What are the expectations of the Indian public regarding Narendra Modi's USA visit and its potential impact on India's development and progress?
Lots of people in India are hyping PM Modi’s recent USA trip in June 2023. Modi was the Indian PM to address US Congress twice, second Indian PM to have the honour of US state visit and he is third Global leader to receive a state visit invitation from US President Biden. PM Modi was seen inspecting guard of honour at airport without umbrella under heavy rain, US lawmakers seen taking selfies / autograph with him when he gave a speech in US Congress. His speech evoked multiple applause and standing ovations etc.
But these are pure optics. What matters most is the business, collaboration deals and strategic tie-ups signed with USA. Indian PM Nehru also had best of optics during his first USA visit in 1949.
Newly independent India had massive food shortage in 1950s and hence government had to beg for wheat from USA and the same situation continued in 1960s when USA supplied PL480 wheat. In 1949 not just food but the foreign exchange position was even worse. In November 1949 PM Nehru made his first visit to the US amidst a tremendous welcome. US President Truman came to airport to receive him and Nehru addressed US Congress. During his talks with Harry Truman Nehru mentioned the scarcity of food in India. Truman's response was positive. But there were bureaucratic obstructions, resistance in the US Congress, procedural delays and other difficulties, including the American attempt to barter wheat for strategic materials. There could therefore be no agreement even though there was a glut of wheat in America. Nehru wanted to maintain non-alignment policy. This is the time when rival Pakistan became American pivot in south Asia and managed to get huge economic and military grants from USA. Nehru’s non-alignment principle was only on paper but actually heavily tilted towards communist Soviet Union which harmed India economically. Other newly independent countries like South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Pakistan etc. around India’s neighbourhood progressed much faster during 1950s-1970s. By 1980s, many of these countries became middle income countries and they were called ‘Tiger economies of Asia’. India following Nehruvian policy of mixed economy, nationalisation of industry, license and permit raj which breed corruption, non-existence of corporate culture (except Tata and Birla no big private players in first 2-3 decades), Hindu rate of growth etc. brought financial bankruptcy in 1991 which led to economic liberalisation under ‘non-family’ congress PM PV Narasimha Rao.
PM Nehru’s Panchsheel, utopia of a non-military state derived from communist ideology, non-alignment movement, planned or mixed economic model, nationalization of industries, minority appeasement, and special rule for J&K etc. — nothing ever worked.
[[The Indian Prime Minister, Pandit Nehru, got better than routine diplomatic honours on his first visit to the United States last week. America made an extra effort to woo him. But Nehru’s refusal to deal squarely with the cold war soon led to a vague feeling of discomfort, gradually intensifying into disappointment.
Within the British Common-wealth, India seems determined to pursue a course of her own, which does not fit into the American picture of a world divided into two irreconcilable camps.
American diplomats recognised the difficulties in the path of complete understanding between India and America.
They realised that India was almost encircled by a “wall of fire” of Russian and Chinese Communism. They knew India’s army was insignificant.
They understood, too, that Nehru himself, with his heterogeneous upbringing as a Cambridge scholar, disciple of Gandhi, and student of Karl Marx, would regard the mighty capitalistic United States with pronounced scepticism.
But, aside from Japan, India seemed to offer the only possible anti-Communist stronghold in Asia, and the United States was determined to do its best to impress Nehru.
So the United States arranged to put its best foot forward.
Nehru flew from London in President Truman’s own plane, and at Washington military airport. Truman himself was there to meet the plane with a delegation from Cabinet and Congress.]]
All that hype ended into zero output as Indian PM Nehru decided to follow his inner voice of socialism and communism. Nehru only asked desperately USA’s help during 1962 China war. Today also congress party is center-left on economic issues and dynastic hierarchy with sycophancy rather than meritocracy.
Fast forward to 2023, can Modi afford to do the same mistake as Nehru? Soviet Union no longer exists. Russia is still an old friend and PM Modi once said ‘an old friend is more important that 10 new friends’. But it is true that Russia is facing economic and strategic challenges. China has emerged India’s biggest geo-political rival. India now 5th largest economy and may become 3rd largest within few years. India is also fastest growing G-20 major economy. All predictions suggest India will remain fastest growing economy with 6.7% average growth for next 3 years. This is golden opportunity for USA and India under Modi/BJP to pursue their mutually beneficial interest.
Picture source: Google / Respective rightful owner
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