It is fairly certain that U.S. President (pardon me for not referring him as simply President and adding the qualifier "U.S.") Barack Obama's visit to India as chief guest on Republic Day shall be viewed as a defining moment in Indian nation's long quest for being counted among Big Powers of the geopolitics. For all its pomp and show, reminiscent of Curzonian colonial grandeur conspiring to awe Indians, it was such a big news for Indian news-hungry media. Full page articles about "The" President's airplane and car showed media's devotion to colonial-era sycophancy. Just like 1911 when Rabindranath Tagore wrote George V being "bhaarat-bhaagya-vidhata" on emperor's maiden visit to his most important possession.
Still, there are multiple positives that are poised to be cornerstone in India's quest for a full-scale powerhouse on world-stage.
A permanent seat in UN Security Council shall come in due course though it is implausible that India shall be elevated to the coveted table singularly. That U.S. finds India eligible removes the biggest impediment in this aim. It is another matter that U.N. itself has rarely been decisive since its formation and its lip-sync has been a tool by more powerful elite nations. Generally it has reflected the truism of life.....some are more equal than others. Still, it is better to have a seat than not to have one. Prime Minister Modi shall do well to see that not an overwhelming price is paid by the Indian nation in search of this pseudo-powerful seat.
The "nuclear deal" ( we are so capable in inventing phrases that reflect our fantasies more than a crass reality) is also a tangible benefit, for, we are woefully short of energy (and also the idea to remove this single most important impediment to our material progress). But its exorbitant price and obvious security concerns should make us cautious enough to tread carefully here.
More Indian students in U.S. and vice-versa is also a credible move (it has been the dream of most Indians to go abroad !). This should help build a better educational and technical infrastructure than we currently have. In fact, education is a big area where we have actually bogged down over last few decades.
Still, there are multiple positives that are poised to be cornerstone in India's quest for a full-scale powerhouse on world-stage.
A permanent seat in UN Security Council shall come in due course though it is implausible that India shall be elevated to the coveted table singularly. That U.S. finds India eligible removes the biggest impediment in this aim. It is another matter that U.N. itself has rarely been decisive since its formation and its lip-sync has been a tool by more powerful elite nations. Generally it has reflected the truism of life.....some are more equal than others. Still, it is better to have a seat than not to have one. Prime Minister Modi shall do well to see that not an overwhelming price is paid by the Indian nation in search of this pseudo-powerful seat.
The "nuclear deal" ( we are so capable in inventing phrases that reflect our fantasies more than a crass reality) is also a tangible benefit, for, we are woefully short of energy (and also the idea to remove this single most important impediment to our material progress). But its exorbitant price and obvious security concerns should make us cautious enough to tread carefully here.
More Indian students in U.S. and vice-versa is also a credible move (it has been the dream of most Indians to go abroad !). This should help build a better educational and technical infrastructure than we currently have. In fact, education is a big area where we have actually bogged down over last few decades.
No comments:
Post a Comment