Powerful assertions by a very confident Modi at 76th Session of UNGA
The world was listening and watching when India’s Prime Minister Modi took the podium at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). He had a message for everyone if they use the right lens to see through it. “Democracy can deliver and Democracy has delivered,” was a slap on the face for those who have been spreading the message of anti-India, anti-Modi, and anti-Hinduism and wish to dismantle what India stands for. It is amply clear that democracy is the answer to dismantling anything the leftist media and the so-called academicians promoted under the cover of academic freedom had DGH.
While India’s growing population of a particular faith community poses its own challenges at home, Modi turned it into a huge POSITIVE in delivering his message on the world stage. With one of six persons being an Indian on the planet earth, he asserted that if India grows, the world grows, and when India reforms, the world transforms. I am sure it sent reverberations all across the world and perhaps some countries and groups are losing sleep over these powerful assertions by a very confident Modi.
Every one of them knows Modi from his days as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and his steadfast focus on development. Now as the Prime Minister, he means business in the most positive sense to offer a mutually rewarding relationship.
In my view, he was proudly citing India’s relentless efforts for accelerating “Reforms, Economy and Development (RED).” These have been the hallmarks of his administration because he has changed red tape to the RED carpet. India welcomes collaboration with, and FDI from, other countries which will not only help improve India’s RED zone but help accelerate the world transformation to RED. My message to anyone thinking of an erstwhile “poor” India must wake up to the new realities. Today’s ‘India and the World’ have an intricate symbiotic relationship. Any efforts to dismantle the former will also dismantle the latter. Let the rest of the world decide if they want India as a friend or a foe as Modi was reminding the UNGA of Vasudeo Kutumbakam (The World is One), India’s ancient philosophy, and a firm conviction.
Modi’s whirlwind visit to the U.S. was no different than his daily routine of an 18–20-hour workday. Upon landing, he was warmly greeted by a large crowd of proud Indian diaspora in the nation’s capital. When he approached the crowd to shake hands, perhaps the VIP security staff was sweating for his safety because they are not used to such enthusiastic welcome of India’s popular leader by his well-wishers in the U.S.
In a couple of days in Washington, Modi met five CEOs, Vice President Harris, President Biden, and the QUAD leaders to convey the message of India being stronger than ever before. To the CEOs of global companies, he reminded them where India stands and offered the “RED-carpet” welcome to invest anew or expand on what they already have. Every interview I have heard from the CEOs was as positive and exhilarating as it can be about India’s RED. Every one of them knows Modi from his days as the Chief Minister of Gujarat and his steadfast focus on development. Now as the Prime Minister, he means business in the most positive sense to offer a mutually rewarding relationship.
When Vice President Harris, an NRI but regrettably does not associate herself in that way, met Modi, she reaffirmed on strengthening relationship with India. In her comments, she reiterated the commitment of the Indian people to democracy and freedom. Based on what I know of her as a former Senator, she was hardly warm to India in her policies, but I was hoping that she would be a bit warmer with Modi. In my opinion, she failed the United States in that respect and the meeting seemed to be a diplomatic courtesy offered by Modi to invite Harris to visit India.
I met with Prime Minister @NarendraModi to reaffirm the strategic partnership between the United States and India. Working together, we can make progress on important global issues, from the COVID-19 pandemic, to the climate crisis, to strengthening and defending democracy. pic.twitter.com/pjLsDF1JXk
— Vice President Kamala Harris (@VP) September 24, 2021
The most critical day for Modi was the one-on-one meeting with Biden followed by the QUAD meeting. Following Modi-Biden exchanging pleasantries, they reassured each other for continued and growing India-U.S. strategic alliance. It is not obvious if Modi-Biden developed as good a chemistry as Modi had both with Obama and Trump. Reportedly, Modi had a cordial conversation with regards to mutually beneficial collaboration on trade, science, technology, and defense. Modi emphasized people-to-people exchange as the cornerstone of U.S.-India friendship which he always does about Indian diaspora being India’s best ambassadors anywhere he goes.
While Modi was meeting Biden, dozens of protesters gathered near the White House and chanted slogans holding placards that read “Save India from fascism.” These protesters were castigating Modi about all unfounded claims such as human rights violations, persecution of Muslims and other minorities, new farm laws, and the crackdown in Indian-administered Kashmir. It was a slap on their face when the White House Press Secretary’s office declined to comment and/ or confirm if human rights and religious freedom were on the agenda during the Biden-Modi meeting. Not surprisingly, Syed Ali, the president of the Indian American Muslim Council was leading the protests. The striking part was that a few Sikhs, sympathetic to the Khalistan movement, were rallying with the protesters. These Sikhs would not answer the question of why in that camp and not with the Indian diaspora who outnumbered the protestor by at least an order magnitude chanting Modi-Modi.
It was quite impressive that India’s Chaiwala (tea-vendor) later that day defined 5 Ts, “ Tradition, Talent, Technology, Trade, & Trusteeship’ to his counterparts of QUAD Summit. I wonder if the sixth T for Tea, a symbol of India’s hospitality and a distinct part of Modi’s humble beginnings was why Modi or his speechwriter conceived of the 5 T formula. Why not the Ds like India’s ancient Dharmic values, accelerated Development, vibrant Democracy, changing Demography, and the DNA-based vaccine? He noted at UNGA that India’s DNA-based vaccine was the first in the world to save humanity against the menace of the Covid originating in China. It should be underscored that the QUAD summit attended by Modi was created for countering another China-induced menace i.e., the expansion tactics in the South China Sea and the unabated growing economic warfare world over.
Finally, when Modi got to New York, he had yet another fitting message to the world about global issues like terrorism, poverty, and environmental crisis. Speaking of terrorism, he warned not to use Afghanistan’s soil for harboring terrorists and breeding terrorism. His clear reference was toward Pakistan’s checkered history of terrorizing India like 26/11 in Mumbai. He also raised the issue of the South China sea in his philosophical words, “Humare samandar bhi humari sajha virasat hai.” (Our oceans are also our shared heritage) which are not to be abused by any country.
As stated earlier, Modi minced no words in telling the UNGA, “When India grows, the world grows. When India reforms, the world transforms.” It is amply clear that he believes in Bharat’s heritage, Vedic traditions, and Dharmic values as well as in India’s talented youth and diaspora around the world. It is so pleasing that Modi at UNGA talked about the strength, accomplishments, and positives about India unlike his counterpart of Pakistan blabbering about India for almost a quarter of his 24-minute speech at UNGA. It is no accident that India stands tall and strong in diplomatic circles because of our diplomats like, Sneha Dubey at the UN who gave a stunning and stinging response to Pakistan’s unfounded allegations and accusations.
In summary, India’s Modi and Modi’s India are a formidable combination not only for India’s democracy and development but for the world. Indians must be proud of Modi’s 5 T formula and/ or the 5 Ds. Let it be known that India’s Hinduism rooted in Sanatan Dharma offers the most tolerant way of living and allows diverse Indians to follow their faith under India’s constitution. The ancient Bharat and contemporary India need to coalesce in one India under one constitution for all. Anyone including the pseudo secularists finding the reforms of one-India intolerable should seriously consider seeking asylum in a more secular and tolerable country of their choice.
Note:
1. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
2. The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of PGurus.
Formerly, a researcher in Italy, Japan, and France, he has widely travelled and came to the US in 1978. He was a faculty and academic administrator in several different universities in PA, TX, NJ, MN, WI, and NY, and an Executive Fellow in the White House S&T Policy during the Clinton administration.
- Education and election in Bharat: Race to the top - April 16, 2024
- Kejriwal: “An Insignificant Man” or a corrupt politician with impending prison term - March 24, 2024
- Bharat’s general elections and the Model Code of Conduct - March 22, 2024
ndia-reforms-the-world-transforms….. was a powerful statement….multi-dimensionally PUN intended…..Indian creativity at its best.