At a press conference in Hyderabad House on the eve of Republic Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi found himself in a rather awkward situation. It starts around 16 minutes into the video above after Modi wraps up his speech.
It came about because the translator-on-duty was missing in action, while Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Republic Day chief guest, spoke for at least three minutes in Arabic.
The reason for the translator's absence isn't clear. The Times of Indiareported that he was stuck in traffic, while NDTV said that he was stopped by the security personnel for an extended search.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley was seen pressing keys on the small remote in the hope of getting TNR translation working. If he was furious at the situation, the prime minister didn't let on. The politicians and other journalists in the room look bewildered.
The couple of times that the camera cut to Modi, he had on a poker face. Fortunately for everyone, the crown prince kept his speech short. It ended to a polite smattering of applause.
7 Incredible Pictures From National Geographic’s Best Photos Of 2016
Moscow Rooftoppers(01 of07)
Open Image ModalKirill Vselensky perches on a cornice in Moscow as Dima Balashov gets the shot. The 24-year-olds, risktakers known as rooftoppers, celebrate their feats on Instagram. (credit:Gerd Ludwig /National Geographic)
Hiker national park(02 of07)
Open Image ModalWithin sight of downtown Seoul, South Korea’s capital and a hub of modern stressful life, salesman Sungvin Hong rests after a hike in Bukhansan National Park. (credit:Lucas Foglia/National Geographic)
Panda Conservation(03 of07)
Open Image ModalYe Ye, a 16-year-old giant panda, lounges in a wild enclosure at a conservation center in China’s Wolong Nature Reserve. (credit:Ami Vitale/National Geographic)
Storm over river(04 of07)
Open Image ModalAs an evening storm lights up the sky near Wood River, Nebraska, about 413,000 sandhill cranes arrive to roost in the shallows of the Platte River. (credit:Randy Olson/National Geographic)
Wolves feeding bison(05 of07)
Open Image Modal (credit:Lucas Foglia/National Geographic)
Matsigenka girl(06 of07)
Open Image ModalA pet saddleback tamarin hangs on to Yoina Mameria Nontsotega as the Matsigenka girl takes a dip in the Yomibato River, deep inside Peru’s Manú National Park. (credit:Charlie Hamilton James/National Geographic)
(07 of07)
Open Image ModalOn a mountainside in Yosemite National Park, photographer Stephen Wilkes took 1,036 images over 26 hours to create this day-to-night composite. (credit:National Geographic)