In the enduring world of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s jhappi pappi (hug and kiss) diplomacy, something new is creeping in and has been on full display in his last few visits abroad. Namaste Mates, addressed Modi to the 30,000 strong Indian-Australians at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, pulling in the Aussie greeting — so far from the once aimless guffaws, random pointing and gazing to nowhere, grabbing handshakes, which had set off memes and drolls over the years.Of course, the new contrived spontaneity of lighthearted interactions that is on full display is only at the mega Modi melas for NRIs where the thudding heart of Modi’s India beats feverishly, but now even more so with leaders abroad. So far the simulated joshing is a gender bender for the leaders – men in Asia, and women in the West. Also, it’s math for the men, sweets for the ladies, and tadka and chai for the NRI masses.Illustration: Pariplab Chakraborty.But there’s also a creeping international media scrutiny of Modi’s jumbo jamborees abroad, raising issues of taxpayer spends, and fuelling the anti-migrant, anti-Indian cry in the countries Modi visits today.1-2 ka 1 math and sweets for the sweetModi’s infantile gift of Parle’s Melody toffees to Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni, as it rhymes with her name, could have been vaguely winning, perhaps even establishing his diplomatic bonhomie with the Italian PM. Instead it came as a jolt as Modi’s image and that of his government of handling women’s issues has been atrocious – from his own barbs against women leaders to overlooking crimes against women.Remember Modi called Sonia Gandhi a Jersey cow, referred to Shashi Tharoor’s wife as his 50 crore girlfriend before their marriage and catcalled Mamata Banerjee “Didi o Didi”? Or his abject silence when superstar female wrestlers were flung into police vans when they protested against sexual harassment against the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Unnao rape case, garlanding of Gujarat 2002 rapists by party colleagues? The list is endless. So, to see a trilling Modi with Meloni and a packet of Melody looked decidedly uncanny.Modi’s condescending remarks to women world leaders have always got a sharp reaction both at home and abroad – remember when he complimented Sheikh Hasina when she was Bangladesh prime minister for her crackdown on terrorists saying “despite being a woman”?Was it a similar peeve that stung Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi when Modi referred to her as his ‘younger sister,” first during their joint press statement and later, when he reiterated it at their joint address at the India-Japan Economic Forum in New Delhi. In her retort, Takaichi dropped the “younger” in the bhai-behen remark, and said, “Just now you called me your little sister, but during our last meeting, we had agreed to carry forward our relationship as brother and sister.’’ Of course, Indian government sources were quick to point out the special bond both leaders share.As for the algebra of diplomacy, Modi beats even his government’s pet invention of vedic math when he conjured up the incredible mathematical formula of 1+1=11 and not 2, when they stood together, and juxtaposed it with a promising fantasy of India-Australia relations. This was said at the Australia-India Annual Leaders’ Summit in Melbourne as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese beamed in support of Modi.Earlier, In Indonesia – the first nation he visited as part of the three nation tour – Modi did some astro-numeral math when he declared that Indonesian President Prabawo who had come as chief guest for India’s Republic Day on January 26, shared a connection with his birth date as 26 equals eight and so does Prabawo’s birthday, which falls on the 17th. No one could figure out the cosmic connection but everyone cheered on.Modi’s algebraic formulations have been routinely used whether addressing students or bureaucrats at home, and at his mega rallies like in Toronto, Canada, to explain the extra energy and creativity that flows for cooperation and alliances, much to the awe of the NRIs present. Of course, Modi dare not raise astral algebra during trade agreements with world leaders.It was not long before the humble chaiwallah emerged from the glossy, extravagant, mega-budget, brushed up Modi when he told the roaring NRI crowd in the Melbourne Marvel stadium during the event, Melbourne meets Modi , “Milk in the house may be Australian, but the tea is Indian” referencing his pseudo chaiwallah journey. Modi was unstoppable and went on, “The vegetables may be Australian but the tadka masala is Indian.”Earlier, during his visit to Seychelles, and addressing the National Assembly, Modi surprisingly pulled out the Nehruvian analogy of unity in diversity to describe the multiplicity of ethnicities in the country, and added how one can feel diverseness in the ‘samosa and chutney’ available there.Perhaps, the jot of informality first came in 2023, while addressing the US Congress in Washington, when Modi pointed to then Vice President Kamala Harris and other Indian American elected members and said, “I am told that Samosa Caucus is now the flavour of the House, I hope it grows and brings the full diversity of Indian cuisine here.”Now whether the Samosa Caucus is seen as ridicule is up for comment, but it was certainly derisive when a minister in the New Zealand coalition government referred to the New Zealand-India planned free trade deal as a coming “Butter Chicken Tsunami.” This was said a week before Modi arrived in the country and Minister Shane Jones, a coalition partner, said he would never sign the deal – his party did not – even as the statement was condemned as racist by Indian groups.In fact, the free trade agreement signed by Modi and New Zealand premier Christopher Luxon came under scrutiny when the New Zealand media quizzed about the inclusion of the $20 billion dollar commitment from New Zealand to India. Modi had insisted in his speech that he “specially welcomed the $20 billion dollar investment in India”. Luxon, however, clarified later that it was only a “commitment to promote” investment (and non-legally binding, say officials), and that the issue was “clearly understood on both sides.” It has been a long standing discrepancy in the trade deal and has not been accepted by the New Zealand government.As Modi waved a muffler, gloves and a cap given to him 30 years ago by an unnamed friend when he visited New Zealand as a humble chaiwallah – and which he said he brought this time as he heard it was very cold, even as he is known to wear the most expensive cashmere and pashmina – the NRI audience erupted in cheers. Back in Australia, which he had just left, was an outburst of anti-Modi and anti-India coverage in the media.It focused on Indians being the largest immigrant population in the continent, and put the spotlight on Victoria’s premier Jacinta Allen, who also addressed the Modi NRI rally, saying she was wooing Indians for the upcoming elections. “Victoria state is home to Australia’s largest Indian-born population at around a quarter million,’’ said the Sky News broadcaster, “and elections are coming up there soon.”A reporter said that Indian-Australians are concentrated in the outer-suburban seats that decide elections, so Albanese sharing a stage with Modi is campaigning, he wrote.Another channel asked where the funds were coming from to ferry the 30,000 strong NRIs who came from all over the continent, and whether it was tax payers money that funded the jamboree.The organisers, Australia India Foundation, were quick to point out it was along with 400 supporting community organisations that came together to put up the show, and the initiative, Modi Airways, that co-ordinated domestic travel.Modi and the BJP have co-ordinated his visits abroad through bodies like the Overseas Friends of the BJP, a registered group that operates in 28 countries, and by its own description, it exists to “project and correct image of India and BJP to the western world and correct the false and distorted messages spread by the party’s adversaries.” The OFBJP says it funds its own activities for rallies, voter outreach programmes and strategic advertising. However, the Hinduphobia and the backlash Indians abroad are facing from the US to Britain, with even community leaders in politics hit by derision and hate, should be a message to Modi to not stuff India into their faces.As an unyielding Modi government pushes his stern and severe hardline posture and governance on people back home, from throwing students and activists into prison, attacking minorities and progressive academics, stopping funding of centres of research and studies; kicking press freedom to the bottom of the list; the prime minister swans abroad with classical dance performances, hundreds of dancers, music, drumbeats, clubby bhajans, his colloquial quips. Is the country heading to a new matey diplomacy?This piece was first published on The India Cable – a premium newsletter from The Wire – and has been updated and republished here. To subscribe to The India Cable, click.