“He meets the tempest, storm-tossed soul, A flicker of courage makes him whole.”
“Victorious warriors win first and then go to war.” – Sun Tzu
Americans chose a president for America and we shouldn’t be bothered how they deal with their chief. Indian leaders are supposed to take care of their people and land on their own strength and sinews. It’s only in the middle of enormous challenges surrounded by dark clouds of assaults a warrior’s sword shines and trounces the elements of despair and dishonesty.
Narendra Modi has been put in this position by the unprecedented challenging historical circumstances. Taking a one billion plus people together, adjusting to the highly polarized public debates, tackling foreign funded conspiracies aimed to destabilize democratic polity, balancing with calmness the turbulent diplomatic turmoil and yet emerging a winner is what describes Modi in 2025.
After all the mischievous statements and X posts by Trump and his darbaris, Trump blinked first and Modi responded positively. We have had huge respects and love for the American great men and women- their lives and works have been taught to us since our childhood days in schools. Lincoln’s letter to the headmaster and his Gettysburg speech are common knowledge and often quoted in India, as are Thomas Jefferson’s law to ban conversions and Martin Luther King Jr’s famous ‘I have a dream’ speech.
No leader, however anti-India might have been – could ever erase that respect Indians have for the American people. The aberrations are a passing phase, damaging contemporary relations for a short time and forgotten soon. In this geopolitical situation Russia remains our best, time tested and trustworthy ally- and people know that.
On the other hand, Indians – who adopted USA as their dream land have contributed enormously to build an accommodating, progressive and value-based futuristic USA and I have often said in my talks and speeches in the USA that we are the people who never bomb an adopted nation- we give blood and sweat for the land’s flag we live in – that’s the identity and image of an Indian everywhere including the United States of America.
Trump, once hailed as the world leader, lowered his image in the eyes of every patriotic India by sharing meals with the butcher of Pahalgam tragedy and allowed him to issue nuclear threats from American soil.
But India watched carefully, continued to work to strengthen Indian options and walked the path of future as majestically as a Gir Lion.
No phone calls diplomacy was at its best displayed by the Indians.
Finally its impact was penned in a column appeared in the Jerusalem Post opinion piece by Zhack Shalom – titled – What Israel can learn from ‘Modi: National honour as strategic asset’ (https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-866557 ). There couldn’t have been a better compliment for Modi’s steadfastness, firm diplomacy and ‘no compromise policy’ on national interest than this coming from a friendliest nation to the USA on the planet.
Modi remained cool, calm and busy. Indians watched him closely, so attentively that his simple one liner – I have returned from a tour of Japan and China – drew instant thunderous applause in a news channel’s public show. He smiled, signaling he has understood that the people have understood the real meaning of his trip abroad. It was not the usual one.
We need not count each and every scheme he planned and executed in record time – In just over a year, 19.72 crore bank accounts were opened. 16.8 crore Rupay cards have been issued so far. There have been deposits worth Rs 28699.65 crores. A record 1,25,697 Bank Mitras (Bank Correspondents) have also been deployed. It also set the Guinness World Record for most bank accounts opened in one week -1,80,96,130.
Around 58 million non-corporate enterprises provided one 128 million jobs in India. 60% of them were in rural areas. Over 40% were owned by people from the Backward Classes and 15% by Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
The domestic and streetlight LED bulb programmes will help reduce the peak-load demand by nearly 22 GW, save 11,400crore units of electricity annually and bring about a reduction of 8.5 crore tons in carbon dioxide emissions every year.
India became the fastest growing large economy in the world under the NDA Government. It has been a historic year for the Indian Economy. From a period of low growth, high inflation and shrinking production, the NDA Government has not only strengthened our macro-economic fundamentals, but has also propelled the economy to a higher growth trajectory. India’s GDP growth rocketed to 7.4%, which is the fastest among all the large economies of the world.
India possesses substantial military power, ranking among the world’s strongest due to its massive volunteer army, nuclear triad, and significant defense budget. The Indian Armed Forces, comprising the Army, Navy, and Air Force, also emphasize indigenous defense production through the “Make in India” initiative to enhance self-reliance and meet growing maritime interests in the Indian Ocean region. India’s military exports have surged, reaching a record Rs 23,622 crore in FY 2024–25, a 34-fold increase from FY 2013–14, demonstrating a shift from being a major defense importer to a significant exporter to over 100 countries, including the US and France. Key Indian exports include Dornier aircraft, Chetak helicopters, bulletproof jackets, and the BrahMos missile system. The private sector plays a significant role, contributing substantially to these exports and aiming for Rs 50,000 crore in defence exports by 2029.
Reviving the nation’s memory and a sense of victory is a significant factor. Shifting parliament to a new building from the old colonial one, massive work to preserve manuscripts, bringing to the fore the great victory campaigns of Lachit Borphukan, Ahilya Bai and Suhel Dev, are just a few to mention in this regard. He is the first in the last three hundred years to observe officially by the Indian state Veer Bal Diwas is on December 26th to commemorate the martyrdom of the two younger sons of Guru Gobind Singh Ji, Sahibzada Zorawar Singh and Sahibzada Fateh Singh, in 1705. The Sahibzadas, aged 9 and 6, were martyred by being bricked alive in Sirhind for refusing to convert to Islam despite immense pressure and coercion from the Mughal forces.
Tribal heritage has also received significant attention through the establishment of 11 Tribal Freedom Fighters Museums across 10 states, alongside ethnographic museums showcasing tribal artefacts, attire, and traditions. For example, the Bhagwan Birsa Munda Memorial Park and Freedom Fighter Museum in Ranchi, and the Rani Gaidinliu Tribal Freedom Fighters Museum in Manipur honour the contributions of tribal leaders to India’s freedom struggle. These institutions preserve oral traditions, artefacts, and cultural practices, ensuring that the legacy of India’s indigenous communities is celebrated and safeguarded.
Cultural Identity.
In addition to the museum initiatives, the repatriation of 642 antiquities since 2014 – compared to just 13 before – has been a monumental achievement in restoring India’s stolen heritage. The signing of the Cultural Property Agreement with the United States in July 2024 exemplifies India’s commitment to curbing illicit trafficking of cultural treasures. These returned artefacts, ranging from ancient sculptures to sacred relics, are not mere objects but symbols of India’s civilisational continuity. Displaying them in museums, such as Vadnagar, allows Indians to reconnect with their cultural roots, fostering a sense of pride and ownership over our heritage.
World class highways, trains to the most difficult and challenging destinations like in Mizoram, shows Modi aims for the seemingly impossible goals and achieves them with his grit and steel will.
This certainly is Modi’s golden hour when he can prove his mettle and serve people in an extraordinary manner.
Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author’s own.
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