-attend list.

It's Delhi, so some of it could be to flaunt the "I was at the Bush's" line at an evening farmhouse gathering. Part could also be a genuine eagerness to hear and be up, close and personal with a man who arguably led the change of the world order - positively or negatively.

But almost universally, none would have hedged a bet Bush would raise the maximum level of engagement, candour, applause and humour - without once resorting to his legendary Bushisms or putting his foot...you know where.

It was a session which changed many perceptions of the man who hanged Saddam and is accused of triggering widespread unified and global backlash by the Jehadis. Quite simply, Delhi lost the restroom bet that this would be a boring, policy-paper spiel session.

It's ended just a couple of hours back, but the post session hush is already of a crowd surprised by Bush's ability to consistently eject quick-witted repartee and snappy one-liners (that is almost an impossibility with Bush, one had thought).

That he almost appeared a man who was intelligent, was equivalent to witnessing a behavioural tsunami. And that the packed gathering laughed and clapped at his answers and one-liners more than any other session so far, certainly meant victory for communication, if not ideology.

He told us Osama was alive, that he regrets the dead or alive comment post 9/11...and that Laura still nags him on that, and that it was a remarkable moment for him to realise the Japanese Prime Minister could call him post the New York twin tower collapse and pledge his and the Japanese people's unwavering support in the war on terror came in the backdrop of his father having led the war against Japan 60 years ago. "That a sworn enemy could become your ally in 60 years was a moment for me," he said...evoking supportive nods in such numbers it would shame Texas.

He appeared a man, as our Editor-in-Chief Rajdeep Sardesai said, who was in no self doubt at all. For Rajdeep, this was more of a way of criticism, as he believes a leader must have self doubt.

In the restroom post the session, part of Delhi thought it was an indicator of decisiveness.

The evening farmhouse party may reflect a bit more on Bush.