By IANS,
New Delhi : The Indian media can’t seem to have enough of Barack Obama – elected the first African American president of the US. Thursday morning saw larger than life photographs of Obama splashed across all major Indian newspapers with his words – which seem to have become quotable quotes by now – sufficing as bold headlines.
“Change has come to America,” said the Hindustan Times newspaper, quoting Obama’s now famous words. Beneath the bold headline were two simple but heavy weighing lines – “Let’s say it straight: Barack Hussein Obama can change the world”.
The Indian Express’ lead photograph of a sombre Obama smiling at the cheering crowds and waving at them with his left hand held high was accompanied with his words written in bold:
“Tonight let’s ask ourselves, if our children should see the next century, what change will they see? This is our chance to answer that call. To reaffirm the fundamental truth that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope; and where we are met with those who tell us that we can’t, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can”.
The Statesman reiterated Martin Luther King Jr’s dream of racial equality and beneath the headline “As the World Rubs its Eyes…Dreams Come True”, it said: “Forty-five years after Martin Luther King Jr laid out his dream of racial equality in America, President-elect Barack Hussein Obama smashed through the ‘colour line’ to be elected USA’s first black, and its 44th president.”
With the lead story was a photograph of the happy Obama family – a waving Barack Obama holding his little daughter Sasha’s hand, while his wife Michelle held the couple’s elder daughter Malia’s hand.
The Times of India, whose lead story wore the headline “Race ends in historic win”, followed it with what India wants from the new US President.
“It will require effort to persuade the Obama administration that linking Afghanistan with Kashmir is nothing but an Pakistani alibi to promote its objectives in Afghanistan and India,” a portion of the report read.
The Hindustan Times also charted out the challenges that Obama will face.
“The greatest challenge he (Obama) may face will be in the realm of security and foreign policy – and it will be useful to have a Republican to share the blame. This is not unusual in the US: Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton both had cabinet members from the other side of the fence,” it said.
The media also reported the celebrations in the Indian capital following Obama’s victory.
The Hindu, for example, wrote how school students and fans of Obama celebrated his victory at the American Center in the capital with much fanfare. School children, it said, started gathering in the center from 8 a.m. Wednesday and hugged each other when the landslide victory of Obama was announced on the TV channels.