“Had a lung full of smoke?” Shongita’s tone was a bit wily. I knew she disapproved my habit of smoking whenever I had some free time. I also knew that her disapproval was for me not to fall hazardously ill for this habit and she meant well for me. But, as the saying goes Old Habits Die Hard and I am in no mood to quit smoking soon… I smiled at her and she huffed me away for the moment. I opened the newspaper again and asked her to blindly point at any space on the newspaper. In a moment I could see her anger subside and turn back to this conversation which interested her…
She pointed out to a item which was printed at the bottom of the page not giving it a fair relevance… it was a write up about the abnormal behaviour of Donald Trump in his second tenure.
“What can you make of this – tell me without reading the article.” She insisted with her wide eyes.
“Donald Trump’s abnormal behaviour towards India can be understood through various factors that influence his decision-making and interactions with this nation. What I see are some possible reasons for his belligerent remarks and the way he projects himself… Further, we will also check what if 1.4 Billion population of India decides to respond belligerently to USA…
Point no. 1. Transactional Leadership Style of Trump: Trump’s business background and negotiation tactics often lead to a transactional approach in international relations. He prioritizes deals that benefit the United States, which might lead to friction with countries like India. He seems to think that everything that happens; happens for business profit and advantage. He seems to not aware of people like in India who play the game more with emotions than business. To a normal Indian person, emotions play more than business advantage. This has been seen in the aftermath of Galvan clashes between India and China… China has had the taste of fury of a normal Indian citizen. USA has to taste this fury and backlash…”
“That’s true – if we Indians take it to heart we can boycott all goods manufactured by companies in USA and not blink an eye…” she was emphatic in her statement “But, if we start boycotting every country thus we would be losing out on many nice things…”
“I will come to this topic later… now coming to point no. 2 which is Incorrect Equivalence: Trump tends to equate India and Pakistan in terms of responsibility for tensions between the two countries. This approach overlooks Pakistan’s role in cross-border terrorism and implies that both nations share equal blame which is totally incorrect. Further, he said that the issue of Kashmir dates back to thousands of years – factually incorrect – Pakistan was born in 1947 about 78 years ago while one cannot date backwards as to when India came into existence… almost every day, new discoveries are made which take the dates of India’s existence more back in time. The planetary positions depicted in Ramayan if calculated backward date more than 15000 years ago.
I think he hasn’t even read his history lessons correctly or it is something that’s not taught in USA schools for they think the world revolves around USA. After independence, Pakistan tried to forcibly occupy the territories of Kashmir by sending its troops dressed as tribal people. It was a mistake on part of the then prime minister of India who thought that the West is the greatest force and maybe the issue of Kashmir was the first to feature in United Nations list of international disputes. Had he gone further in war which India was winning, the issue of Kashmir would have been put to rest at its inception. We are living a dispute which was nothing but created by the then prime minister of India.
Donald Trump thinks by raising the issue of Kashmir he can pressurize India to do anything he wants India to do and play a puppet. The day he realizes the power of 1.4 Billion Indians – it would be too late to turn back…
Point no. 3 is Undeserved Negotiating Framework: Trump’s suggestion that he can facilitate negotiations between India and Pakistan will give Pakistan an undeserved platform. We believe we won’t negotiate with Pakistan under terrorism threats, and such mediation attempts might undermine our sovereignty. Pakistan was and is a terror state that promotes terrorism. Some theories even suggest that the plan for 9/11 was hatched in Rawalpindi of Pakistan and Donald Trump by trying to promote Pakistan is trying to sit on a terrorist time bomb. If China pays Pakistani state the money they demand, Pakistan will definitely hatch another plan like 9/11 and disrupt USA and see to it that the blame falls on someone else.
Donald Trump needs to check what he is trying to ignite and leave India to deal with Pakistan what Pakistan deserves – strikes and more strikes till the terror industry in Pakistan is dismantled.
Further internationalizing the Kashmir issue… Trump’s comments risk internationalizing the Kashmir dispute, which we consider an internal matter. This could play into the hands of terrorist groups that seek to globalize the issue. This will strengthen their resolve to carry out more daring terrorist attacks and it is the citizens of India who are going to bear the brunt of relentless terrorist attacks. This will not only lead to a full-fledged war against Pakistan but also will alienate the countries who support Pakistan – Turkey and Azerbaijan are but classic examples. USA could join the list…
Trump’s approach might also revive the tendency to view India and Pakistan as diplomatic equals at the world stage, a practice that has been discouraged in recent years. This could be seen as a step backward in India’s diplomatic efforts to isolate and expose Pakistan and we Indians are not going to like this one bit.
This will lead to sour relations between USA and India and we will have to rethink about the relations with USA from the scratch.”
“Yes. I can imagine that happening.” She was now absorbed in the conversation.
“Coming to point 4… which is his Protectionist Trade Policies: Trump’s protectionist trade policies, including tariffs, might strain relations with India. India has been diversifying its trade relationships, and Trump’s policies could definitely impact bilateral trade. India already has started to diversify the trade it does with USA. Soon, USA will have much lesser trade ties with India and will be a fraction of what and how India trades with the World… it won’t matter then if USA stops trading with India altogether. India will be least bothered. Further, India can take stance or even lead the world to de-dollarization which the USA fears – losing their grip over the trade of the world.
Point no. 5 is the authoritarian and Dominance-Oriented trait: Trump’s leadership style, marked by authoritarian tendencies and a desire for dominance, might lead to conflicts with countries like India and others who value their sovereignty. India though not commercially as strong as USA values the dignity more than the trade and any form of dominance will be considered as a threat to the sovereignty.”
“I have visited and stayed for some part of my life in USA but I didn’t like that a bit…” she momentarily lived her past.
“Point no. 6… Trump’s populist and personalized leadership:
Trump’s populist approach often involves direct appeals to his base, which might lead to decisions that prioritize his domestic political agenda over international cooperation. Now this is a dangerous preposition when a leader in the world decides to please his fan-base and looks over the possibility of direct implications of his or her behaviour. He may not only lose the trade prospects with India but also lose the global standing which USA as of today relishes…
Point no. 7… Trump’s Conspiratorial Thinking and Distrust of Expert Institutions: Trump’s tendency to endorse conspiracy theories and distrust expert institutions might influence his decision-making on issues and India will not take it lightly. India is a proud nation and the sense of pride in being an Indian has its roots deep into the society of India. Look at it the game of cricket is not only widely followed but treated as a religion. Even when the game enjoys this kind of acceptance and crazy fan hood, the most down to earth Indian citizen is calling for a boycott of the cricket matches with Pakistan. We do not mind if India doesn’t win the tournament… what we do mind is when the game happens against Pakistan in any event.”
“That’s true. Even I love watching a cricket match… but, like you I also have decided not to watch any game till BCCI declares that not a single match wherever and whatever the tournament it be… India will not play a single game with Pakistan.”
“Point no. 8… which is the worst… Trump’s Grandiose Pompous Self-Image and Desire for Personal Credit: Trump’s desire for admiration and validation by people as a great leader and personal credit might lead him to prioritize his own image over diplomatic ties which potentially might end up straining relations with India. Look at him, he seems desperate to earn a Nobel Prize for Peace and to get to the prize, he is churning the peaceful flow of economy of the World…
Citing Tariff impositions, he seems to be churning the World economy creating nothing but chaos and resentment. He thinks this will earn him a Nobel Prize, but this exactly is taking him away from that coveted prize… If he thinks America is a great economy with leadership skills, he should have shown the way to the World of how to grow its economy and helped few peaceful economies who are faltering rather than help terror state like Pakistan. This has not only irked few countries but his own approval ratings have started to fall and dipped may be up to 40% and if he carries on in this style by the year ends, he will have touched a new low in his approval ratings…”
“Don’t people in his government advise him of implications?” she wondered
“No my dear, a person who has been bitten by the snake called ‘AHAM’ meaning Self-Obsession will not listen to any good advice by anyone. In fact, a person who has been bitten by the snake of AHAM will not seek advice. He will most probably hate the person who gives good advice and regale in false glory from people who indulge in his boot-licking… I watched a video of spokesperson from White House the other day claiming that Trump deserves a Nobel Prize… he has gone to a level where he is forcing his team to tell people openly as to how desperate he is for that honour.”
“So, what do you think could be a solution to this man who possessed by AHAM?” she looked half convinced that there could be a solution…
“There is no solution to a person who is possessed by AHAM. Nowhere in ancient texts or history will you find a solution for a person possessed by AHAM. Look at Ramayan, Ravan was possessed by AHAM, did he listen to any good advice? Look at Mahabharat, did Duryodhan listen to any good advice?…
There are plenty of depictions in history where Kings possessed by AHAM where the Kingdoms were at a peak have self-devastated by not listening to good advice.
All you can do is while your time till he is around. In America one can be a President only 2 times in his life. He has completed his first term and 6 months of his second tenure. All people in the World have to do is keep their own sanity and not respond to Trump, don’t do anything to irritate him but also not bowing to him. Just carry on the way they had been doing business and exchange pleasantries with Trump. Another three years, you will see him getting busy with his elections and that will be the end of Trump, you won’t ever see him again as a President of USA…”
“But what if his desires make him unbearable and he tries to be extreme with us Indians?”
“Sweetheart, we Indians do not babble out like others. We act on what is necessary. Yes it takes uproar in the masses but when it happens, countries that are on a roll have to backtrack. Look at what happened with China after Galvan clash… there was uproar, since then China is struggling to regain the ground in business it has lost. It is almost begging for Indians to start buying Chinese goods like yesteryears. See what happened to Maldives… they took anti India stance, they are begging for Indian tourists to return and save their economy. Look at Turkey and Azerbaijan; they lost the business they enjoyed with Indian people and tourists. The Government of India has on state level done what it could to teach these a lesson but it was implemented by citizens of India – not government bans or advisories… when you drive Indians back to a wall – the citizens of India know how to hit back… the first to be hit will be products like Coke, Pepsi, McDonalds, Pizza Hut, etc… A person like me loves Indian burger ‘Wada Pav” much more than a rare burger from McDonalds. How much time will it take me to come to a decision of boycotting American products from my life?”
“I know you, you can do it this moment.” she laughed
“Now you understand the power of 1.4 Billion people? Trump or America cannot afford losing a market like India. And to tell you the truth, Indian government has not banned products from China, it is we Indians who have boycotted Chinese products on our own and being a democracy, Government cannot force us to buy any product that they choose – it is the products we choose which we buy… The World has to realize this…”
“Hmm… so this Nautanki will go on for at least three years is what you project… hope this does not lead to mass boycott because even if you don’t I like McDonald’s burgers…”
“Hope it doesn’t but I can’t guarantee that citizens of India will not take these extreme steps. If they are driven toward taking these steps, I am sure the citizens of India will definitely take these steps… enjoy your burgers till such time…” I teased her.
The bus halted again for another break and I felt relieved that my lungs are going to thank me for another smoke…
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