http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/state-dinner-will-highlight-american-and-indian-musicians/?src=twt&twt=thecaucus
<http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/24/state-dinner-will-highlight-american-and-indian-musicians/?src=twt&twt=thecaucus> [image: The Caucus - The Politics and Government blog of The New York Times]<http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/> November 24, 2009, *11:21 AM*State Dinner Will Highlight American and Indian MusiciansBy RACHEL L. SWARNS<http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/author/rachel-l-swarns/> Tuesday night, at their first state dinner, President Obama<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/o/barack_obama/index.html?inline=nyt-per> and his wife, Michelle, plan to wow India’s prime minister with a mélange of musical entertainment, presenting musicians and singers that represent a rich sampling of American (and Indian) genres. On tap for this evening: the National Symphony Orchestra<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/organizations/n/national_symphony_orchestra/index.html?inline=nyt-org>; Jennifer Hudson, the singer and Academy-Award-winning actress; Kurt Elling, the jazz musician from Chicago; and A. R. Rahman<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/r/a_r_rahman/index.html?inline=nyt-per>, the Indian composer who wrote the score to the movie “Slumdog Millionaire.” The guests – about 350 to 400 – will savor the hottest event in Washington’s social calendar in a big tent on the White House’s south lawn, according to people familiar with the planning. More details will be released later in the day, including the guest list and the menu (which will be prepared with the help of a guest chef, Marcus Samuelsson<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/marcus_samuelsson/index.html?inline=nyt-per> of Aquavit in New York.) Mr. Obama got the big day started at a ceremony in the East Room Tuesday morning where he welcomed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh<http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/s/manmohan_singh/index.html?inline=nyt-per> of India to the White House before a crowd that included American officials and members of Congress, Indian dignitaries and executives, and students from local schools. “As the world’s largest democracies, we can keep faith with our common values — speaking out and standing up for the rights and dignity to which all human beings are entitled; and showing that nations that respect the rights and aspirations of their people are ultimately more stable, more secure and more successful,’’ Mr. Obama said. -- - Regards ~ ~ A.R.Rajib ~ ~
