Introducing Manmohan Singh, father of three daughters

I was reading a description of an event at the Indian Women's Press Corps, which began "Perfect for a man with three daughters..." At which point I had to pause. Because until I read that sentence, I had no idea that Manmohan Singh, the Indian Prime Minister, has three
daughters.

This is strange, because I work on the political desk of a very large Indian newspaper, and have been doing so for several months. Now I am, by any definition, unusually clueless, but how many Americans don't know that Barack Obama has two daughters?

I don't even know the name of the Indian PM's wife.

How many Americans have never heard of Michelle Obama?

Friends, there is a cultural difference at work, and it bears mentioning. In India, land where the family reigns supreme, the "political family" is not the pervasive unit it is in the United States. When an American runs for office, she finds her family onstage at least as often as she is. I not only know Michelle Obama, I know Cindy McCain, Elizabeth Edwards, Bristol Palin
and, of course, Hillary. I've even seen pictures of Sarah Palin's special needs infant son.

American politicians parade their families before the media, sometimes because they want to and sometimes (perhaps) because they feel like they have no choice. Some people criticized the Obamas for bringing their young daughters onstage at political rallies, but the Obamas knew that their girls, for better or for worse, would have no privacy for at least the next four years. They'll be dogged at every turn by secret service, admirers, stalkers and press. They might as well get used to it.

An unmarried American politician has no future in politics. An unmarried Indian politician, on the other hand, has nothing to worry about. Many of our most influential politicians are bachelors/widows/etc.

Yes, Indians care about family. Maybe we care too much. If an Indian paper were to publish photos of the PM's daughters drinking like crazy (practically a weekend column for the tabs when Bush Jr. was in office) many Indians would be annoyed with the newspaper. It would seem exploitative and unnecessary, even in a culture that is increasingly embracing the exploitative and unnecessary. (Or maybe I'm being naive)

Of course, there might be another reason at work. Our political system is still largely controlled by about 200 very influential families, and politics is considered an inherited business, like a jewelers. Maybe it makes sense for papers not to offend the next generation of powerbrokers. Or maybe they're afraid of the current generation of powerbrokers.