Despite the universal opprobrium New Delhi has earned for its nuclear tests, there has not been a trace of supplication or solicitation from Singh during his week in the US at a time when India's image is taking a battering. In a tete e tete with journalists and in appearances on US media, Singh surprised everyone with a winning mix of eloquence and dignity rare among Indian politicians. Even while he was taciturn about the nature of his talks with American interlocutors, there was a certain refreshing loftiness in the way he conducted himself and represented India. Exquisite in his restraint and immaculate in his use of language, Singh came across as a sharp contrast to the wheedling if articulate Pakistanis and Middle-Easterners who come running toUncle Sam at every opportunity. Singh said he had come to Washington not to seek clarifications or complain, but to exchange ideas.

Asked if he had explained India's concerns about China to the US, he said he had not come here to explain either, but to communicate. ``A country of India's size does not explain. I also did not come here to change anyone's thinking. I think I have succeeded in communicating even if I say so myself,'' he said.

Some critics said Singh was perhaps too smug and starchy for comfort, with perhaps a touch of hauteur that may not have gone down well with his American interlocutors. There was no such feedback from the US side. On the contrary, some observers said it is entirely possible they liked the in-your-face manner of the man being spoken of as India's next foreign minister. Others felt he was fortunate to have interacted with Acting Secretary Strobe Talbott instead of Secretary Madeleine Albright, herself a lady of considerable hauteur. Their talks may not have lasted 150minutes.

But at the end of the day, the identical statement issued by the two sides, reflecting the concerns of both parties, made it clear that Singh had parleyed on equal terms with representatives of the sole superpower.

Singh himself was not chary of referring to his contumely as he made light of the sanctions and the proposed differential treatment Washington was indicating it would mete to India and Pakistan.

``I am of the view that both the interpretation and application of sanctions is an internal (US) matter,'' he said. ``As for the issue of differential treatment, without sounding arrogant I should say India is too great a country to be a complainant on any count.''

He repeated a similar sentiment on CNNs World News, surprising observers with his disdain for the mundane. Asked elsewhere about the harsh language being used by US mandarins, Singh said, ``I have not come here to sort out intemperate language. I came here to communicate India's position. I won't be distracted from my job by thatmanifestation or tendency (to use loose language).''

But on occasions he was not above giving it back to the Americans. Asked at a New York briefing what he thought of Secretary Albright's repeated references to India digging itself into a hole, he riposted.

``Civilisationally and even metaphorically, Indians do not dig holes to bury themselves.'' It was a scything, if politically incorrect, response. Singh returns to India on Sunday exactly a week after he arrived in the US on his mission to present India's point of view.

Describing the past week as intense but exhilarating, he said he was going back much more confident and reassured about the message I came to convey being conveyed.

In more informal conversations, Indian officials said they felt confident that Indo-US ties would move out of the current rut even though it may take some time. The agreement to continue a political dialogue was reassuring and a sure sign that the two sides would remain engaged, they said.

Kidded in a lighter veinabout whether the Americans served them any lunch at all (it was to be a luncheon meeting) since the US was invoking sanctions, one official joked back that the meal was good but it was the dessert which was scrumptious. The dessert reference sounded rather metaphorical, suggesting the Americans left the Indian team with something to chew about, if not savour.