Today I would like to talk about Obama and his visit to India. Foreign policy and strategies being my most interesting arm chair pastimes, I think I am entitled to my opinions. And all of these opinions are hundred percent right ones. As a warning, this may be affected by my political standings which is center – left to center.
The thing that struck me (again) about India is the importance we give to authority. We were going out of our way to please Obama. This does not include the hospitality that we are famous for but it does include the giving in of every thing you have to gain some thing more. I remember there was a controversy regarding "Jan Gan Man" being targeted to Geroge Fifth and not to the people of India. Similarly there was a song sung for him "Tu hi dil hain .. Jaan bhee hain ... Tu khushi hain .. Aaasaraa bhee hain". This really jarred. Who ever has chosen this song is the one to blame. This of course does not represent our national position and is just some lowly official trying to get exceptional rating from his superior but this is how it started.
The more important things that happened were most of the times expected and some times the unexpected were mostly pleasant. First let's discuss the expected things. I think depending on the importance of the president and the hope good part of the world has pinned on him. Being the harbinger of hope and a riding knight in shining armor, we should have enough belief in him. At least we should try and allow him to fail and give him room and time to do all this. And to be sympathetic to him, I think we should go out of our way to accommodate and honor him.
So apart from two things, one where some body low screwed up and another where the prime minister took a very good decision out side of the protocol, things went more or less on the accepted lines.
The reaction of Bharatiya Janata Party was expected and it is really sad to see the depth it has sunk to. Along with their criticism on the interlocutors to Kashmir , this was once again that they have been foolish and short sighted. They definitely do not look like a party who is expecting to come to power the next time and want to keep things as they are and in continuity. I think in matters of national importance, it is always important to have all parties either signed in before hand OR they ensure that their reactions are muted enough not to reflect our country badly in front of others. BJP failed in both the counts.
Other expected thing was that Obama will speak like a merchant. I think it is important for him to take back what he has earned, especially after his debacle in senate.
So he comes in as a messiah of hope and has to talk like a businessman working in a small margin business. This meant that he has to fill in the gap with him charm. He can not give away any thing else. Giving away some diplomatic advantages to India just because he is not behaving according to the perceptions is too much to lose. The only other option he has was to turn on the charm. Which both he and his wife are really good at. So he walked the tight rope easily, did not talk about controversial issues. Came across as genuine and charming, made the points back home by being business like and by winning a number of business deals.
I think the most important things are the ones that are discussed behind closed doors. But these will be apparent only in due course. If there is a drastic change in the attitude and stands taken by India in next four to six months, we can safely assume that we have sold it to Obama and he has agreed to our steps.
It is highly unlikely that any thing will change. But if it does, it is a pleasant surprise again.
To be continued: Here is the analysis of this post of mine in 750 words
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