It is not everyday that one gets to see a slice of United States of America in the very heart of Kolkata. There was tremendous excitement over the U.S. presidential election at the American Center in Kolkata. Huge cut outs of both presidential candidates greeted visitors when they entered the Lincoln Room which by then looked like the oval office inside White House.
Students from reputed schools of Kolkata preoccupied the centre stage with American citizens young and old holding their breath for the final round battle between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney where Obama clearly emerged favourite.
The decoration inside the hall was similar to the one showing at the giant screen placed at the centre to bring live updates from U.S. television networks with American flags and balloons blinding visitors with colours red and blue. The majority of people present in the room were rooting for Obama as declaration of each state result won by him was greeted with thunderous applause.
When the giant screen confirmed the re-election of Barack Obama as head of the states, the audience — Americans and Indians — cheered and clapped celebrating the victory of the right candidate. The students threw out white, red and blue ribbons in celebration. Such was the intensity of the festive mood that it became hard to believe whether it was Kolkata or New Jersey. This certainly speaks that the popularity of Barack Obama has found its takers not only in the country he resides but also in countries far away.