Could India Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the United States be for the Indian American community what President John F Kennedy’s speech at the Berlin Wall was for Democracy?
21,000 people mostly from the Indian American community are expected at Madison Square Garden in New York City to greet Modi September 28, according to the Economic Times.
Outgoing Miss America Nina Davuluri is expected to scheduled to emcee the event along with PBS News Anchor Hari Sreenivasan.
500 diverse Desi organizations are coming together to host this reception under the umbrella of the newly formed non-profit Indian American Community Foundation.
“There is tremendous enthusiasm among the community to see our popular leader and hear from him his plans and vision for Indiamm,” said Chandrakant Patel, President of the Foundation.
Some however question whether the gathering should take on a less festive tone.
“The MSG show seems to have been organized more along the lines of a Bollywood extravaganza rather than a significant address by the PM of the world’s largest democracy,” said Mukesh Mowji of Silver Creek Hospitality.
He’s suggesting Modi hold a separate event in Silicon Valley where many Indian American technology leaders have made their home. You can read more about that in the Economic Times.
