Some claim that I was "ecstatic" about Trump 2.0, but now I'm suddenly not.
Well, that's somewhat putting words in my mouth.
I live in India, and Trump means nothing to me—nor does Modi, for that matter.
From my perspective, Trump didn't win by fluke. As a second-time candidate, he was under the spotlight with cameras on him, so voters evaluated him carefully.
I was ecstatic about his promises, not the man himself, on three broad fronts, that he'll:
1) Be good friends with Russia.
2) Be not-so-good friends with China.
3) Go after the Islamist terror networks.
As a politically conscious and geopolitically aware Indian, all three suited my tastes perfectly. Besides, I had his first term as reference.
It was he who got Israel and the UAE to become friends—both of who are our buddies. The I2U2 got tailwinds under Trump 1.0.
Now, let's look at Trump 2.0.
During wartime, a leader's ratings in America are typically elevated. Yet, his popularity is super low—in fact, it was low even before the war. He holds the distinction of being a president with the lowest first-year popularity.
So, notwithstanding the evaluation, he's made Americans outside the MAGA inner circle equally unhappy, including his capitalist superstar buddy, Elon Musk.
That president Trump has truly betrayed candidate Trump—and disproportionately so—by undoing what he did in his first term and not adhering to his promises, would be an understatement. That's a high aberration, even by a long-career politician's standards.
On me idolizing Modi.
Well, let's go deeper. In India, we're smitten by the ways of the US but still locked in some outdated political correctness.
We the educated don't discuss politics as openly, and we pretend it's not the single most important factor in deciding a nation's destiny.
In the US, it's opined about by university provosts, iconic folks during music and movie awards, and big business house leaders who officially host or attend donation luncheons in support of candidates.
In India, you'd be chastised.
The term "Modi bhakt" slur is a prime example. It's not out of blind bhakti, as implied by those on the opposite camp.
At best, it's name-calling by those who can't distinguish between fans of the man and worshippers of this sacred land. In particular, Modi baiters can't articulate why it's worthwhile to also be a fan of some other politician in the opposition, as they can't really showcase adequate virtues there.
I think the Modi detractors are locked in some moral world of their own personal reality, so they take a stand where they unabashedly sit, no matter what the evidence to counter their position.
Well, they better get it: Modi's unabashed clarion call for "India First," "Atmanirbhar Bharat," and "Viksit Bharat" serves the Bharat bhakt creed well.
BTW, that became possible simply because Congress vacated that place in favor of short-term vote-bank politics.
India is a young country and a country of the young.The slogans Bharat Mata Ki Jai and Vande Mataram were distinctly under Congress' ownership at one time; today's young generation can't believe it as true.
In a trade-warring, deglobalizing world, nationalism is sexy—very, very sexy.
A servant of the nation who delivers on promises is worthy of being idolized!
