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Lady Michelle Obama.

Manmohan Singh recalled the words of Abraham Lincoln in a heart-felt tribute to the man thirty years his junior who shattered the glass ceiling to become the first AfricanAmerican president of the US. “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years,” he said quoting Lincoln.

Manmohan Singh also praised Obama for winning the Nobel Peace Prize. He said, “The coveted award was a recognition of the healing touch you have provided and the power of your idealism and vision.”

Over 300 guests arrived for the dinner, and included some of the most powerful, wealthiest and talented Indians and Americans. Actors Alfre Woodard and Blair Underwood, legendary filmmaker Steven Spielberg and Indian-American auteur M. Night Shyamalan, musician

A.R. Rehman, writer Jhumpa Lahiri, Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, author Thomas Friedman and new age guru Deepak Chopra were all present. The entire American establishment, including Vice-President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Defence Secretary Robert Gates and Obama’s trusted aides like Rahm Emmanuel and Valerie Jarrett were among those present at the power-packed gathering.

Indian billionaires Ratan Tata and Mukesh Ambani, high profile, high achieving Indian-Americans like Indra Nooyi,

CEO of Pepsi, the young and powerful Anish Goel, South Asia expert in Obama’s National Security Council, Rajat Gupta of McKinsey fame were among those who cheered as Obama pledged to take India-US ties to a new high. First Lady Michelle Obama glowed in a silversequined, strapless gold and cream gown, crafted by Indian-born US-based designer Naeem Khan. Her fabulous gown was crafted at the designer’s family workshop in India, with 40 people working to create this fashion masterpiece that combined regal style with a traditional sari-dress.

And after all the fanfare, the US Secret Service has confirmed that a couple of brazen party crashers - and wannabe reality TV stars - were at the state dinner, without ever being suspected. Michaele and Tareq Salahi were described by the Washington Post as polo-playing socialites from northern Virginia. A Secret Service checkpoint “did not follow proper procedures” to determine if the two were on the guest list for the dinner, said a Secret Service spokesman.

Sheryl Dixit, with reports from IANS Photos: AP