The last time he was in town, French President Nicolas Sarkozy was single – at least for conservative Indian protocol purposes.
That was back in January 2008 when Sarkozy was the guest of honour at the Indian Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi.
But the Italian-born singer and former model threw straight-laced Indian officials into a tizzy. The couple, at that point, were NOT married. How would they announce and seat Bruni at official receptions?
In the end, Bruni sat it out in Europe as Sarkozy made an official visit to the Taj Mahal, the world’s most famous symbol of love, sans son amour, or without his love, as the French would say.
He did apparently miss Bruni during the trip to the 17th century edifice built by Emperor Shahjahan for his beloved wife Noor Jahan. Indian news reports said the French president “looked glum” as he toured the site.
Just days after Sarkozy returned home from his Jan. 25-26 Indian state visit, he married his lady love on February 2, 2008.
And so, this time, when Sarkozy visits India on a high-profile four-day visit beginning this weekend, French First Lady Carla Bruni-Sarkozy will be on the presidential plane.
The official releases on Franco-Indian relations may not mention this, but marriage-mad India could take credit for the French president’s current conjugal state.
Don’t expect to hear much of this during Sarkozy’s latest visit to India though. There are weightier issues at stake, including defence, bilateral trade and civilian nuclear cooperation.
India may not be as rich – or efficient – as arch rival China, but many economists believe that with its expanding economy, population and intellectual base, it will surpass China by the end of the decade.
Doubters – if there are any – of India’s growing clout on the international scene need only look at the recent guest list at Hyderabad House, the plush New Delhi former palace used for official events.
Early last month, US President Barack Obama met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in the landmark domed edifice. Weeks after Sarkozy’s Dec. 4-8 visit, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev are set to visit India, which will then be followed by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao’s trip in the last week of 2010.
“The leaders of four permanent UN Security Council members are coming to India in less than two months,” notes the Chennai-based French expert and author Claude Arpi. “That’s a recognition of the importance of India.”
The length of Sarkozy’s latest visit, his jam-packed agenda and the sheer size of the contingent on the French presidential plane is another indication of growing global weight of the world’s largest democracy.
Unlike his brief 2008 visit, Sarkozy’s four-day trip this time features visits not only to New Delhi, but to Mumbai – where he will see the sites of the 2008 terrorist attacks – as well as Bangalore, the southern Indian city that is the hub of India’s IT industry.
The presidential entourage includes a bevy of French industrialists as well as seven ministers – including Defense Minister Alain Juppe, Foreign Minister Michele Alliot-Marie and Economy Minister Christine Lagarde.
Not all of them however will be present when Sarkozy makes a private visit on Sunday to the Taj Mahal – with his wife.
The next two days will be devoted to political ceremonies as well as efforts to boost bilateral trade and defense cooperation.
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