New Delhi: It’s a few hours before US First Lady Melania Trump’s scheduled appearance, and the mood outside the Sarvodaya Co-ed Senior Secondary School in Delhi’s South Moti Bagh is one of expectancy and excitement.
There are students and performers — all decked up in heavy colourful costumes and make-up — waiting to pass through a security check while a few use the time to rehearse dance steps for a performance.
Just a few metres away, a band, replete with bagpipes and drums, is practicing its final beats before the big event.
But do those in the queue know who Melania Trump is? “President Donald Trump’s wife,” the students shout in unison and giggle.
“We are very excited to see the First Lady. She is so beautiful in photos,” says a student. “I wonder what she looks like in person.”
The wait, however, is long due to the massive security in place for the visit.
Security personnel walk sniffer dogs around the school premises and visitors have to pass through the security check thrice. There are security personnel at every corner of the school.
Once the students make it through the security check, they are given small US-India flags to welcome Melania, or FLOTUS (First Lady of the US) as the wives of US presidents are known.
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An early arrival & the happiness curriculum
While Melania Trump is scheduled to arrive at 11.55 am, she arrives 10 mins early for the event. Impressed by her punctuality, students shout in joy and wave the US & Indian flags as she gets off her Chevrolet Suburban.
The students from primary classes greet her the traditional way amid an array of ‘namastes’ and some ‘tika’. Having greeted the students, Melania inaugurates the event by lighting the school lamp before heading for a class on the Happiness Curriculum.
The Happiness Curriculum is a flagship programme of the Aam Aadmi Party government in Delhi. It focuses on better mental health of children, and includes 40 mins of meditation and other relaxing and outdoor activities.
“Our interaction with FLOTUS was useful,” says a student after the class. “We performed different activities where we had to talk well of our peers. She participated with us and I want to thank her for that.”
“She read a few pages of a book and sat with us,” said another student. “We are very happy we got a chance to speak in English with her.”
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Performances & a speech
Once the class is done, the First lady takes a tour of the government school before settling down with the students to watch cultural performances prepared by them.
A group of 15 students, clad in traditional Rajasthani attire, perform on the folk song Padharo Mhare Desh.
But the performance that gets everybody excited, including FLOTUS, is the Giddha. Even some of the students, who’ve been strictly told to remain quiet, jump off their seats and begin dancing.
“Students were practicing for this day for a long time,” says Renu, a class teacher. “With exams scheduled next week and rehearsals in between, there was a lot on their plate. We made sure everything was perfect today; the kids have worked really hard.”
Once the performances are done, Melania takes to the stage to give a speech. “Namaste,” she starts to a roar of approval, before going on to say that the people of India were warm and welcoming.
“Thank you for welcoming me. This is my first visit to India. People here are so welcoming and kind,” she says
In her brief observation of the Happiness Curriculum, she says it is “very inspiring” that students “begin their day by practising mindfulness and connecting with nature”, noting that it has set a “healthy and positive” example for educators.
Once done with the speech, FLOTUS is presented with a handmade gift and Madhubani paintings. As the event reaches its fag end, Melania stands between the students, shakes hands and exchanges hugs.
She finally departs to a sea of American and Indian flags.
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