It was indeed a historic moment for the world as Obama took the oath of office at the US Capitol in Washington DC. Miles away, the cheer and goodwill was palpable in Mumbai, as dignitaries flocked the grand inaugural ceremony, organised jointly by the US Consul General Paul A Folmsbee and regional president of Indo-American Chamber of Commerce Brian Brown at J W Marriott. And as the clock ticked 10.30 pm in Mumbai, two giant TV screens broadcast the entire event. Cat calls, whistles and cheering rent the air at JW Marriot when Obama was sworn in by Chief Justice John Roberts.

On Obama’s enthusiasm to be part of community work just days before taking his position, Folmsbee said: “I was delighted to see the President-elect participating in a National Day of Service when he visited recovering veterans and worked to paint and refurbish a school. President-elect Obama called it remembering and honouring ‘not only a dreamer but a doer’ who was committed to change — remembering the efforts of Martin Luther King Jr. ...for me, it was a signal that, despite the tough times people still continue to take responsibility for change in their own communities, that, despite the global recession, and international challenges, ordinary citizens will contribute and participate.”

Celebrities like Bollywood film director Yash Chopra, actress Simone Singh and Mumbai sheriff Indu Shahani, among others, rejoiced with equal fervour as many American nationals at the ceremony. Tim Thallis, a teacher at the Indo-American School in Mumbai, wearing an oversized Uncle Sam hat, said with excitement: “Obama is inheriting a large number of problems by taking the position as the President of America at this time but I can’t think of another time, after the tumultuous period when Ronald Reagan took charge, that the country needed a leader.”