<p>In the midst of his hectic diplomatic engagements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spent a couple of minutes enjoying the notes played by a young musician on a Myanmarese xylophone, locally called ‘Pattala’.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Modi’s encounter happened at the foyer of the sprawling Myanmar International Convention Centre here when he was returning to his hotel after his bilateral meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.<br /><br />The prime minister, looking dapper in a black suit, was seen smiling as the young man played his music confidently.<br /><br />Modi had bilateral meetings with six world leaders besides attending the Asean-India summit. Wednesday’s encounter was a sort of throwback to Modi’s Japan visit in September when he was in an upbeat mood and wowed a set of suited businessmen by playing traditional taiko drums, a day after signing a clutch of deals with Japanese premier Shinzo Abe.<br /><br />Modi’s performance in Japan had come at the launch of TCS’ Technology and Cultural Academy. After TCS CEO N Chandrasekaran finished his opening remarks, inviting Modi to play a note on the drums after the professional drummers had finished, Modi asked “Pehle drum bajayen?” and could barely wait his turn.<br /><br />The two drummers - a man and a woman - did their number and then Modi took over, playing the drums at a rapid beat and holding his own when the male drummer joined him. The audience - some of it on videoconference - burst into applause when he had finished.</p>
<p>In the midst of his hectic diplomatic engagements, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday spent a couple of minutes enjoying the notes played by a young musician on a Myanmarese xylophone, locally called ‘Pattala’.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Modi’s encounter happened at the foyer of the sprawling Myanmar International Convention Centre here when he was returning to his hotel after his bilateral meeting with South Korean President Park Geun-hye.<br /><br />The prime minister, looking dapper in a black suit, was seen smiling as the young man played his music confidently.<br /><br />Modi had bilateral meetings with six world leaders besides attending the Asean-India summit. Wednesday’s encounter was a sort of throwback to Modi’s Japan visit in September when he was in an upbeat mood and wowed a set of suited businessmen by playing traditional taiko drums, a day after signing a clutch of deals with Japanese premier Shinzo Abe.<br /><br />Modi’s performance in Japan had come at the launch of TCS’ Technology and Cultural Academy. After TCS CEO N Chandrasekaran finished his opening remarks, inviting Modi to play a note on the drums after the professional drummers had finished, Modi asked “Pehle drum bajayen?” and could barely wait his turn.<br /><br />The two drummers - a man and a woman - did their number and then Modi took over, playing the drums at a rapid beat and holding his own when the male drummer joined him. The audience - some of it on videoconference - burst into applause when he had finished.</p>
