Commonwealth , a political entity.

When the President of the United States visited India on the fifth of November he inadvertently unleashed a flood of newsprint detailing every minute of his trip. Journalists in most parts of the world put their brightest brains to work theorizing, summarizing and critiquing his actions, speeches and message. A month later with much of the dust settled and with the new wiki-leaks revelation, I’ll foray into an aspect of the relationship between the world’s largest and oldest democracies. American strategic interests closely define the types of relationship the superpower decides to follow. At this they can be if you forgive the imperialistic overtones, be remembered as the British Empire; long back in a much simpler world than today. 

 

The Indian situation is very unique in the world. A colony 50 years ago, a developing country with millions below poverty and yet a dynamic global economy rushing headlong into the future. The economic prowess along with political stability of democracy makes it a much needed friend for those who seek a counter to red China. Then there is what India truly wants, a high place amongst the leading nations and to recapture its lost glory and power. It is with these intentions that the nation strives to become a member in organizations like the SCO and the UNSC and created organizations such as the SAARC and NAM. Another more healthy organization that India is a member of is the Commonwealth of Nations. Lets talk of this Commonwealth.

Founded at the dissolution of the British Empire, the Commonwealth of Nations has remained a very apolitical meeting of former colonies for the most obvious of reasons. Political conversations at anything connected to England were repugnant after centuries of colonial rule. So like a few of those rare international bodies, akin to the Olympics organization, UNESCO or UNICEF, the CoN has evolved with little disagreement or bitter conflicts amongst its members. You can almost picture it as an afternoon tea club of old timers who attend this social nicety to reflect and chitchat over their past. This almost allows us to forget that between its 35+ member nations, the Commonwealth contains a third of the world’s population and a 7.5 trillion dollar economy by parity. Overall relations between most commonwealth nations is very good and the shared cultural values and traditions especially in sports create sharp rivalries but even warmer bonds of camaraderie. This depth of mutual confidence was highlighted by the visit of the British Prime Minister David Cameroon to India. Cameroon’s stance towards many of India’s core interests is very heartening to the establishment at New Delhi. 

Another power block that seeks better relations without too much strategic interest is the European Community. The EU is possibly one of the few power blocks that has tried to do as little in terms of military and strategic gains as possible. Its core focus and very well needed it is, is the economy. Currently the EU and the USA remain India’s top trading partners. The EU however has two of India’s friends within its bloc in the form of the United Kingdom and France. Add the ally Russia into the equation and the European continent seems to become a very pro Indian zone. Free of the strategic commitments that tie up the US foreign policy in knots, the European community can engage in meaningful memorandums with India. Its commitment can be unalloyed to a far greater extent. 

As for the Indians, they find themselves in an online dating service with a bounty of choices as long as the GDP stays on the 9% growth rate. There were a generation of people way back in the 1880’s who were men of the British Empire. They realized far ahead of their time that the concept of Empire could bond people far away with common experiences and ideas even if they chose to maintain their own distinctive cultures. The old Indians died and with them their vision as the benevolent empire grew corrupted by the stench of power and greed. This created a new firebrand Indian who detested imperialism and all its derivatives thereof. Today, on the threshold of a future of boundless opportunities as India ascertains who its true allies are and where is its position amongst the group of nations, we can be led astray. False hopes or our own greed can blind us and reduce a strong asset, our prestige. I believe that it is time that we citizens of the commonwealth, consider taking the group of nations a step further. Most of the nations that matter in the commonwealth already convene together in other conventions of importance. Can the commonwealth be restructured to command more power than it now does? Or will we be forced to chose camps between the United States or the SCO (Russia, China) and forget friends with whom we have so much to share.

Thanksgiving , a taste of the Indian and American: Perspectives on Indo American community

source:http:\\www.wikipedia.org

Tonight I am at my aunts in Chicago. It’s a place that I can call home within a thousand mile radius of the university. A few hours ago we had a very good meal of turkey, potato, sauce and pies. Right now I’m watching the New York jets demolish the Cincinnati Bengals, albeit with some sorrow. That’s not what I am going to write this blog over, I rarely write on games. Today I will write about family, food and what I see as the identity of people of Indian origin in America. The family I met was my own; relatives who’ve been here for a rather long time. Some are American citizens, other are well on their way to being one. Given this context some might consider the meeting to be akin to meeting outsiders, alien to my usual way of life. That is certainly not the case.

After 2 months of university life, surrounded by my friends and work, meeting indirect family (Not my parents) in such a situation can be discomfiting. I mean where is my real home here? India is too far away and so is the answer Chicago or Columbus? That answer will still need some debating. So when an uncle I have not met in like 8 years picks you up on the 5.5 hour long drive to Chicago. When you move from the two month familiar university campus to somewhere else in an unfamiliar country it can be frightening. Yet they are family. See the paradox? Regardless of my fear or inhibitions the evening did turn out to be fine. We had a very Indian celebration in the afternoon called Raksha bandhan. Like thanksgiving it celebrates the unity of family. The dinner as I said was resplendent. At its end I was left with a very delectable impression. South Asian Indians in America are not very different from their counterparts back in the old world. If anything what makes them different is superfluous and frivolous. I attribute them to cultural differences over pop and movies and maybe the skill with the English language. The real difference lies in how they integrate the best values of the American society while retaining the timeless values that come with being a good Indian. 

So today got me thinking about home and I decided to write a bit more about it. About what it is like back there and what makes Indian people despite their sordid condition, inheritors of a brighter future. India today, as the villages go, is poor hungry and populous. Child mortality and the development index in five states are as low as in Sub Saharan Africa. A simplistic reasoning would be that things from here can only go up. A more logical explanation would be that this harsh world creates a strong drive for improvement in its people. People often argue that Dharavi, one of the world’s largest slums is also a tremendous school in entrepreneurship and resilience. So the engine of the Indian economy runs on the intense competition and the sheer bulk of a billion people. I go to college in America and the relative lack of competitiveness is very perceptible. Advantages present here however are tremendous, such as better infrastructures and superior experience based teaching.

So let me tie up the previous paragraph with the rest of the blog. People of Indian origin in the United States play a vital role for both India and the relationship between our two countries. With time and India’s rising status differences in American strategic interests over Indian ones might become irksome. It will be the responsibility to a large extent of the expatriate community to soothe the nerves. It will also be important for them to build bridges of understanding between the two cultures. One such understanding would be individual competition and strive to succeed (Rationalize the reality of outsourcing and compete to survive). American corporate success has been driven by its fierce competition. This competition among individuals died down soon enough in view of the economic boom that swept the country. This complacency is why fewer Americans went to college and the American economy lost the edge of its strong asset; its people. That is the same asset which for so long was India’s burden and that is now being put to good use. The global economy is changing and the isolation of individual competition from America is coming to a close. It will be more important now than ever for those who never stopped competing to seize opportunities and reinvigorate this trait back into the American ethos. Hard work is respected and always pays.

Rulers of India and China.

A democracy is not ruled by the people. It is ruled by a Prime Minister or the strongest member of the ruling party. This definition might be expanded to include a few other senior and powerful members of government. A communist country is not ruled by the premier (North Korea does not count). It is ruled by a council consisting of the premier and other top brass of the party. India and China have very similar forms of government.
Think of it again, see the scenes at the Lok sabha(Lower House of India) when a bill is being passed; and you realize that it isn’t always true. The fact that the incumbent party in power does not always get its way, at least easily, is the only major difference between the system in India and China. Why then, is there a difference in what our government can deliver and theirs? Why a difference that has led us from being close competitors to underachievers in economy and international influence. Why is it that by 2073, we would be the third largest economy, and not the first like the Chinese?

There are many reasons and I’ll take one. To me the cause of the problem lies in the unwillingness of people to consider a career in politics. I could wager that no one from my graduating class or from the ones that were before or after me ever desired to really become a politician. A career in politics is something that is seen in a very poor light in India. Then too very few youth choose to become politicians. Those who do tend to come from an exclusive and not necessarily bright, class of people. The concept of dynastic succession is also very strong particularly in the Congress party. With so little fresh talent seeping in it is no surprise why we lag behind the Chinese in government delivery.

For all its ills the Communist party in China have got some things right. To control dissent, they have a very active system of recruiting new members for the communist party. This they do by establishing two feeder services. One exists in the cities. They recruit the crème de la crème of society. The middle class is involved but generally does not get too active in politics. The other feeder service exists in the rural hinterland of China. From here the brighter part of the population is taken in to get an education in Shanghai or Beijing. These people who understand the situation of the majority of Chinese people join their compatriots who represent the majority of the Chinese economy. The Party takes measures to ensure at least a handful of these chosen few get some exposure to the Council or domestic/ foreign politics.

It struck me as amazing when I realize that despite its communist status, the Chinese government takes a more pro active step to induct newer and quality members. There are incentives too, how else do you get a bunch of bright people to dedicate their lives to service. The biggest feature that makes the Communist party a better employer than those in India is its brand. For while corruption is rampant in the country, there is a great deal of prestige that surrounds the higher echelon of leaders. As long as the government provides a way to fast track the young up that high, the talent pool is secure. As the economy soars and the Chinese people see their nation re assert its age old position of dominance; the trust, faith and pride they have on those people in the Great Hall grows ever larger. More people flock to be a part of the venture and he cycle begins anew.

Starategic scenario in South Asia.

"Strategic scenario", huh? Its a big cool word which might give people a sense that this post is not for commoners. It is an irony though, that the problem this post conveys can be solved only if the common people understands it. So let me start with a story I once heard.

Back when the British were still masters of our country, in the town of Jamshedpur there lived two Indian boys, Ram and Nitish. They went to a missionary school were a british boy, Eric also came. Eric was richer and often used his money and the inborn superiority complex to gain his friends. Nitish being quick witted joined Eric's gang and often joined the English boy in ragging others including Ram. Independence changed that. In a stroke, all of Erics power was stripped and he faced the reality of leaving India. Nitish, forever quick, struck up a friendship with Ram. In one quick and sudden moment of history, the rolesof the people in the game changed.

Something very similar is happening all around us in te neighbourhood we call South Asia.

There are two very powerful forces in world diplomacy and relations. The power of brute military and economic force, also called hard power and the power of integrity, honesty, righteousness and values, also called soft power. The very nature of India's independece(non violent) ensured that we inherited considerable amount of soft power. We used this, judiciously dring the cold war. Since the end of the 90s, we have used soft power to achieve several quick and decisive foreign affairs objectives.

1. Substantial progress with Pakistan under Musharaff


2. Indo-US nuclear deal


3. NSG waiver


4. To be seen as a possible counter to China


5. Warming relationship with East Asia


6. Closer ties with EU in military sphere


7. Retention of close Russian ties despite flourishing contact with USA.

These objectives set us up as a crucial great power and a future world power, especially when the USA considered us to be an effective counter to China. The support we got from the one super power was tremendous. Things now are different

Today, April the 23rd, 2010. Five days before the 2010 SAARC summit in Bhutan things are much more grim for India. Pakistan is belligerent over every issue even terrorism, China is testing the Indosphere, creating naval bases in southasian countries of Myanmar, Sri lanka, bangladesh, Pakistan and maldives.

How did we reach this mess. It started on a night nearly a year ago, in a country far far away, with the words, "America is a place where all things are possible". Barrack Obama, 44th president of the United States, will prove just that. What we Indians thought impossible is now quickly becoming our fate. Obama was faced with two quick and obvious long term popular decisions.

1. Withdrawal of troops from Iraq


2. Withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan

As a clever man he realized that the latter would be much more difficult than the former. Iraq is relatively straightforward, compared to the cauldron of Afghanistan. To ensure future stability of that country would require not just the support of a faction of the taliban, but more that of its immediate neighbour, Pakistan. As prudence has always guided american policy Obama gave Pakistan an important bargain chip. One that could be effectively used to pressure India to remain amicable to Pakistan after 28/11.

Pursuing his direct policy to China Obama has attempted to neutralize the Chinese threat and turn it into a meaningful co-operation by directly engaging with Beijing, sidelining India. China and Pakistan have excellent foreign relations and they know when 1+1=2. India is being hit on two fronts by the USA.

What can India do? History has shown us that at defferent times we find different ways to succeed. Soft power took us through for a decade, but pure reliance on soft power use with Pakistan is getting us nowhere. It is neccesary that India demonstrate a trace of its hard power, in making firm demands and other affirmative actions to ensurethe establishment of its superiority in South Asia. Otherwise, the once China containment which has already meted away will slowly but surely become the Indian containment. A show of will by the Indian people, government and military can do wonders. It is sullying to hear the foreign minister of Pakistan, Mr Qureshi say India is coming back to talks on its knees.

What about America? The decisions taken by Mr Obama have logic, but are nevertheless wrong. Afghanistan has never been a dear friend of Pakistan, but one of India's. By restricting Indian influence at the behest of Pakistani request, he is handing over control of one failed state to another failing one. Pakistan neither has the will or acumen to achieve the Obama objective. The identity of the Pakistani nation is itself built around anti Indian beliefs. As for China, well the chinese are powerful. Mr Obama is still making one fundamental mistake in foreign affairs. Never trust a friend who is not of your flock. Especially when he is as big as you. Obama is turning sour the opinion of america in the only true democracy of south asia. As he does so he may find out that he has achieved a narrow sighted domestic target at the loss of complete american strategic gains in Asia, and by 2030, the Eastern hemisphere.