Raman Suri
India under the dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reached a new high, where the world is learning many new ways of life from our country. It was during the pandemic that the world learnt to do ‘Namaste’ instead of handshake and acknowledged that India’s way of greeting is respectful and hygienic in nature. Prior to that, on the proposal of PM Narendra Modi, United Nations declared Yoga as an International Day, making it mandatory for the world to adopt this age-old Indian technique of keeping body and mind healthy.
Now the recent visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to United States of America (USA) again set a new narrative of respecting elders and those whom one keeps in high esteem. Back home, when opposition was maintaining a criminal silence on India’s achievements in the US, prominent African-American Hollywood actress and singer, Mary Millben not only sang Indian National Anthem but also touched the feet of PM Modi. This was rare, especially when Modi bowed down and tried to stop her from doing so.
In May 2023, during PM Modi’s visit to Papua New Guinea, the Pacific Island nation’s Prime Minister touched the feet of PM Modi as a mark of respect. A similar gesture was witnessed during his departure from the country as a man along with a woman bowed down in front of the Prime Minister with their heads touching the ground, as seen in visuals from the airport. PM Modi promptly reciprocated their gesture by bowing with folded hands. That is the humbleness of our Prime Minister.
The crux is that the world is adopting Indian culture, not because anyone is imposing it on anyone but because under the dynamic leadership of PM Modi, India is earning it. Known for his witty quotes and answers, when Prime Minister Modi referred to AI as not just Artificial Intelligence but America-India (AI) relationship, President Joe Biden was quick enough to get a special T-shirt printed, which had PM Modi’s famous quote “The future is AI-America and India” and presented the same to Modi. He even described AI friendship to be among the most consequential in the world.
With technology cooperation between India and the US gaining new heights, addressing the joint session of the US Congress for the historic second time, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that it is an exceptional privilege to do it twice, adding that, “In the past few years, there have been many advances in AI – Artificial Intelligence. At the same time, there have been even more momentous developments in another AI- America and India.” This new acronym coined by PM Modi literally made senators applaud and give a standing ovation to the PM.
While opposition parties, which are struggling to come on a common platform are mum over the Indo-US agreements on defence and other sectors, China is worried. This establishes that India has reached a stage where no nation across the globe wants to annoy it or stay out of picture. The fear of China about strong Indo-US relations itself indicates that India is progressing by leaps and bounds. The recent agreements between the oldest and the largest democracies of the world have sent a strong message to other nations that India is no more a country of snake charmers but a nation which is thriving to lead the world in technological advances and economic prosperities.
Having led the Yoga celebrations at the United Nations headquarters in New York from the front, addressed joint session of the US Congress, led Indian delegation and Indian diaspora inside the White House and convinced US entrepreneurs to invest in India besides made US change its H1B visa policies and recognise Indians’ contribution in the US economy, Narendra Modi has established that he thinks out of the box and can lead the nation even in 2024. His matchless abilities have taken India to a place where Indians living in other nations are feeling proud. This will not be visible to the opposition but it hardly matters as long as India is getting strengthened.
Prime Minister Modi, on his first-ever state visit to the United States in 2014, had received a ceremonial welcome upon his arrival at the White House. In 2016, he returned to attend the Nuclear Security Summit and held a meeting with the then-US President Barack Obama at the White House. That same year, PM Modi made another trip to the US and addressed a wide range of topics, including terrorism, climate change, and the strong Indo-US partnership, in his first speech to the US Congress. Ever since he assumed the office of the Prime Minister of India, he is going strong to make India get its long-awaited due recognition and it is happening on the global stage now.
During the recent visit of PM Modi to the US, the atmosphere withregards to India, its culture, and its strengthwas so surcharged that even the US Vice President Kamala Harris couldnot stop herself from remembering her visits to her grandparents in India. She said, “India’s history and teachings have influenced and shaped the world”, asserting “the country has inspired millions of people through its philosophy.” India, according to her is a “very important” part of her life and that she is deeply connected to the country. She went on to add, “the history and teachings in India and of India have not only influenced me, they, of course, have shaped the entire globe.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s power-packed state visit to the US, with an address to the Indian community in Washington, remained historic. Earlier he had attended the State Department luncheon with Vice President Kamala Harris and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and, also attended the State Dinner at the South Lawn of the White House hosted by US President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden. The dinner was attended by big names in the tech world and billionaire industrialists such as Mukesh Ambani, Google CEO Sunder Pichai and Apple CEO Tim Cook.
India under PM Modi is shining because shared values of democracy, equality and diversity are at its core. Our fast-growing economy, rapid digitization and commitment to the environment is also acknowledged by the world. These are not mere assurances, but the spoken words at international forums are getting translated on the ground with India fast-switching over to green energy and erasing its carbon footprints as soon as possible.
Having received a 19-gun salute, PM Modi was prompt in telling the world that the constitutions of both countries begin with the words ‘We ThePeople’. Now that India and USA are getting to collaborate in artificial intelligence, semi-conductors, space, and telecom, a first has been made by General Electric’s aerospace arm which has teamed up with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited to make fighter jet engines for the Indian Air Force in India. Micron Technology, a prominent American chip maker is going to set up an assembly plant in Gujarat with total investment of $2.75 billion.
Talks on stopping the Russia-Ukraine war besides fighting cross-border terrorism had also come up for discussion and it is for sure that no good nation would allow any terror activity to grow on its land. In a way the message is clear for those who are aiding and abetting terrorism that they will have to choose between prosperity and terrorism. While India and the US are entering into an agreement for space exploration, back home our opposition leaders are trying to forge an unholy alliance to stop this government from doing good and are continuing to indulge in petty politics that revolves around just regions or religions.
(The writer is Bharatiya Janata Party J&K Executive Member)
Follow our WhatsApp channel
