Reading between the lines

Brij Nath Betab
India and America’s inability to clinch a trade deal during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s seven days historic tour of the United states, to my mind, states the ability of Modi Sarkar to negotiate trade deals with strength and terms that suit the new dispensation in world’s largest Demographic Democracy. This has come about despite Indian Prime Minister praising American President as expert in the art of dealing and American President accepting that ‘Modi is a friend but India is a tough negotiator’. A trade deal of any measure with America, the most powerful nation of the world is of much significance, as in today’s world economics dictates politics, but Mr. Modi did not go to Houston or New York to negotiate a trade deal. He went there to tell the world how to deal with the challenges that the world faces, India faces. And it was not the reception that fifty thousand Americans, white House residents included, and Indian Americans accorded to him at Houston or the intelligent utilization of fifteen odd minutes earmarked for him at the UNGA at New York that exhibited India’s ability to lead the world in its fight against the challenges of the new millennium, nor did his reception at Palam on his return reflect the mood of the 130 crore Indians. Well strange it may sound to the reader, but what illustrated Modi’s triumph after meeting Trump were the pictures of conquering men in olive flashed on television channels from Batote area who were raising Bharat Mata Ki Jai slogans after neutralizing three terrorists. This was the day when Mr. Modi was returning home after conquering the world opinion. This was not the first time that our brave security men faced terrorists and did their job commendably, but it was their mood amplifying Bharat Mata’s strength, Vishvas, the confidence that our security forces have today. We have been facing our enemy head on almost on daily basis now for last three decades and to my mind the logistic cost would be lesser if we fought a full war, but then India is neither a war monger nor a war hungry rouge state. And this is exactly what Narendra Modi made clear to the world and world leaders during his speeches in America.
The most imperative lines of Modi’s speech may have gone feeble under the thunderous applause he received but to my mind the more consequential words of his speech at UNGA were those in which he said that India had sacrificed the most for UN’s peace keeping missions. To emphasize India’s commitment to peace Modi invoked Buddha and said “Hum us desh ke vasi hain jis ne duniya ko Yudh nahi Budddh diya hai”, We come from a country that gave Buddha to the world and never favored war. Apart from reiterating India’s cherished policy of adherence to the principle of peace, this to my mind had a purpose. India today aims at reorganization of the United Nations Security Council. And it is with this view that I find eloquence or let me say an obvious link between Modi’s three speeches at three places, Houstion, New York and Plalm.
To the world audience and facing American President Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the world must unite for a decisive fight against terrorism. At the UNGA he invoked India’s Vision of ‘Harmony and Peace’, the aphorism Vivekananda used in his famous Chicago speech, addressing the audience as my brothers and sisters of America .This all, to my mind, is a two pronged strategy that Prime Minister Modi adopted. Firstly he, tangibly advocated India’s case for membership of the Security Council by presenting India as not only a country that contributes to the world peace but who has mastered the methods of mitigating the sufferings of the needy and less privileged. The world today faces challenges of terrorism but tomorrow’s challenges are in the areas of Public health, sanitation and water. Indian Prime Minister briefed the world as to how India has achieved success in these areas and how we could help other countries with our expertise. This precisely is the ability for securing a birth at the UNSC.
Invoking Vivekananda while addressing the 74th session of the United Nations General assembly was strategic move in this direction, as His Chicago address is written in bold and gold in the hearts of Americans. Citing India’s culture with philosophical reference to Shavite tradition of seeing Shiva in every Jiva and linking Jan Kalyan to Jag Kalyan ( Individual welfare to world welfare) , striving for the welfare of all with the aim of ‘Fraternity among Nations’ is the basis on which the United Nations had come into existence.
Strange it may sound, but I find similarity between what Mr. Modi said at the UNGA and what Greta Thunberg , a young environmental activist from Sweden said .She posed a question to the world, by saying ‘how dare you, you have stolen my childhood .’, Prime Minister Modi’s speech was the answer. Quoting great Tamil poet Kaniyan Pungundranar to portray India’s sense of belonging ‘beyond borders” is what the world, faced with the challenges, wants to listen. This is what Mr. Modi emphasized in his speech. He made it clear that India’s per capita contribution to global warming has been very low. And despite that we are in the forefront in seeking solutions. To get rid of Single Use plastic, the writing he read on the wall of UN building, and initiative to launch CDRI are among some of India’s efforts to mitigate the human suffering.
Human suffering however does not end there. The world today faces alarming threat from terrorists and those rouge states that cultivate them. It is here that Mr. Modi’s brief speech at Palam, New Delhi, achieves significance. It may have been a coincidence that the Prime Minister returned on 28th of September, but his referring to surgical strike that India carried out exactly three years ago to avenge terrorist attack at Uri was a pointed reference. This demonstrated new India’s strength and this was what our brave hearts were demonstrating at Batote.
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