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Michelle goes broke buying Xmas gifts

NEW DELHI: Michelle Obama just couldn't stop buying Indian fabrics and curios at the capitals sun-dappled crafts museum. At the museum on a scheduled stop of one hour, she lingered on for almost two hours, stopping only when she ran out of money after splurging an estimated Rs 80,000 on bedspreads, paintings and other items, many to give away as Christmas gifts. The First Lady purchased four Bengal kantha bedspreads, greeting cards with Madhubani motifs from Bihar, colourful wooden key chains and Ganesha icons from Karnataka and a crochet dining table cover from Andhra Pradesh. She then picked Kutchi embroidered cloth and textiles from the Northeast. She also purchased 15 mobile covers, 15 rag Gujarati dolls and five yogi thailas (embroidered bags). For her daughters, Malia and Natasha, Michelle got a wooden train, spinning tops and Ganesh statues. She was very interested in the wooden train and immediately asked us to put it aside for her children. The train is priced at Rs 600, said H Bibi Jan, a wooden work artist from Karnataka. Michelle also picked up cloth dolls made by a young girl from Rajasthan, small leather purses shaped like owls, frogs, teddy bears and cats. Michelle said she would have bought more if she hadnt run out of cash, those at the museum said. At home, she's boss Does the most powerful man in the world get his way in domestic affairs? Not really, and we have First Lady Michelle Obamas word for it. While interacting with a bunch of girls at the crafts museum, 14-year-year Manpreet Kaur asked Michelle who makes up after she and her husband have a fight. Pat came Mrs Os reply, Of course, I always wait for him to say sorry. I am a woman. Collaboration in media not welcome President Obama didnt miss the chance to take a dig at the press even as he answered some tough questions from reporters. It looks like the US and Indian press are collaborating, Obama jokingly said as both Indian and American mediapersons were eager to get his take on Kashmir at the joint press conference with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Were not looking at that sort of partnership, he said, urging the press to wait till his parliament address. Press secy threatens to pull out Prez: White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs threatened to pull President Barack Obama from a meeting with Indian PM Manmohan Singh on Monday when Indian security officials attempted to restrict the number of US mediapersons allowed for the photo-op that preceeded it. The meeting between Obama and Manmoham Singh proceeded as planned after Indian officials relented, Fox News reported. At one point, Gibbs apparently had his foot lodged in the door of Hyderabad House, asking security officials if they intended to break his foot. Golden entry : Making the first entry in the newly-introduced Golden Book in Parliament, Obama wrote, May the friendship between our two countries continue to grow in the years to come. The Golden Book was introduced at the initiative of Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar. In the maiden entry, Obama wrote, As a representative of the worlds oldest democracy, it is a true privilege and honour to address the worlds largest democracy. Yeh Dosti: On their last evening in India, the Obamas were in for another cultural treat on Monday. Among the performances programmes lined up for the banquet at the Mughal Gardens in Rashtrapati Bhavan are Rajasthani folk songs, an Indian percussion recital led by Guruvar Dorai and V Raja Rao, a medley of classical Indian dances, a performance by the Shillong chamber choir and, fittingly at the end, the hit Bollywood number from Sholay, Yeh dosti hum nahi todenge! Return gift : It was a rare gift from President Obama to the memorial of Mahatma Gandhi a piece of stone used to build a memorial to civil rights icon Martin Luther King, who was inspired by Gandhi. Obama gave the memento to Rajnish Kumar, secretary of Rajghat Samadhi Committee, when he and Michelle Obama visited Gandhis memorial. The US First Couple bowed their heads, stood in silence for a minute, placed a wreath and showered flower petals. Simple, and very beautiful, said Obama, who has always acknowledged the Mahatmas influence on him. Michelle nodded in agreement. Horsing around : If wishes were horses, President Obama would like to take home some of the stately equines at Rashtrapati Bhavan. While entering the majestic (erstwhile vice-regal) palace for a ceremonial welcome, Obama looked impressed by the smart turnout of the elite Presidential body guards (PBG) who escorted him to the forecourt where he was received by President Pratibha Patil and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. During his chat with the President, he praised the PBGs and said, in a lighter vein, that he wanted to take home some camels and horses. It was enough make the hostess smile, said an official accompanying the VVIPs. The 30 camel-mounted BSF personnel had played bugles and trumpets on Sunday during a private dinner being hosted in his honour by the prime minister at 7, RCR. Obama described the music by the camel band as spectacular.

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