President Barack Obama and PM Narendra Modi during the recording of 'Mann Ki Baat' in New Delhi.
At 8 pm tonight, India can listen on the radio to a joint address by President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The show was recorded on Monday evening. The Prime Minister's account said on twitter, "Sharing our 'Mann Ki Baat' during the recording of the radio programme. Tune in on 27th January at 8 PM IST for the special episode! #MannKiBaat #Radio #USA#India".The leaders recorded the show, Mann Ki Baat (Talking from the Heart), after President Obama was Guest of Honour at this morning's massive military parade for Republic Day. The PM's office had invited listeners to submit questions in advance for the leaders of the world's largest democracies.
Mr Modi uses a radio address at least once a month to talk to the millions who live in rural India and don't have access to television.
President Obama yesterday sportingly broke into Hindi on the first of his three-day visit to India. He won applause at a press conference by offering a "
pyaar-bhara namaskaar" and said he's now hooked to the concept of "
chai pe charcha" or talk-with-tea that he was photographed sharing with PM during their bilateral summit, which saw them clinching a landmark nuclear trade deal after four years of wrangling between officials of the two countries. At a dinner banquet hosted for him at Rashtrapati Bhawan, the President raised a toast to "
dosti."
In the past, the PM has used Mann Ki Baat to promote a massive nationwide cleanliness drive, promise action against tax evasion, and raise awareness of drug abuse.