It's not the first time that "naach gaana" has been used as a pejorative. It is used for the cultural programme at Republic Day parade, when a new musical element was introduced in the ‘Beating the Retreat’ ceremony.

This lack of pride in music and the performing arts has been royally transferred to the Modi-related events involving the diaspora.

Every rally for Modi done overseas has a different character. The spirit and emotion binding them are the same. There are three elements of that emotion: nostalgia, connection and expression through the performing arts.

Here is the baffling part: some Indians become excited when they see a video of a non-Hindi hit song playing at a gym in Iran (as Twitter posts suggest), and the same set of people frowns and cringes when co-Indians perform dance numbers based on film music.

Why these different standards in the judgement of soft power and its absorption by different people in different countries?



Though it is true that the cultural event at Houston could have been better in presentation, selection and content, we have to appreciate the fact that the organisers were able to present Houston's own version of Indian pride.



Not every event can be the same. But even to those who are closely and deeply tuned into culture and cultural performances, and different scales, judging the Houston show did not come easily.



There is a way to look at it lightly. Indians have so time-managed their dance numbers at weddings and wedding events in general — since Karan Johar movies arrived — that they are missing the beauty in the efforts displayed at the Howdy Modi! event.



But, look, Karan Johar has hailed the event!