United States & India: So fellas, what’s the gameplan…;-)
Posted : July 18, 2005 at 11:19 am [America/Los_Angeles]
Post Last Updated @ 07/18/2005 21:03 PST:
Here’s the media coverage of Indian Prime Minister’s trip to US here this morning:
Reuters:
Bush opens door to nuclear help for India
US Newswire:
Remarks By President Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh of India in Arrival Ceremony
CNN:
Bush to welcome Indian prime minister
MSNBC: (scroll down and look under News Video section)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/
ABC News:
None
CBS News:
None
Washington Post:
Bush to Host Rare Glitzy A-List Dinner
Bush Not Backing India’s U.N. Council Bid
U.S., India May Share Nuclear Technology (Front page news, see image above)
LA Times:
Bush Offers Warm Welcome to India’s Prime Minister
NY Times:
Indian Leader Is Warmly Welcomed at White House
U.S. to Broaden India’s Access to Nuclear-Power Technology (Front page news, see image above)
BBC News:
US and India boost nuclear ties
If you scanned the coverage of this trip in Indian press (for example: Singh a king in Washington), you would come out thinking that the entire US was going ga-ga over Indian PM’s arrival in Washington. Granted the Bush Administration seems to be going out of its way in welcoming Dr. Manmohan Singh. Not that I am surprised and frankly could care less. However, there is a part of me that is a trifle disappointed. Dr. Manmohan Singh is a smart man with a great sense of humor and given a chance ought to be able to represent India and Indians pretty darn well. Too bad he is quite an introvert and that the US Media continues to be obsessed with Karl Rove and the CIA-leak story this morning. He does address the Joint Meeting of the Congress tomorrow which would be interesting, although I have heard Members of Congress tend to bunk these speeches most of the time. Guess I will have to wait and see what happens tomorrow.
In the last one month or so, India’s Defense minister, Telecom minister and now the Prime Minister have visited US. If you were not looking, you would not even know. Heck, India’s Telecom Minister, a bright young tech-savvy guy with his own website, apparently was right here in my own backyard (Santa Clara, CA) while in US for almost a week and I could swear I would never have known had it not been for the Indian press. Bottomline, Indian leaders MUST do a better job of representing India by finding creative ways of reaching out to the US citizens. It is not enough to attend galas organized by NRIs (Non-resident Indians) while they’re here. Interviews with popular Business (Marketwatch.com, Wall Street Journal) and Tech (CNET, InfoWorld) journals and popular television News programs (CBS 60 minutes, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer) should be passionately pursued. Guest lectures at Educational institutions would be another great way to talk to intellectuals here in US about India. I am sure there are other even better ways to reach out to US citizens. The ones listed here are my $0.02 cents just to get the ideas flowing.
Bottomline, here’s my selfish $0.02 cents on this:
I don’t know and could care less about the past history of Indo-US ties. We’re in the 21st century with its very own set of realities and challenges. The way I see it, United States and India are indeed “natural allies” with very similar challenges (terrorism, energy), much in common (democracy) and plenty to share (trade, education, technology, arts & culture) than ever before. Not to mention the millions of Americans of Indian origin here in US who would love to see closer ties between the country of their birth and the country of their nationality (or, as in my case, the country where they “live and work and dream”).
Note:
I think one can look at my family as a fairly typical Indian family in US. So, here’s the stats: Total members - 10, Indian Citizens - 6, US Citizens - 4. Even if the numbers remained as stated here in the future, how could we possibly be any less interested in United States as we are in India. And being an insanely opinionated and politically-aware family, I would not be surprised that we already have in our midst folks who are both pro-Republican and a pro-BJP (an Indian political party). Ugh, talk about living in a “flat world” 
- Anand
Category: Chindia