India’s Soft and Cultural Diplomacy – International Day of Equality

 

India’s Soft and Cultural Diplomacy – International Day of Equality

India’s is increasingly becoming an international player in the world affairs over the years and rightly so. MP Shashi Tharoor spoke about the Soft Power of India while delivering Dr.  L. M. Singhvi Memorial Lecture and focusing on India’s soft power, Dr. Tharoor observed, “As influence shifts increasingly from military and economic might to cultural and intellectual leadership, India’s soft power stands as a vital asset. We embody the true ideas and a vision of India that transcends borders. India's multicultural, multi-ethnic, multi-party, pluralistic civilization and democracy have emerged as

an attraction to many, especially our parliamentary institutions and procedures, conducting free and fair elections and our ability to involve the non-governmental sector and civil society in the quest for inclusive growth.” Shashi Tharoor rightly mentioned about the International Yoga Day which added colorful feathers to the hat of India’ Soft and Cultural Diplomacy. Similarly October 2, birthday of Mahatma Gandhi was declared as International Day of Non-violence on the initiative of India.

There may be many more such proposals and ideas to further strengthen India’s contribution in this regard. One such proposal is already on the table – April 14, birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality. The proposal is resting with the GOI (PMO/MEA) since June, 2015. Dr. Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar (1891-1956) is an international icon who fought against caste-based

discrimination and for social justice. He is considered a global icon in the fight against injustice and graded inequality.  It has been fully recognized by the world body, the UN. Describing B.R. Ambedkar, in April, 2016 at the celebrations of 125th birth anniversary of the leader as a global “icon” for marginalized people, a top UN official (UNDP Administrator Helen Clark voiced the world body’s commitment to working closely with India to help realize the noted Indian social reformer’s vision of empowerment and socio- economic equality. She added, “We are committed to continuing our very close partnership with India to help realize the vision of the 2030 Agenda and ensure that Ambedkar’s vision becomes reality for the poor and marginalized around the world.” These assertions of Helen Clark were made in New York in pursuance of the proposal on International Day of Equality in the presence of India’s then PR to UN, Syed Akbarudin and President of the Forum of Scheduled Caste MPs, Sardar Charanjit Singh Atwal who was nominated and sent by the GOI to present India at the function to felicitate the world icon, Babasaheb Ambedkar.

Since 2015, GOI is blissfully sleeping over the proposal to honour Babasaheb Ambedkar, one of the greatest sons of India in the contemporary times and shying away, it seems, from taking a decision and making a diplomatic demarche to UN to declare April 14, birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality.

It seems the maxim of ‘No Decision is also a decision’ is at play. The ruling dispensation has their own thinking and agenda about Babasaheb Ambedkar. They cannot ignore Ambedkar on one hand due to oblivious political reasons and on the other hand they tend to look the other way due to known socio-cultural and religious considerations. That preciously remained the factor that Ambedkar never got any recognition easily in the past too. But, as I wrote many a times in these columns earlier too, Babasaheb and his legacy is potent enough to steer clear his way and get his due space. Anybody who would try to overtake Ambedkar will do it at his own peril.

My immediate provocation to write this piece as reminder to the ruling dispensation and its mentors is that it has been reported in the media that the City Council of the City of Bedford in the UK has declared April 14, birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as the Day of

Equality in that important town of UK on taking a cue from our proposal to GOI to declare the day as International Day of Equality as supported by the Indian diaspora in UK led by Federation of Ambedkarite and Buddhist Organizations (FABO). It may not be out of place to add that many Cities and States in Canada, USA and in many more countries have already declared April 14 as the Day of Equality in their respective areas. I bow my head to my fellow Ambedkarites under the aegis of Chetna Association of Canada, the Ambedkar Times and the Desh Doaba of California in USA, FABO and the Samaj Weeky and the Asian Independent Media Group of UK among others who motivated their local interlocutors to declare the Day of Equality locally in the run up to realize our goal to honour Babasaheb Ambedkar as an international icon by the UN.

It goes without saying that the proposal to declare April 14, birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality is bound to get an over-whelming international support at the UN as and when GOI decides to take the matter to the world body. The proposal not

only conforms to aims and objectives of the UN but also its agenda of establishing an ’Equitable World Order’. Soft and Cultural Diplomacy of India will come to the center stage once again as pleaded by MP Shashi Tharoor and rightly so.

I close this with an Urdu couplet with the hope that the GOI under the stewardship of PM Narendra Modi and EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar, my senior colleague in the IFS fraternity, will rise to the occasion and take a decision to honour Babasaheb Ambedkar.  The Sooner the better.

हर दर्दमंद दिल को रोना मेरा रुला दे

बेहोश जो पड़े हैं शयाद उने जगा दे

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

 

Justice Delayed is Justice Denied

The media report on March 18 regarding the death sentence to three men for killing 24 dalits in a village in the Mainpuri district of UP is an immediate provocation to write this piece to register my

unhappiness and regret on the functioning of our judiciary and related administrative machinery.  The Tribune story reads, inter alia, as under

“A gang of 17 dacoits led by Santosh Singh alias Santosha and Radhey Shyam alias Radhey dressed in khakis stormed Dehuli at around 4.30 pm on November 18, 1981.

They targeted Dalit families, gunning down 24 people, including the toddlers aged six months and two years.

The original FIR named 17 accused under Sections 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), and 396 (dacoity with murder), among other offences of the IPC.

Of the total accused, 13 people died during the pendency of trial whereas one was declared an absconder.

The FIR was filed by Laik Singh, a local resident, on November 19, 1981, and following a detailed investigation, the dacoits, including gang leaders Santosh and Radhey, were charge sheeted.

Shukla said he pleaded for capital punishment in view of the gruesome massacre and the case falling in the rarest of rare category.

He said the judge after considering the evidence and hearing the arguments of the prosecution and the defense at length passed the verdict.

The media report also added “In response to the tragedy, then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi met the affected families whereas Atal Bihari Vajpayee, the leader of the opposition, undertook a Padyatra from Dihuli to Sadupur in Firozabad, offering solidarity with the grieving families.”

I have given the details of the case purposely as more than 4 decades have elapsed and public memory is short. One can also imagine that the two PMs of India had gone to the village to offer sympathies and solidarity with the people at the receiving end. What could have been the reasons for the excessive delay in delivering justice? Here comes the importance of the famous maxim “Justice delayed is justice denied” - a legal point that means if justice is not provided in a timely manner, it is no justice at all. It was said by the British PM William Gladstone in 1868.

The phrase “Justice Delayed is Justice Denied” holds profound significance, especially in India, where delays in the judicial process have long been a pressing issue. Timely justice is a cornerstone of fairness and equity in any legal system. However, when justice is delayed, it often leads to its denial, causing emotional and financial strain on individuals, undermining public trust, and eroding the effectiveness of the justice system. I don’t think our forefathers intended to give us this kind of judicial dispensation.

The reasons behind justice delayed are deeply rooted in systemic inefficiencies, procedural complexities, and insufficient resources. Delayed justice not only causes emotional distress but also undermines faith in the legal system. To address these challenges, comprehensive reforms are needed. While the issue of justice delayed continues to challenge the Indian legal system, it is time to sit and think to improve and reform the system. The systemic and procedural drawbacks and weaknesses in the system are to checked on one hand but infusion of moral and constitutional values are to be injected in our judicial functioning.

There may be many more such cases where justice had been delayed and denied as in the case of dalits in Mainpuri in UP under reference. One such case which comes to my mind, off hand, is the case of Sikh Riots in Delhi in 1984. Many governments have come and gone but the aggrieved and affected families could not get justice. It is a

matter of shame for ‘we the people of India’. Our constitution provides for the ‘Rule of law’ and not the dictum of ‘Show me the face and I will show you the law’. Our courts are unduly sensitive to criticism. We must read and follow the famous quote of Louis D. Brandeis, “If we desire respect for the law, we must first make the law respectable.”  I conclude with an assertion of Frederick Douglas, ‘Where justice is denied, where poverty is enforced, where ignorance prevails, and where any one class is made to feel that society is not an organized conspiracy to oppress, rob and degrade them, persons nor property will be safe.”

मुंसिफ़ हो अगर तुम तो कब इंसाफ़ करोगे
मुजरिम हैं अगर हम तो सज़ा क्यूँ नहीं देते

 

Manyawar Kanshi Ram – Time to Resurrect Him

 

Manyawar Kanshi Ram – Time to Resurrect Him

Kanshi Ram (1934-2006), popularly called Babu ji or Manyawar out of reverence by his followers, was a leader of his own standing. He spear headed the Bahujan Samaj Movement from A1970s onwards and made the Movement a force to reckon with in the polity and society of India at large under the banner of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). He left the scene in his untimely death rather prematurely in

2006 due to a brain stroke he suffered a couple years prior his passing away. Kanshi Ram steered the ‘Caravan’ of Shahu ji Maharaj, Jyotirao Phule and Babasaheb Ambedkar with utmost dedication and devotion and also vision. Babasaheb Ambedkar set the agenda of the empowerment and dignity of the marginalized sections of the society with great struggle against all socio-political and religious-cultural odds through. It was Kanshi Ram who transformed and executed the agenda into reality on ground with his sheer stint of hard work and down to earth approach as a son of the soil. BSP became one of the largest and national recognized political outfits of India from 1980s to 2010. It formed governments for the record four times in UP, the biggest State of India and established its political presence in MP, Rajasthan, Bihar, Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, J&K, Himachal Pradesh and some States in the Southern and Western India. Kanshi Ram awakened the masses of the Bahujan Samaj, the socially and economically marginalized segments of the society and made them stand for their due political space in the power structures of the country. The political big-wigs of all political hues listened to him with care and respect in spite of the fact that he was said to be so blunt and strait in his political discourse with his famous line “either put up or shut up”. His political acumen and pragmatism may be assessed from his political and economic philosophy from his loud and clear thinking – Vote Hamara; Raj Tumhara; Nahin Chalega Nahin Chalega – Jis Ki Jitni Sankhya Bhari; Utni Uski Hissedari. Sensing the emerging political scenario, he said that he did not want ‘a Majbbot Sarkar but a Majboor Sarkar’ with reference to register and obtain political and socio-economic rights of the weaker sections of the society. He was a political strategist par excellence. I am reminded of his reply to a question of the media regarding BSP’s manifesto with regard to elections in Punjab – my manifesto is ‘Shri Guru Granth Sahib’. Kanshi Ram had a special knack to make unexpected but practical observations on the current affairs.

Alas, Kanshi Ram took leave of us, we people of the marginalized masses of India, while the ‘Caravan’ of Babasaheb which he steered ahead was yet to take the desired speed. The anointed Heirs of his big

legacy led by Behn Mayawati and her coterie could not hold and stand their ground in the face of big challenges on the way due to one reason or the other. They failed Kanshi Ram and lost their way. I will not dwell on these details for the sake of brevity as all the details are available in the public domain.

I thought of writing this piece, in this background, as my humble tribute to Manyawar Kanshi Ram on his birth anniversary on March 15. The recent political developments with regard to the leadership issues of the BSP have set the ball in motion. My blog of March 5, 2025 “Turning Point in the Dalit Samaj Politics - with regard to these developments may be accessed at: https://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2025/03/turning-point-in-dalit-samaj-politics.html

It seems that the situation has come full circle and it is time to resurrect Kanshi Ram and his legacy if we are interested in establishing an egalitarian and equitable political and socio-economic order in India transform our political democracy, as stipulated in the

Constitution, into social and economic democracy as visualized by Babasaheb Ambedkar. I leave it here with the hope that political leadership and also the intelligentsia of the community would rise to the occasion and pick up the threads to realize the lofty vision of one of the astute and able leaders in the contemporary times, Babu Kanshi Ram –

Badi Mushkil Se Hota Hai; Chaman Mein Didwar Paida

Turning Point in the Dalit Samaj Politics – Realignment of Political Forces

 

Turning Point in the Dalit Samaj Politics – Realignment of Political Forces

 

Politics is a game of possibilities. Kanshi Ram explored and exploited these possibilities fully during his life time before his health deteriorated in the early years of 2010s. He made the Bahujan Movement an important phase in the fast changing political scenario of India under the banner of BSP. Taking advantage of the ill health of a visionary and politically astute leader, Kanshi Ram, Mayawati

and her coterie, under the guise of owning the legacy of Kanshi Ram, made the BSP a family fiefdom to appropriate ill-gotten economic assets to their personal advantage. The lofty mission of Kanshi Ram was lost on the way.  The ‘Caravan’ of Babasaheb Ambedkar which Kanshi Ram was pulling and pushing forward with great ability and visible success was halted. It is matter of regret and remorse. There is no point in harping on the negative and self-centered approaches of the coterie and Mayawati herself which brought the BSP to its current status of ‘non-entity’. The machinations of the ruling elite exploited the situation fully to negate and defeat the egalitarian
agenda of bringing about an equitable social order initiated by Babasaheb and steered by Kanshi Ram by using the dictum of ‘Sham, Daam, Dand, Bhed’. They succeed in breaking the backbone of the Bahujan Movement of Kanshi Ram by exploiting Mayawati, who herself was a leader to reckon with otherwise, over her allegedly

ill-gotten financial fortunes. She could not face and withstand these blows of her political rivals and succumbed to the pressures. The ground reality is amply clear. There is no point in stressing the point further. I took the courage of writing this as apolitical analyst and a stakeholder in the affairs of the weaker sections of the society and its empowerment without any ill-will towards Mayawati and her coterie. I have no claim that I have any inside information or knowledge. I am dwelling my thoughts on the information available in the public domain only.

The immediate provocation to write this piece is the standoff between Mayawati and Akash Anand. It seems it would be a turning point in the dalit samaj politics. Change, in the process, is an imminent offshoot of the evolving situation. BSP and Mayawati have failed Kanshi Ram in the pursuit of her vested interests without caring for the larger interests of the community as initiated by Babasaheb Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram. BSP and its leadership have lost steam. Its vote share has come to naught. It has come to such a pass that BSP has become irrelevant in the political scene of the country. There is no possibility in sight that BSP can retrieve its lost position with the current leadership at the helm. The redeeming aspect in the process appears to be the young and educated lot like Chander Shekhar Azad, Akash Anand, Chirag Paswan, Raj Rattan Ambedkar among others who should shed all inhibitions and join hands in carrying forward

the ‘Caravan’ of Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram. It is a difficult task. But there is no other way out if the dalits and the weaker sections of the society – the Bahujan Samaj and the minorities like the Muslims, Sikhs, Buddhists, Christians and others are to be integrated with the mainstream of the polity and economy and also the society large. The emerging political and socio-cultural situation is getting polarized on the basis of religious and sectarian considerations. The answer to this lies in getting together as a coalition of Dalits, Ati-backwards, Muslims and other minorities as a counter weight to the Hindutava ground realities. In the given situation, the Hindutava bandwagon has no wherewithal and intension to accommodate and integrate the socially weaker sections of the society and the minorities to the main stream of the society. Caste and graded inequality is the hallmark of the Hindu establishment and ethos and it will remain so in the years to come for a long time.

The followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram are law abiding citizens. They are interested in making India – a Socialists, Secular and Democratic India as stipulated in the Preamble of the Constitution of India. To begin with, the like-minded political and social leaders shall get together to face the challenges of the future. The new generation under the leadership of the likes of Chander

Shekhar Azad, Akash Anand, Raj Rattan Ambedkar, Asaduddin Owaissi among others shall consider and exploit the emerging political scenario to challenge the forces of ‘caste and graded inequality’ to secure ‘Justice, Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’, the lofty vision of our forefathers led by Babasaheb Ambedkar and Kanshi Ram and others. The new movement may spread pan-India in due course. A beginning may be made in Northern region, the Hindi heartland.

It is said ‘well begun is half done’. Let us hope the new leadership of the marginalized segments of the society consider and take note of the ground reality’s and act; the sooner the better. It will be a

befitting tribute to the memory of Manyawar Kanshi Ram on his birth anniversary on March 15. I conclude with a poetic assertion of Allama Iqbal –

Zara Dekh Uss Ko Jo Kuch Ho Raha Hai, Hone Wala Hai
Dhara Kya Hai Bhala Ehd-e-Kuhan Ki Dastnon Mein

Pay attention to what is happening and what is going to happen
What good there is in repeating the tales of the old glories?

 

 

 

 

Punjabi Likhari Sabha Jalandhar – Poetic Naman to Guru Ravidass

 

Punjabi Likhari Sabha Jalandhar – Poetic Naman to Guru Ravidass

 

Punjabi Likhari Sabha Jalandhar is an apex body of poets and literary personalities of in and around Jalandhar engaged in nurturing the poetic urges of the concerned while promoting and serving their mother tongue, Punjabi. The Sabha is headed by a prominent literary man, Harbhajan Singh Nahal and ably steered by Param Dass Heer as its General Secretary and supported by Beant Singh Sarhadi, a known figure in the socio-cultural and spiritual life of Jalandhar and beyond.

As in the successive years, the Likhari Sabha celebrated the Gurpurab of Guru Ravidass on February 15 by dedicating their monthly Mushiyara to the great Guru. They were kind enough to invite me to the Mushiyara as the Chief Guest in spite of the fact that I am not a poet of any sort. More than 15 poets read and recited their compositions on Guru Ravidass’s Bani and Legacy and also the

larger message to the humanity. It clearly came out that Guru Ravidass stood for “Haq Te Sach Di Awaz” as termed by one of poets and rightly so. The Mushiyara was so engaging that there was hardly any time left to listen to the renowned literary and academic invitees sitting at the High-table. President Harbhajan Singh Nahal had to struggle to manage and give time to each one of us to conclude the event.

Prof. Baldev Singh Balli spoke with conviction and shared his latest poem on the theme of Guru Ravidass’;s concept of “Begumpura - a State without ‘Sorrow”. Prof. Baldev Singh Badhan also spoke

briefly but with full insight of the thought and philosophy of Guru Ravidass. Prof. Navtej Gardhiwal, a scholar and researcher on Guru Ravidass’s life and philosophy wanted to say and share much on the occasion but time constraints came in. Both Prof. Badhan and Prof. Navtej Gardhiwal presented their books of poetry and prose to me as ‘Food for Thought”. By the time my turn came as the last speaker, it was already too late and sensing the mood of the audience as a career diplomat, I took recourse to the poetic assertion of Allma Iqbal –

Pardon Mein Jo Pinha Hai: Chasme Beena Dekh Latti Hai,

Jamane Ki Tabiat Ka Taqaza Dekh Latti Hai.

 

 I kept myself very brief and said that Guru Ravidass’s Bani is as potent and relevant today as it was 6 centuries ago. And added that the present political or administrative dictum of ‘Democratic

Socialism’ was given and propounded by the great Guru in his Bani as “Begumpur Shaher Ka Naon” and ‘Aisa Chaun Raj Mein; Yahan Mile Saban Ko Ann, Chot Bade Sab Sam Vashen; Ravidass Rahe Parsan.

If India that is Bharat is to realize its aspiration to become “Vikshit Bharat” in the years to come, ‘We the People of India’ must strive to understand and follow the teachings of Guru Ravidass on brotherhood, fraternity, samrasta and equitable world order as the great Guru said -

Keh Ravidass Khalas Chamara,

Jo Hm Shehari Who Meet Hamara

 

Tasty bites of snacks with hot Kesar Milk were served courtesy; the down to earth but humble owner of Sasta Iron, Surjit Singh, an accomplished poet himself.

 

 

 

It is time to remind - International Day of Equality

It is time to remind - International Day of Equality

I wrote my last blog on the subject of April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality which may be accessed at:http://diplomatictitbits.blogspot.com/2024/10/ambedkar-ka-jadu-sar-chad-kar-bolega.html

Since then, nothing much has happened except a brief acknowledgement from the Ministry of External Affairs. But Ambedkar, due to one reason or the other, remained in news; first because of the parliamentary and assembly elections and second in the wake of the 75th anniversary year of the adoption of the Constitution of India on November 26, 1949.

The Government of PM Narendra Modi, thoughtfully, decided to observe Constitution Day in a befitting manner and rightly so. There was an interesting but acrimonious debate on the Constitution of India in both the Houses of Parliament. Obviously, Babasaheb Ambedkar remained in focus of the debate. It became amply clear that the future of emerging India would hover around Ambedkar in the years to come. There is no way out - Ambedkar Ka Jadoo Sar Chadkar Bolega.

An immediate provocation to write again came from the media report in the Tribune about a function arranged by BJP’s dalit face in Punjab, Vijay Sampla as an exercise in damage control on allegedly uncharitable remarks made by Home Minister, Amit Shah on Ambedkar while participating the debate in the Parliament. I quote from the news item, “Tarun Chugh, national general secretary of the BJP, said this while addressing a gathering at a programme titled ''Ambedkar ko Samarpit Modi" organised by the Sampla Foundation today. Chugh said giving a befitting tribute to Ambedkar, the Modi government developed five key sites related to Baba Ambedkar. Dr

Ambedkar's Janma Bhoomi in Mhow, his cremation place Chaitya Bhoomi in Mumbai, Shiksha Bhoomi – place in London where he studied, Deeksha Bhoomi – the place in Nagpur where he embraced Buddhism and Mahaparinirvan Bhoomi – the place in Delhi where he passed away.” The Congress Party has responded with a new slogan to own the legacy of Ambedkar “Jai Bapu - Jai Bhim - Jai Savidhan” The ongoing campaign for Delhi Elections has, as usual, invoked Ambedkar’s name in wooing the dalit vote banks. It is certain that a swing of 2-3% of dalit votes would make or unmake the chances of capturing the reins of power in Delhi. Maybe the ruling BJP may like to take the decision to honour the greatest icon of India to enjoy the resultant dividend at the EVMs in Delhi.

In this background, I take the liberty of reminding the BJP and the Government of PM Narendra Modi on the proposal on declaring April 14, birthday of Babasaheb Ambedkar, as International Day of Equality under the aegis of the UN. It will

not only be a good gesture to assuage the ruffled and hurt

sentiments of the followers of Babasaheb Ambedkar in the wake of the alleged uncharitable observations by the top leadership of BJP but also a befitting tribute to the memory of one of the greatest sons of India, Babasaheb Ambedkar in run up to the celebrations of the 75th Anniversary of the Constitution of India of which he was chief architect.

 Let us come out of the lip service and do something concrete to realise the lofty ideals of our polity “Equality, Liberty and Fraternity”

Ik Tarze Tagafil Hai, So Woh Unko Mubarak,

Ik Arje Tamana Hai, Woh Hum Karte Rahange.

Musing from Stockholm - As I Please

Musing from Stockholm - As I Please

I am in Stockholm on a family visit. Yesterday, January 20, was the swearing in of the US President Donald Trump. I was watching the special coverage of the event by the Indian TV Channel, Aaj Tak anchored by Anjana Om Kashyap from Washington. While seeing the show, an usual aspect came to my mind, the issue or point of Indian identity.

I felt that, of late, we are perhaps losing our national identity as Indians or Bharatias giving way to our denominational identity as Hindus, Sikhs, Christians, Muslims etc. Are we heading in the right direction? The answer is ‘No’, to my mind. The next

obvious question which arises is as to what is the reason that our national identity as Indians is being eroded? In the Aaj Tak show, Anchor Anjana spoke to some Indian prominents living in the US. One Sikh turbaned gentleman spoke and underlined his Sikh identity as ‘Sikhs for Trump’. One clean shaven Hindu, emphasised his Hindu identity in support of Donald Trump. An Indian origin politician of the Republican Party, Lady Nath also spoke about her denominational identity rather than her national identity. I could not understand the logic and reason for this narrow approach undermining our national identity as Indians or Bhartias. One immediate and off the cuff response to assess the situation comes to my mind - our Caste based social hierarchy and increasing denominational divide back home in India. On one hand, we profess our traditional thought and philosophy of ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’ but on the other we easily succumb to our narrow identity as Hindus, Sikhs, Muslims, Christians etc.. Our identity as Indians get lost in the process. I leave it here as some ‘Food for Thought’. The father of the Indian Constitution, Babasaheb Ambedkar said and rightly so that we should be Indians first and Indians last to save and nurture the concept of Bharat.

It was a matter of gratification to note that EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar, while representing India at the ceremony, was

given all due respect by the Trump Administration. It bodes well for India-US relations.

Yet another point which came to fore while seeing swearing in ceremony of President Donald Trump was - we feel proud and elated as Indians when Kamala Harris, Usha Vance, Ramaswamy among others find mention in the corridors of power and rightly so but turn the other way when back home, Sonia Gandhi claims her right to the top of the hierarchy as an Indian. It is time to remove this contradiction. I conclude with a poetic assertion of Allma Iqbal -

Aa ġhairiyat ke parde ik baar phir uThā deñ

bichhḌoñ ko phir milā deñ naqsh-e-duī miTā deñ

Suunī paḌī huī hai muddat se dil kī bastī

aa ik nayā shivāla is des meñ banā deñ

Duniyā ke tīrathoñ se ūñchā ho apnā tīrath

Dāmān-e-āsmāñ se is kā kalas milā deñ