World is changing fast. And the power equations between nations are too in a state of consistent, gradual, tremendous flux. What we are witnessing is the Rise of The East, i.e. Asian and to some extent African countries are awakening from centuries old stagnation and are flexing muscles to get their rightful place under the sun on this Earth. Not since the massive events of The Two World Wars has the world witnessed such a defining transformation.
New developments call for adapting different strategies and tactics to get through these changes. Rather than being challenging, these times are a Golden Opportunity for countries to alter their status and position in the World and change the way world looks at them. One such big opportunity is coming towards our own country India. It all rests on how we see it and use it to our opportunity.
India’s Economy is growing by leaps and bounds averaging about 8 to 8.5% in the last few years, way ahead of the 7% miracle economy mark. The Country is still young and productive with it’s above 60 years population being considerably lower than most other comparable countries. It has a burgeoning middle class and in the strong likelihood that it’s economy will continue to grow at the current pace, it is forecasted that in a matter of few decades India would be the number three economy in the world next only to China and The USA.
But the issue is how efficiently will our country use this dividend to it’s advantage. To enhance it’s clout in the international arena, the country needs to pursue a diplomacy which is a judicious mix of principled guidance and pragmatic action. India, being one of the very few sustaining democracies, should take the moral high ground and the responsibility to guide, assist and direct other nationalities suffering at the hands of Oppressive Dictatorial regimes, religious fundamentalists and all those elements who try to sabotage the freedom of people in the guise of ideological or nationalist interests.
India needs a more hawkish, involved and pro-active foreign policy. The country needs to grow up and come out of it’s helpless and vulnerable behaviourial childhood to the status of a more matured, confident keeper of it’s flock (read the regional comprising of large parts of Asia). India needs to go beyond Pakistan or even China. It must become more multilateral. The Country must formulate it’s own policy on some vexing issues facing the world like The war on terror by US in Afghanistan and Pakistan, The Korean Crisis, The Israel-Palestine conflict in West Asia and others. Country’s policy on these issues should be guided not merely by short term myopic self-interest but should be supported by a vision for itself and for the rest of the world. The policies should be original, sustaining, forceful and to a great extent principled.
The Vision of India must entail a grand design of it’s leadership role. No doubt it needs friends, but factually in politics there are no permanent friends and enemies. Only thing which must sustain is the Role of The Country as a leader of the world community with the underlying basis that it’s policies should be directed in favour of Kindness, Freedom and Humanism. The country needs international events of crisis to develop it’s clout. It should use them as such.
With a population of over 1.20 billion (representing about of 1/5th of humanity) ; a glorious history of cultures, values and traditions ; a place where democracy and pluralism have survived despite the strongest odds, it is an imperative that India should march ahead as a regional upholder of freedom, democracy and Rule of Law.
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