I found out that I had been selected to meet President Obama when the GS of my college gave me a call. I didn’t know exactly what was going to happen, it was only when another friend, who had also been selected called me to ask what I would wear that I actually found out that he was planning a town-hall style meeting.
The President was supposed to be at our college by 10.20 in the morning, but we had to report there by 7.30 to leave enough time for all the security checks. We couldn’t get off at the usual train station, but had to go via the Victoria Terminus. There were barricades put up along the road, manned by policemen, and we were only allowed to pass after special passes issued by our college were checked against our I-cards.
Even once we were seated in our college quadrangle, four or five people came and checked our photo ID consecutively. The security arrangements were impressive — we weren’t allowed to carry water or any other liquids, or any sharp objects. We were frisked before being allowed to enter and we couldn’t move out of the quadrangle to go to the washroom!
First Michelle Obama came on to the stage and introduced the President, who spoke to us about Indo-US relations. He then opened the floor for a Q and A. But out of the 200-300 students who were there, only four students were picked at random to ask their questions. He then shook hands with a few students, although he didn’t sign any autographs.
The President looks very different from the way he does on television...he’s so tall! One thing that I really liked was that he didn’t wear his blazer, because of the heat. He was with us for exactly an hour, because he had to rush to Delhi after that.
My friends were all very excited that I got to meet the President, but I was more impressed by the secret service agents and the security arrangements!
—Sarah Chordekar, FYBSc student, St Xavier’s College, Mumbai