Ever since becoming the Prime Minister of India, Modi is on a status-seeking extravaganza travelling around the globe quite frequently. First phase of this status-seeking venture apparently concludes with the US President Obama attending the Indian Republic Day parade in New Delhi on 26 January 2015.

Brookings is at the forefront with its experts pointing to various expectations and cautions. Ashley Tellis emphaises reconciling world views and national interests but even Ashley could not help highlighting perpetual dissent on part of India. Tellis wonders whether India would be able to keep the US interested after this visit. Raja Mohan has a few recommendations provided there is substantial political will on both sides to make some progress.

However, this Indian blitzkrieg into the arena of international relations is hardly beyond cosmetics. Is there a substance to this civilisational aspiration which started with mythological soap-operas on the Indian state-run channel Doordarshan in 1987? Or is it a mere Vedic science stupor currently flying high on an aeroplane?