|
THE NATION:
VAJPAYEE IN US
The
Right Side Of History
The prime
minister's visit takes bilateral relations into a new and amicable phase
with Washington unequivocally acknowledging that Delhi is an emerging
global power
By
Prabhu Chawla
It
was an unending bout of Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee saying
"I love India" and President Bill Clinton responding with, "I
love your India". During the 10-day visit that began on a low key
in New York on September 7 and culminated in Washington DC with a glittering
state dinner on the lawns of the White House, both sides outdid each other
in showering platitudes. Vajpayee thanked Clinton for "daring to
cross the territory of doubts" and the outgoing President responded
by toasting "the most mature partnership that India and America have
known". Then, as Vajpayee formally buried the hatchet by declaiming
that "India and America stand on the right side of history",
Clinton reciprocated with the assurance, "Together, India and America
can change the world".
 |
| Al Gore
made it clear to Vajpayee that if elected, he'd step up the momentum
gained during the visit |
Replete with
heady symbolism and much ceremony, the meeting of the heads of the world's
two largest democracies turned out to be the happening event in Washington.
As the 800-odd guests, drawn from the exclusive club of the glitterati,
literati and chatterati, gathered under an enormous beige, air-conditioned
marquee for Clinton's last big state function, there was both splendour
and a sense of occasion. As the strains of Don Giovanni by the Chamber
Music Society of the Lincoln Centre wafted through the autumn evening,
the guests witnessed the unusual sight of a country that just two years
ago was at the receiving end of fierce American indignation over the nuclear
tests in Pokhran now having the red carpet rolled out for it. The clock
had indeed turned a full circle.
It was a
celebration of India all right. But it was also the celebration of the
1.5 million-strong Indian-Americans who had made a mark on the world's
greatest opportunity society. As Pulitzer Prize winner Jhumpa Lahiri,
astronaut Kalpana Chawla, free-market economist Jagdish Bhagwati and dotcom
whiz Reggie Agarwal rubbed shoulders with the Washington elite, the subtext
in an election year was the formal recognition of an enterprising community
that now controls some 5 per cent of American wealth. The Senate resolution
welcoming Vajpayee said so quite explicitly: "The Indian-American
community in the US has enriched and enlivened the societies of both the
US and India and this community provides a strong bond between India and
the US ..."
Candidate
Al Gore took a more circuitous route. At the lunch the vice-president
hosted for Vajpayee, he deftly avoided his much-touted non-proliferation
agenda. "In today's world," he gushed, "it is rare to find
a leader who combines the qualities of idealism and pragmatism, confidence
and humility. In you, Mr Prime Minister, we find such a leader."
It was the
same story at the House Committee on International Relations and the powerful
India Caucus. So charmed were the lawmakers with Vajpayee that one senator
made an impromptu offer to present him to the Senate-a rare privilege
for any visiting head of government. Said Congressman Sam Gejdenson, a
ranking Democrat on the House International Relations Committee: "The
large turnout of members at the tea we hosted for Prime Minister Vajpayee
and his delegation is a clear indication of the importance Congress places
on this relationship and the respect we have for the prime minister."
Pg2|Pg3
Top
|
If
there was one word to summarise Putin+s style, it is Realnosti---Russian
for get real---says INDIA TODAY Deputy Editor Chengappa in
