A few hours from now – the all important summit at Mamallapuram would have been in progress.
We are as much hopeful as excited with the actuality of two great leaders meeting informally to discuss about various bilateral and international issues.
The meet may well turn out to be a turning point in the ‘heat on – cool off’ relationship between India and China. Or it may, let us hope not, end up a damp squib leaving the stalemate to continue. There might be another possibility of agreeing to forge ahead in genuinely addressing issues seriously plaguing the normal relations between the two. This seems to be the most probable outcome given the pitiable situation that the economies of the two countries are in presently.
No one can deny the fact that China is far ahead of India in the size of its economy and in the numbers of its defence forces. China does not have many problems that India has had to face day in and day out. Above all, China does not have to shoulder the burden of ‘democratic responsibilities’! Xi Jinping will not have the challenging task of ‘answering’ the critics at home questioning the ‘usefulness’ of the Summit.
India’s problems are mainly because of certain miscalculations and misadventures attempted by the ‘Policy makers’ without which it would have been a far smoother run for our economy. All the tall claims by the authorities concerned over the ‘successful implementation’ yielding good results are yet to reach common man.
The Indians at large are looking at every single ‘development’ with more awe, if not anger, than with any semblance of anxiety or excitement. People in general are but left to wait and wait and wait for the ‘arrival’ of all those ‘good things’ that the authorities keep repeating in their discourses.
International relations, bilateral talks, treaties and agreements do not mean much to the people on the street whose problems abound with every passing day. Unemployment, underemployment, lack of free flow of money, stagnation / saturation in small cottage industries blocking any further growth… the average Indian wants some immediate measure that would make his everyday life a little easier. Anything other than this does not quite fit into his expectative lifestyle.
This is perhaps the reason why the summit at Mamallapuram has not been able to arouse a great feel of hope and promise that normally a Meet of this kind is bound to create. This state of pessimism may have taken away a little bit of sheen out of the much hyped meet between the two great leaders. Yes, as has been the case in such Meets, it would take its own time for the benefits of the outcome to reach the people. Any long time plan or and program has this inherent danger of losing the sight of the people worried more about their day to day affairs.
India has certain advantages too – for sure.
If Indian economy is not doing so well for the past few months, Chinese position is not so good as well. In fact, India has the inherent strength of its economy being largely indigenous and self sufficient.
The list of goods and commodities that are being imported / exported by India and China tells the story in simplest terms in full. India, among other things, imports machines, engines and toys from China. These are all man-made, manufactured, produced in factories, by various industries that employ a large number of people who constitute the workforce of China.
India on the other, among other things, mainly exports copper, ore and cotton that are derived from the Soil or from under it. That is to say, Indian exports are primarily the natural resources that would only be helpful and beneficial to the Land if not exported.
Yes. The ‘activists’ are right to a very large extent. Trading of these items is more ‘exploitation’ than export in its real sense.
What if India stops selling these natural resources and also stops buying the manufactured products? We do NOT really advocate this idea. We are discussing about a hypothetical situation to make clear the advantageous position that we enjoy. Otherwise, we firmly support and endorse the attempts to strengthen the commercial, cultural and political ties with China.
Regional Peace is achievable only through regional co-operation; only by way of mutual trust and friendship. We do not aim to undermine the honesty and commitment of the two great leaders in normalising relations between two brotherly neighbours.
On the political front too, the Chinese position in the International arena has not been so strong as it is normally perceived to be. China has never really had a good track record in matters of credibility. By its policies and actions, it has fuelled the sense of suspicion giving it an ‘unreliable’ trade or political partner.
Its ambitious plans of expanding its dominance over the South China Sea, its covertly extended support to North Korea and its open endorsement of Pakistan’s ‘pro-terrorist’ activities have only alienated China from all the peace loving countries all over the world. This may not help its cause and its desire of becoming no 1 economy in the world.
To keep surging ahead to overcome and replace the U.S.A. as the strongest economy, China has to bank upon the most fabulous Indian market that has the vastest segment of ‘middle and lower middle income groups’. They are the ones who have the hard earned money to dominate the consumerism ridden market ready to grab the currencies in their hands. China or any other country in the world just can not afford to lose the most potential market that would change their fortunes for good or bad.
Yes. It is real. Without any intention to offend, we can say with a fair amount of truth and reality that China is coming to us begging with a bowl in its hands. As said earlier, we do fully respect the solidity and the supremacy of our guest. Our only point is that it not ‘China big; India small’ situation any more.
We have a clear advantage. It is time we explore the possibility of doing everything at our command to smoothen the ties and normalise the relations with China. Be it Tibet / Dalai Lama or the Arunachal related territory issue or the support of China for India in acquiring a permanent membership in the United Nations Security Council, India has the bargaining strength today – to firmly put its ideas across to China.
And… of course, India has an undisputed leader in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi whose dynamism and uprightness would be the game changer in any such high level meetings.
It is the meeting of the Titanic achievers; of the most towering personalities of the contemporary politics in the world today; of the tallest leaders whose vision never falls short of their long range targets!
All the best to the iconic leaders!
And…let us address the question whether Modi will win again…, after an epic success at the United Nations and in America, will he maintain the winning streak at Mamallapuram?
Yes. To me, it appears to be so – favouring the honourable Indian Prime Minister.
Wish Him a happy Hat-trick!
Baskaran Krishnamurthy – Educationist, Columnist, proponent of Gandian philosophy, guide for competitive examinations
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