What a brilliant idea to invite US President Barack Obama to the Republic Day celebrations in New Delhi! The whole tableaux of an American President being a chief guest at what is often termed as a Soviet-style parade of soldiers and war machinery on ‘main street’ would be quite ironic. This is the first time that an American President will be chief guest at the ceremony at Rajpath on January 26, 2015. There have been many visits by American presidents before; in fact, it would be Obama’s second visit as president, making it another historic first that an American President visits India twice in his tenure.

According to media reports, the idea to invite US President Obama for the Republic Day celebration came from the PMO. Modi and Obama have met on several occasions now and the body language suggests an easy camaraderie.  Pic/Getty Images