Modi used two teleprompters on Wednesday and his speech was interrupted 25 times by applause.New Delhi: The 45-minute speech that PM Narendra Modi delivered at Capitol Hill on Wednesday was one of the outstanding speeches of his and it did not come as a surprise because he is known for his oratorical skills.
Many were left wondering how the PM spoke fluently in English without even glancing once at the text of his speech. It was later revealed that he was helped by the teleprompter.
It is a technology that is used by many world leaders when delivering speeches and US presidents were the first to test it. US president Barack Obama reportedly handles the device exceptionally well.
A teleprompter is positioned on the front or on either sides of the speaker on the dais. The lines of his speech are lit up on the teleprompter screen. The speed of the moving display is either controlled manually by a technician or automatically and keeps pace with the pace of the speaker. Since the screen is transparent, it is not seen by the audience, while the speaker would be seen addressing the audience directly. He or she can switch the reading screen so that he/she may be seen addressing all those who have assembled in the hall.
When President Obama visited India, he had used the device to deliver his speech at Parliament Hall. Since he is a master at using it, none could discern that he was using the device. Modi almost replicated the same skill when he spoke at Capitol Hill on Wednesday.
Modi used two teleprompters on Wednesday and his speech was interrupted 25 times by applause. He received standing ovations ten times during the speech. US representatives also rushed to him for his autographs after he spoke, which was a rare sight.
After becoming PM, Modi first used the device when he delivered a speech at ISRO when Mangalyaan was successfully launched in 2014. He does not usually use the device when he speaks in Hindi. However, he uses it when he has to deliver a long speech in English.
(With inputs from agencies)
