Betrayal of India's Constitutional Vision

Letters to the Editor - The Hindu
July 17, 2008

This is apropos the excellent article by Justice(retd.) Krishna Iyer that appeared in the issue of 17th July. While appreciating the eloquence with which Justice Iyer has argued his case I must say that the article betrays a mindset rooted in the 70s and 80s when we were economically very weak with very little say in the international arena.
The nuclear deal may or may not give us energy security. But what it definitely does is end our nuclear pariah status that for all purposes clubbed us with states like Pakistan, N.Korea, Iran, Iraq and Libya. The enthusiasm with which the west has received the deal clearly shows that India today commands respect and other nations have recognized us as a significant player in world affairs. We are no longer looked upon as a backward third world nation with perennial problems. We should utilize this opportunity to improve our profile as a responsible player in the international arena.
Deal or no deal, we will always face pressure from the USA with regard to our foreign policy. The government of the day should have the will to stave-off such pressures. We must have the confidence to deal with the west very closely and on equal terms. Self isolation by building walls around us reflects a colonial mindset, a tacit acceptance that the Indian genius is somehow inferior to the American or European genius.