Just yesterday, 25th of January 2017, President Trump made good his election promise by ordering a Mexican Wall across its (USA) southern border and banning Muslims from 7 nations from entering the Country. Not only that, anyone (Non American) having traveled to those 7 nations from 2011 on will also face visa restrictions. Further most Europeans, including ally nations will have to apply for a US visa. The American and Indian markets rejoiced in tandem; is their a linkage.
Well, from an Indian point of view, President Trump and Prime Minister Modi are very similar in their thinking when it comes to trade and terror. The former called the latter and invited him to the US later this year calling India the US's new best friend. I wonder if that is really some news to cheer about?
The US is not the same nation it used to be, nor is India. One can easily pin Trump and Modi as catalysts of disaster, but the truth is that the days of diplomatic politics are over where politicians said something and did something else. Not everything will turn out right but even medicines have side effects. Rather than suffering the ailment is it not better to try the bitter pill? Maybe the age of Republic is over, at least the way it is defined now.
Today, India turns 68 as a Republic. I don't know what our founding fathers had in mind, but the Country is more shackled and divided than it was under foreign rule. It's not I for India anymore but I for an I whichever way you may want to read it. We are progressively handing more and more power to the people who should least control it, and global events the perfect excuse for them to take it.
The Republic as we know it is dead. it is being redefined. No longer is the rule of the people by the people for the people. It is the rule of politics by those in politics for absolute power alone, and to hell with the people. Division of people in the name of equality, control on free speech in the name of liberty, restrictions in the name of justice, and unfair use of taxes in the name of redistribution of wealth.
Do I sound cynically morbid? Hard not to in the current world that we live in. Well Orwell provided hope in his book 1984 (being re read all over again) and I am not one to give up on a better tomorrow either.
Happy Republic Day India and Happy Trump days USA.
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