India and America- Depening Stratigic Relations

As the Indian Air Force wraps up the Red Flag exercise in USA and the Indian Navy starts preparation for the annual Malabar Series of Excise, let us take a movement to analyse the evolving strategic relationship between two of the world's largest and the most powerful democracies.

India's relationship with the USA started picking up pace from the lowest ebb after the Shakthi series of nuclear tests conducted by India in the deserts of Rajasthan. Over the years the relations have grown in complexity and strategic reach. This year the Americans are bringing it's newest Nimitz class Aircraft Carrier, The USS Ronald Reagan along with a nuclear submarine for the annual excise code named "Malabar Excise". An Aircraft Carrier and a Nuclear Submarine are two of the greatest assets in the American Navy. To bring these assets to the war games with India shows the extent of importance the American's has for a strategic relationship with India. India on it's part is fielding some of it's most potent arsenals. The recent study in America asks India to have a greater role and involvement in world politics and security including take proactive interest in maritime security.

But things was not so rosy in olden days. During cold war, India even though a proclaimed NAM member was leaning to the former USSR. That relationship greatly benefited India with total and instant access to high end technology and funds including advanced weapons. USSR also supported India many international fora including matters concerning Kashmir. America on it's part was more inclined to India's arch rival, Pakistan through which they intended to get close to main land China. Things only started changing after the demise of USSR and mostly in the late 90's. The greatest movement that changed the course of the relationship was 9/11 attack in WTC in New York. Islamic terrorists for the first time stuck at the heart of American pride in American homeland. Terrorism had finally reached American shores. India having suffered terrorism became a natural ally. Another key ingredient in the changing relationship was the rapid economic liberalisation undertaken in India. America became one of the biggest business partners for India.

The growth of the strategic relationship was gradual. In the security and defence realm, the annual naval and air force exercises which started off in the lowest level is slowly graduating to the highest strategic level. India also has had joint army exercises which has gradually grown over the years and now India has trained many American special forces in it's famed The Counter Insurgence and Jungle Warfare School, Vairengte.

India's relationship over the years with the Americans have blossomed over the years to a fully-fledged strategic relationship. Weather anybody likes it or not, America is the sole super power in he world. There is no international architecture with out the Americans. In the world of International politics, there are no permanent friends or enemies, but all decisions are solely dictated by permanent national interests. It is in India's national interest to engage America which shall remain as the sole super power in the world for the foreseeable future

India after Beijing Olympics

The curtain comes down on yet another Olympics. Yet again India has come out with just one gold and two bronze medals. I hate to say that but my earlier predictions about India's performance has come true.

Let us for a movement compare India with China. What is that makes China tick with over 50 gold to their credit? Is it that they are autocratic and do things better and in a more disciplined way. That seems to be the answer that one get from the India media and public at large. They say that the Chinese example of grooming it's athletes will not work in India because India is a democracy. They say that nothing can be achieved in a democratic coutry. Bit I would like to pose one simple question? Isn't USA also a democracy? The how is that the Americans have become the second largest grocer of medals in the Olympics?

One thing is sure. There is something fundamentally wrong with our system. Nobody should blame our athletes. We have some of the finest athletes in the world. But what is lacking is the will to succeed and the money and the technology to back it up with world class training . It is time that we brought Indian sports from the shackles of the politicians and bureaucrats and give the authority to sports persons who know he game like no other.

For those who say nothing will ever change, human history is full of examples of people who has made the impossible possible. the goal of success for India sports to be world class is achievable. What is needed is a concerted effort from all those concerned. Remember we have four years to make it happen. Let us wake up today prove to the world that nothing is impossible as far as India is concerned.

India and The Nuclear Suppliers Group

As India prepares to attend the Nuclear Suppliers Group to get the ratification and special treatment as a nuclear suppliers group, let us analyse India's case for getting the special treatment in the group.

India as a developed nuclear power became an established player in the nuclear field by the late 1950's. India developed indigenously world class technology in the field of nuclear sciences on it's own. With the "Smiling Buddha" nuclear tests in the year 1974, India became the sixth nuclear power in the world. India over the years have developed a comprehensive nuclear program that covers entire gamut of nuclear sphere starting from extraction to enrichment. India also has developed a highly sophisticated nuclear weapons program.

Now the factor that favours India most is her unblemished record in nuclear non proliferation. India at no time has ever exported nuclear or related technologies to any country. This sits in stark contrast to the infamous A.Q Khan syndicate that had built an international business on nuclear weapons sales. Recently some Pseudo- Socialists led by some from India sent a memorandum seeking the NSG to add conditions and riders that would if accepted would have been totally unacceptable to India which if accepted would have effectively capped India's nuclear program. What these so called intellectuals should understand is that are nothing called ideology in International politics. It is the permanent national interests that count. No self respecting country would let it's guard down voluntarily. India is surrounded by nuclear powers and it is in India's interest to maintain credible nuclear deterrent. The mantra of non proliferation has no meaning in the current international scenario. India's time has come. It is time that the international community opened its doors to India and invite her to sit in the high table, lest the generations to come will never forgive the chances missed by the present generation.

INDIA AT 62

Happy Independence day to all. Today as we celebrate the 62 birthday of our great nation, let us do introspection as to where we are in our 61’st year of Independence, what we have achieved in the last 61 years, what needs to be done.

“Independence”, even though a single word has a profound meaning with a great depth. It means freedom from oppression, persecution and tyranny. Today when we enjoy the fruits of the hard fought freedom struggle from the British by the generations long gone by, one should remember the freedom that is ours, a freedom that very few countries enjoy in the face of the earth. We are having he freedom to live as we like it to be, express our opinion as we see fit, criticize our leaders , remove them if they do not live up to our expectations. These are freedoms that we should value and cherish as our greatest asset. To really understand the meaning of freedom and Independence, we should think of those people from countries who have their basic freedom curtailed by tyrants, dictators and whose lives is in shambles due to war, hunger and other forces, made or natural. When we gained Independence in 1947, the world predicted that India shall be an experiment that is bound to fail in 10 to 20 years. Some even predicted that we shall fall apart with in the first 25 years of our Independence. But we have not only survived, we have thrived to position ourselves as one of the paramount powers of the 21’st century. India at Independence was scarred by he wounds of partition. We had a daunting task of building a nation that was until that time fragmented by many countless states and build a strong nation that shall proudly stand in the International Community as the inheritor of one of the greatest and oldest civilizations of the world.

Today when we stand at this juncture, let us analyze where we are now. India even though we inherit one of the ancient and richest civilizations dating back to thousands of years, as a nation we are young in the galaxy of nations. We have traveled far in the last 61 years. Very few countries have made such remarkable progress that we have achieved in such a short time. 61 years in history of man kind is just a blink. We are now considered as one of the emerging super powers, the corner stone of the future without which there is no future of mankind. We have established our selves as the paramount super power in a verity of fields which includes science and technology, human resources, education, and in almost all walks of life.

Today when we celebrate our Independence day, let us look forward and strive to unify and make our nation even greater. Even if our nation may be divided on caste, religion of regional basis, let us remember hat we are all children of one mother, that is “MOTHER INDIA”.

“VANTHE MATHRAM”

Beijing Olympics

Yet another Olympics is upon us. All the roads in the sports world leads to only one place, Beijing. World Leaders, Statesmen, Politicians, Sportsmen and women are all on their way to the famed ancient capital of the one of the oldest and greatest civilizations of the world.Like all the years India will be represented by some of our finest athletes and sports men and women.There were times when India would stand as one of the top medal grousers in the Olympics.

Now let us analyse what has gone wrong with India over the years? In the last few Olympics, India stood bottom in the medal tally. What is the real reason for this downward swing?

India over the years has produced some really fine sports persons, P.T Usha, Shiny Wilson to name a few. But the real bane of Indian sports is the politicisation of India sports. Sports in India is governed by bodies that has politicians and bureaucrats who sit in the top. These are people who just have no clue as to what they are dealing with? They hardly know even the basics of the games that they are supposed to nurture and bring to the international standard. They see these positions as just a ticket to high life, foreign trips and the accompaning parephernalia icluding enriching themselves in the process.

Those who have taken the sports as a profession does not get any government petronisation. They are forced to live in pitiable conditions ofen having to take up menial work just quench he hunger of themselves and their loved ones. yesterday here was report in one of the malayalam channels about a girl who is part of Indian contingent for the Olympics. But she lives in a broken home with her mother and brother and the government has not even come forward to helping her. It in effect put her in a pitiable condition and acts as a major detterent against her becoming the best in her field. But credit goes to her that despite such adverse circumstances, she has strived to reach the heights that she is now having.

Now what are the possible remedies for this condition? First of all, let us take steps to take the governning bodies from the hands of the politicians and give the power to the sports men who knows the game and who can govern and lead in the development of world class sports persons. Then let us contribute to create world class infrastracture for all the games. We should also strive to make, nurture and grow a new generation of sports persons who shall be provided with world class infrastracture and let them grow unhindered. In sports regional cumpultions has no ground. Only those who excel in sports should be selected and given training. The current practise of "quota of representation" to so much sports persons from certain region of the country should be discontinued. The national games should become the grounds from which the athlets who stand in the top position should be selected and prepared by giving them proper training with adecuate funds for a world class infrastracture and facilities. India which produces world class engenieers, software professionals, scientists and doctors can achieve this target easily. Just remember cricket is not the only game that is played in the world.