More than diplomacy and governmentto- government engagement, it lies in stronger people-to-people relations
THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN the United States and India has been a tumultuous one during the past 60 years. The ties between two of the world’s largest democracies suddenly declined to one of the lowest levels when Indian diplomat Devyani Khobragade was arrested in New York in 2013.
In January 2014, Washington and New Delhi were locked in a bitter diplomatic row over the Indian diplomat’s alleged exploitation of her housekeeper that ultimately saw the resignation of the US ambassador to India.
When the BJP won the election last year, the US, although still in the midst of a chill in Indo-US relations, reached out quickly with a phone call from President Barack Obama inviting the Indian PM-elect to the US. And it seemed like an eternity since the former leader of Gujarat was a persona non-grata in the US.
The idea that Obama would be the first American president to be the chief guest at India’s Republic Day parade this year was unthinkable just 12 months before that.
But the first six months of the Modi administration saw a dramatic surge in US-India engagement across the board, including PM Modi's visit to Washington in September 2014, and President Obama's return visit to Delhi in January 2015, making him the first US president to visit India twice during his presidency, and the firstever US leader visiting as chief guest at India's signature Republic Day celebrations. So is the US-India relationship now poised to be, as President Obama has predicted, “one of the defining relationships of the 21st century?”
The US and India have differing policy priorities in a number of key areas. However, there are equally, if not more powerful factors pulling the two sides together. On a range of issues, such as the rise of China and international terrorism, New Delhi and Washington are increasingly on the same page. The Modi-Obama relationship appears to have given new energy and new purpose to a strategic partnership.
The new US Ambassador to India, Richard Verma, is the first Indian-American to serve as Washington’s envoy to New Delhi. He is seen as the ideal diplomat to help further strengthen ties between the world’s oldest and largest democracies.
Verma’s nomination received widespread praise. Congressman Joe Crowley (D-NY), co-chair of the House Congressional Caucus on India and Indian-Americans, described Verma as “exactly who we need at the helm as we look further to strengthen US-India relations.”
People to people
However, I think it’s the people-to-people ties that will define the USIndia relationship in the 21st century, much more than diplomacy and government-to-government engagement, which will have its ups and downs. The US-India partnership is today bolstered by people-to-people relationship. In fact, the people of the two countries have outpaced the two governments in many respects.
In this context, the vast contributions Indian Americans have made to the US-India relationship by contributing to America’s progress in many ways and creating a respectable, positive image in the US about the Indian culture and India, cannot be overemphasised. Similarly, professionals from America are contributing to the progress of India. There are 27,000 US students studying in Indian educational institutions.
India and the US today enjoy a deep, friendly, and a mutuallybeneficial relationship, mainly because of people-to-people ties. A considerable number of Indian elites and opinion leaders were educated and built their professional track records in the US, and this is an important factor in facilitating mutual understanding.
India and the United States have maintained close and extensive non-governmental ties in three major areas: business, tourism, and education.
Business: B2B relationship between the US and India began to strengthen as soon as the Indian government began to liberalise its commerce and trade policies and globalised its economic vision. Many US companies made forays into India, and many Indian big companies were quick to open offices in the US, even buying several smaller US companies. Several people born and educated in India are at the helm of some of the biggest US corporations. The most interesting (and controversial) things are happening in the IT industry, however. Thousands of young, talented and hardworking Indian IT professionals brought to the US by big Indian IT companies such as TCS and Infosys are being increasingly seen as a threat to the domestic workforce.
Recently, Walt Disney World in Orlando and Southern California Edison, a power utility company, laid off hundreds of tech employees, who were replaced by temporary workers recruited by outsourcing firms based in India.
The question whether the current immigration policy in US is undermining Americans’ jobs, wages or working conditions is often under the US media focus. The largest number of H-1B visas (from the 65,000 annual quota) are issued every year to Indians. Education: One of the brightest areas of India-US people-to-people contact and relationship is the growing presence of Indian students on American campuses. Because of their sound, professional, and advanced systems and international esteem, American institutions of higher education have been the first choice for Indian students.
During the 2013-14 academic year, more than one lakh Indian students were enrolled in US institutions of higher education. For the past eight years, Indian students have been the second largest group of foreign students in the US after the Chinese. Last year, Indian students in the US contributed $3.3 billion to the US economy. They not only bring money, but a rich cultural tradition and heritage as well. Many universities celebrate international students’ day at their campuses that features dance, music and sampling of ethnic food. And guess what? Most times it’s the Bollywood dance that steals the show.
Bollywood dance is a new phenomenon that is spreading fast on the art and culture scene of America. Many young Americans are learning this modern Indian dance at Bollywood dance schools that have emerged in every big city in the US. Indian wedding has, in recent times, become a huge attraction in America. Once in a while, we hear about an American couple getting married Indian-style, with a Hindu priest and a Christian priest together solemnising the marriage — the bride and the groom attired in tradition Indian wedding dress bought online. Many Indian boutiques in big Indian cities are selling fabulous dresses online, too.
In April, the Indian wedding of US Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard in Hawaii was not surprising. The only Hindu in the US Congress, Tulsi had earlier taken her oath on the Gita.
Tourism: The two-way tourism traffic has been steadily increasing, too. Americans form the largest group of tourists visiting India — more than 1.1 million Americans visited India in 2013 on tourist visa. More than one million Indian are expected to visit the US this year. Medical tourism looks promising, too, as India is attracting people from many countries, including the US, for cheaper, yet high-class, medical treatment. And more people are taking an interest in India as the ultimate destination for spiritual tourism. India simplifying its visa rules is adding to the lure of India for tourists. E-visa is making it easier to visit India on a business or personal trip.
India’s cultural diplomacy to the US should be strengthened. Cultural flows between India and the United States have laid a solid foundation for social interactions between the two countries. Culture — including language, food, art, literature, music, films, and television — is also a major element of a country’s soft power. Given its rich cultural heritage, India should be devoted to outreach in this arena.