This is the first in a series of special articles on the India-USA ties.
Washington: The political pundits are scratching their heads wondering what the United States President will be doing 10,000 miles away soon after the annual ritual of the State of the Union [SOTU] speech.
Typically he would be crisscrossing the country drumming up support for his agenda. The Indian diaspora community is however enthralled that this President is doing a second visit to India and the first American President to be the guest of honor at the Republic Day Parade.
On Tuesday night's SOTU speech, I know I was not the only straining my ears to hear what President Obama has in store for the United States and the rest of the world. Will he mention India in his speech at all? The annual State of the Union speech is somewhat the equivalent of the Independence Day speech that the Indian Prime Minister delivers from the ramparts of the Red Fort.
Only here, the members of the Congress, in front of whom the President stands, will be either cheering or jeering,[or remain politely quiet] depending on which [political] side of the aisle they are. Millions of Americans will of course be glued to their TV sets to see what their President has to say.
Soon Air Force One will touchdown in New Delhi. The American media may not be agog with stories of President Obama's time in India. [It rarely is!] In fact some are already questioning the timing of his visit. The NRI tongues will however be wagging,speculating everything from the spice level of the dal to the level of bonhomie that will be displayed between President Obama and Prime Minister Modi.
It is hard not to draw parallels between the President's SOTU speech and what India followers are hoping to see move forward during his India trip. President Obama put great emphasis on the values of the hard-working middle class. A majority of the Indian diaspora peg their success and prosperity tosound education and well-paying jobs. The typical NRI is used to working hard, making sacrifices for the well-being of the family. Needless to say they would like to see more of their brethren in India have access to the same. Higher education and exchange of ideas and innovation in this space is something that can invigorate the ties between the two nations.
As Preeti Shroff Mehta, a higher education expert put it, "There is tremendous value in collaboration around higher education for the two countries and should be one of the thrust areas."Preeti's organization, Vermont and Washington D.C. based World Learning's School for International Training (SIT) has recently launched courses for Master's students from the US and takes them to India regularly.
Technology-centric jobs are an issue that can either bond or drive a wedge between the two democracies. Outsourcing did figure in Obama's speech against the backdrop of creating new jobs within America and developing a skilled workforce and in turn a highly competitive economy. The hope is that the American President will be empathetic to similar needs in the Indian context and strive to [to use his words], "create a level-playing field and give everyone a fair shot."
America knows that 95% of the customers for its products live outside the United States. And yes, the Indian middle class in one significant chunk of this consumer base. Jay Bhaskaran, a defense sector specialist based in Charlotte, North Carolina would like to see greater co-operation in the exchange of defense technologies and further privatization of the defense sector in India.
That would be music of course to the ears of Boeing, Lockheed Martin and other American defense companies.
While the economy, geo-politics, youth and jobs may be staring in the face of the decision makers of both countries, there are plenty of other areas such as climate change that require co-operation. Floods and droughts frequently cause upheaval in both geographies and rising sea-levels will soon haunt India and the US.
Yes, there are lawmakers and policy wonks, media people and experts of all sorts. While they may look into the granular detail of the Obama India visit, for the "regular NRI in America", symbolism is big. For the American President to receive the Republic Day honor brings a smile on the diaspora Indian's lips no matter what his or her political affiliation is.
Venkat Srinivasan, a Boston-based serial entrepreneur best summed it up when he said,"I can't think of two countries who are more aligned in their values. Not just how they are stated but how they are lived. Given all the conflicts around the world these two countries together are our best hope to preserve a free, open, inclusive, compassionate, prosperous society for all."
(Venkatesh Raghavendra is based in Virginia and facilitates partnership-building between India and the US in the area of philanthropy, entrepreneurship and higher education)
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