The Age of Truth

When both, The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, run op-eds that come down on the same side of the same issue on the very same day – it feels like you have died and gone to heaven! I experienced this state of nirvana today, which is ironically the traditional day for the vernal equinox or the start of spring. But I am getting ahead of myself…

Robert D. Blackwill, who was the U.S. ambassador to India from 2001-2003, and deputy national security adviser for strategic planning in 2003-2004, wrote an op-ed entitled, “A New Deal for New Delhi” in the March 21, 2005 edition of The Wall Street Journal. Larry Pressler, who is a former Republican senator from South Dakota, wrote an op-ed entitled, “Dissing Democracy in Asia” in the March 21, 2005 edition of The New York Times.

Both these editorials basically say what every Indian-American has been pining for the past decade or more – and, pardon me for using a worn-out cliché one more time - it’s about time that the world’s oldest democracy and the world’s largest democracy “hooked up” in a more meaningful relationship. The Bush Doctrine, which in its second term incarnation – is more sensible and appealing – puts liberty and democracy in the forefront of U.S. foreign policy. Mr. Pressler calls for “a fundamental policy shift for the subcontinent” that “should enthusiastically improve our treatment of India”, “favor India in all major regional disputes”, “help India match China's arms buildup”, and “work toward a modified free-trade agreement with India”. Mr. Blackwill wants to “integrate India into the evolving global nonproliferation regime as a friendly nuclear weapons state”, “sell India civil nuclear reactors”, “enter into a vigorous long-term program of space cooperation with India”, “sell advanced weaponry to India”, “support India as a permanent member of the Security Council”, and “initiate an intense and secret discussion with India regarding the future of Pakistan”.

As a Hindu, I am inclined to believe that in the Vedic cycle of life, “Satya Yuga” or the “Age of Truth” has finally returned. If this were a dream, I wouldn’t want anybody to wake me up!