Sunday, October 1, 2000		Lead Article

Dateline America
by Hari Jaisingh

Well, our Sydney Olympic record may be poor. But we do help others to break records in the non-sporting arena!

During the Prime Minister’s US yatra, one political fact could not be lost sight of. And that is the BJP’s rising fortunes in America. In fact, the BJP-RSS-VHP combine has carved out a powerful constituency among the American Indians in the USA. Among the other advantages, this would mean that the BJP will have no dearth of election funds for future polls.

How time changes! The Congress party is no longer taken seriously even among its old-time, ardent supporters here. "The Congress will have no future unless Mrs Sonia Gandhi gives up her personal ambition and the claim to the prime ministerial gaddi’’, an NRI, once a blind supporter of the party, told me in New York.

This feeling is widely shared by a number of American Indians I met in Washington and New York. Nationalistic fervour among these Indians has to be seen to be believed. This was visible at the few gatherings of the Indian American community. India has indeed travelled a long distance since Swami Vivekananda mesmerised the delegates to the Congress of World Religions,way back in September 27, 1893, in Chicago. We may not have a Vivekananda in our midst. But any number of saffron-clad sadhus, sants, swamis and yogis are having a field day. Even Yogi Harbhajan Singh has proved to be quite a draw. I casually met him at two functions — once at the Indian American reception and the other at the White House banquet. With a battery of American Sikhs, he has established his own style and following in the USA. One can really see the advantages of a pluralistic, multi-ethnic, multi-religious American society!

The growing influence of the American Indians can also be gauged by the fact that a "local Indian" is being promoted for the position of ambassadorship on the grounds that he knows the powers that be in the USA and is familiar with the  Indians’ problems. The name figuring prominently is of B.K. Agnihotri who is from Jalandhar and has retained his Indian citizenship. A pleasant person, he is said to be close to some key persons in the government in New Delhi. At present he is the Chancellor of Southern University, L.A. The other name which often crops up is of Arun Singh. Once close to Rajiv Gandhi, he has now come closer to the present establishment. He, reportedly, has the backing of the External Affairs Minister, Jaswant Singh.

Also in the race are also N.K. Singh, M.K. Rasgotra and certain retired foreign secretaries.Yet another surprise candidate for the coveted post is Ram Jethmalani. Any deal for this purpose? We have to wait and watch. The present Ambassador, Naresh Chandra, who has done a fairly good job, is on extension. A final decision in the matter will be taken when the new incumbent occupies the White House. Meanwhile, lobbying has started in right earnest. The guiding principle here is: go silent and go deep!

The American media has, by and large, been least interested in India. It wakes up only when there are disasters or scandals. Not a word appears about India’s development or about the aspirations of its people. When Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao went to America in 1994, momentous changes were taking place in India’s economy and  defence — all under American pressure. But when he addressed a press conference not one American correspondent asked him a question. The questions were asked by others. And yet America glorifies its "free" Press and makes much of its great role in informing the Americans! Mercifully, Mr Vajpayee did attract some notice in a couple of American newspapers and television programmes. Perhaps things are changing, though not appreciably. In contrast, among the Asian countries, especially China continues to occupy the top slot in the US media.

Our readers might be interested in knowing that during his meeting with Mao, the Chinese leader, this is what Dr Kissinger told him about Indian philosophy."There is a sentimental love affair between the intellectuals of the West and India, based on a complete misreading of the Indian philosophy of life. Indian philosophy of life was never meant to have a practical application".To this, Mao is reported to have said: "It (Indian philosophy) is just a bunch of empty words". Now, the fact is: India is the author of the most practical philosophy of life, namely Yoga. It has to do with the well-being of both body and soul.

I’m sure Dr Kissinger must have revised his opinion after having worked as a lobbyist for this country in recent years!

Notwithstanding Dr Kissinger’s views, it will be worthwhile to recall what President  Clinton told Indian parliamentarians during his March visit to this country:"From a distance, India often appears as a kaleidoscope of competing, perhaps superficial, images. Is it atomic weapons or ahimsa? A land struggling against poverty and inequality, or the world’s largest middle class society? Is it still simmering with communal tensions, history’s most successful melting pot? Is it Hollywood or Satyajit Ray? Shweta Shetty or Allah Rakha? "The truth is, no single image can possibly do justice to your great nation. But beyond the complexities and the apparent contradictions, I believe India teaches us some basic lessons."

In sharp contrast to the adhocism of our policy-makers, even in critical areas of foreign affairs, the Americans do a thorough job of evaluating every possible option before firming up their thoughts. Every idea is tested on the touchstone of  what they perceive as their national interest. So, every policy formulation or change goes through a vigorous test at different stages , from think tanks to House and Senate committees on international relations and other key organs of the US establishment.The Tribune had published (on September 16) a detailed account of who is what in what has come to be known as the India caucus in the US Congress.These men have a somewhat better understanding and appreciation of Indian viewpoints on strategic matters directly affecting us. One key feature of the USA’s open system is the institution of think tanks. The academic bodies, thinkers and scholars associated with it are given a free play to interact with various thought processes before firming up their assessment. One redeeming feature of Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee’s US tour this time was his interaction with think tanks in Washington DC. A lot of our academic institutions and academicians may be eager to know about their counterparts who had open discussions with the Indian dignitary.

I have already reproduced a few passages from the Prime Minister’s policy projection at such a meeting in my column "Frankly Speaking" (September 22). I am giving below the list of the personalities from various American institutions who were present on the occasion: Richard Haass, Director of Foreign Policy Studies Brookings Institution; Michael Krepon,President, Stimson Center; Zalmay M. Khalilzad, Director of Strategy and Doctrine Program, Rand Corporation; George Perkovich, Director, Alton Jones Foundation; Professor Harold Gould, Visiting Professor, Center for South Asian Studies, University of Virginia; Dr Francine Frankel, Director, Center for Advanced Study of India, University of Pennsylvania; Dr Geoffrey Kemp, Director of Regional Strategic Programs, Nixon Center for Peace and Freedom; Dr Gary K. Bertsch, Professor of Political Science, University of Georgia; Professor James Clad,Georgetown University; Dr Patrick Cronin, Director, Research and Studies Program, US Institute of Peace; Mr Stephen P. Cohen Brookings Institution; Ambassador Teresita C. Schaffer, Center for Strategic and International Studies; and Ambassador Dennis Kux.

One bright side of travelling with the Prime Minister in his special flight is the way Air-India personnel on board treat and pamper you. They are courteous and all attention so that you don’t feel any discomfort while flying above the clouds at  high speed. The crew members of Boeing 747 Harsh Vardhan and ever-alert and charming air hostesses led by Mr Karim looking after the huge contingent of the media could beat any airline in the world for their smart turnout, pleasant manners, courtesies and service. I, for once, felt like a mini-Maharaja. But very soon we were back to Indian realities after our arrival at Indira Gandhi International Airport.

This is just as well. We can’t play honest professional role in the Indian world of VVIP culture. I am only sorry that Air India is now facing the axe of privatisation. What went wrong where? I can only point a finger at our highly politicised system, the over-bureaucratisation of work culture and non-professionalism in running things in today’s competitive world. Well, this is India, that is Bharat. For the present, I would only like to say: three cheers to Mr Karim, his team and other members of the crew of Harsh Vardhan.