Obama in India- Day 2

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh hosted a private dinner for visiting US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle on Sunday which was attended by political bigwigs, business leaders, actors and sports personalities.

The Obamas drove to the 7, Race Course Road residence of the Prime Minister from ITC Maurya where they are staying. They were warmly welcomed by Singh and his wife Gursharan Kaur. (PTI Photo)

Ahead of the dinner, Singh and Obama were closeted for a one-on-one meeting for about 25 minutes during which the two leaders were understood to have taken stock of bilateral ties and ways to push these to higher levels of strategic partnership. (PTI Photo)

The guests included UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, senior Union Ministers Pranab Mukherjee, A K Antony, P Chidambaram, S M Krishna and Sharad Pawar, senior BJP leader L K Advani and AICC general secretary Rahul Gandhi.

Top business leaders Azim Premji, Ratan Tata, Swati Piramal and N R Narayanamurthy were among the guest list which also included Bollywood personalities Aamir Khan, Shabana Azmi and Javed Akthar.

Chess wizard Viswanathan Anand and Environmental Activist Sunita Narain was also present at the dinner. (PTI Photo)

US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle had a glimpse of India's rich cultural and historic heritage as they visited the 450-year-old Mughal marvel Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi. (AFP Photo)

US President Barack Obama bends down to shake hands with a young child as he tours through Humayun's Tomb in New Delhi. (AFP Photo)

US President Barack Obama arrived in Delhi on the second leg of his four-day visit to India and was personally received by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh who set aside protocol to welcome the guest.

US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle landed in New Delhi after completing the Mumbai leg of their visit which saw successful interactions with business leaders, youth and school students in the city.(AFP Photo)

The Air Force One carrying Obama, his wife Michelle and the official delegation touched down at the Delhi Airport at 3.19 pm. (AFP Photo)

U.S. President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama walk with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh as they arrive in New Delhi. (AP Photo)

During his two-day stay in Delhi, Obama had a hectic schedule including a ceremonial welcome at Rashtrapati Bhavan, visit to Rajghat and Humayun's Tomb and other engagements such as his talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his address to Parliament. (AFP Photo)

Around 2,000 police and paramilitary personnel have been deployed in and around the ITC Maurya hotel in Delhi which had earlier hosted US Presidents Bill Clinton in 2000 and George W Bush in 2006 besides US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton last year. (AP Photo)

Not just the hotel, places like Humayun's tomb and Rajghat that are on the itinerary, have been closed to other visitors. Hundreds of snipers are keeping a watch from rooftops on the routes the US President will be taking while aerial surveillance will also be maintained, officials said. (AFP Photo)

Strong winds played a bit of a spoilsport for the red carpet send off to the Obamas for Delhi as the gusts blew away the rug twice despite the best efforts of officials who finally decided to get rid of it to avoid an embarrassment. (AP Photo)

US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle wave as they board Air Force One to depart for New Delhi from Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai on November 7, 2010. (AFP Photo)

US President Barack Obama and his wife Michelle get off Marine One to board Air Force One for New Delhi from Chhatrapati Shivaji International airport in Mumbai on November 7. (AFP Photo)

After a tribute to 26/11 victims, and wowing India Inc, US President Barack Obama heads to Delhi for a two-day stopover.

But before the date with Delhi, Obama met school and college students in Mumbai on Sunday morning.

He also got firsthand account of how IT has revolutionised life in rural India, when villagers of Kanpura near Ajmer interacted with him in Mumbai through video conference. (AFP Photo)

Barack and Michelle Obama hit the dance floor to a foot-tapping Marathi folk number, joining a group of students at the Holy Name School to participate in symbolic Diwali festivities. (AFP Photo)

A young girl performs with others for US President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama during a cultural event at The Holy Name High School in Mumbai. (AFP Photo)

The Obamas, who lit a lamp to mark the celebrations, were greeted by the students in traditional Indian attire as they interacted with the children, shaking hands and posing for pictures. (AFP Photo)

The US President and the First Lady's engagement for the day started at the Holy Name High School in upmarket Colaba locality in south Mumbai where a group of students entertained them with a cultural extravaganza. (AFP Photo)

The US President then visited St Xavier's College, where he first interacted with villagers from Kanpura, near Ajmer in Rajasthan, via video conferencing. (AP Photo)

After a short introduction by National Knowledge Commission chairman Sam Pitroda, Obama spoke to the villagers who shared the benefits of broadband penetration - from online medical consultation, education and local e-governance. (AP Photo)

The Obamas then interacted with students at St Xavier's. While addressing the students, the US President said that Washington will not mediate between India and Pakistan. (AP Photo)

He also said that Pakistan is a strategically important country for the world and he will work with Pakistan to eradicate terrorism. (AP Photo)

US President Barack Obama thanks his wife Michelle before addressing students at St. Xavier's College in Mumbai on November 7, 2010. (AFP Photo)

The US President expressed happiness about the progress being made with the aid of IT. (AFP Photo)

Obama said the biggest stakeholder in a 'stable and prosperous' Pakistan is India. He added, "If Pakistan is unstable, that's bad for India. If it's good and prosperous, that's good, because India is on the move. (You) Don't want the distraction of security in your region." (AP Photo)

U.S. President Barack Obama speaks during a town-hall style meeting with students at St. Xavier's College in Mumbai. (AP Photo)

After the packed Mumbai morning, the Obamas head to Delhi a little after one in the afternoon. (AP Photo)