This is an extract from an interview of Naresh Chandra, former Ambassador to the US. The interview was conducted by India Abroad in Nov. 2002 and deals largely with how he and his staff coped with repairing relations with the US post-Pokhran (nuclear tests by India). I love this answer -- read on.
Q. During Jaswant Singh's tenure as External Affairs Minister, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Congress alleged that American influence was more visible in India than before, American diplomats are now openly going to Kashmir to talk to separatist leaders. How do you view that perception?
A. I am worried about the level of apprehension in India. We give long lectures to Americans about talking to Iran. On Iraq we express different views. On CTBT we were along and still shouting at the U.S. So what's the problem? How many Americans are coming here [to India]? I feel more should come. If we have just ten Americans here we start feeling apprehensive. We have ten thousand Indians working at NASA and they don't have fears.
You can't have it both ways. This is not a reflection of our diplomacy or what's happening. It's a reflection of the actual state of affairs in terms of who is more powerful. Of course, they are more powerful. What's the problem? If we behave in this fashion how do you deal with Nepal or Bangladesh? Their politicians say the same thing about India and we feel very bad.
The problem does not lie in American diplomats. The problem lies in the fact that in every field they are more powerful than you are. So change it! By not meeting them, will you become more powerful? It is a sign of immaturity as a nation when we show nervousness when diplomats visit us. That guy will come and try to influence us and will go back. Why should he influence you? And why are you not able to influence him? Then we should shut down our missions and build a Great Wall of China all around us and live in peace like a frog in a well.
Americans will come, we will have to learn to live with them and deal with them.
In Indira Gandhi's time, they came in fewer numbers. How did it help us? Fewer they come, more F-16s would go to Pakistan. If they don't come here, they don't understand you. And if they go often to Pakistan, they become friendly with them.
I thoroughly reject the theory that American big brother diplomats are coming and influencing us. Take your mind back. President [Linden Baines] Johnson pressurized India when he gave us PL480 aid. Do you know what was the pressure? The pressure was to take money out of heavy industry into agriculture.
They were here in the hundreds. They were all saying 'bring about the green revolution.'
Advice from outside does not mean that it is bad. We are giving advice to Nepal in harvesting water for hydraulic power. We are advising Bangladesh to exploit its oil reserves. They are saying exactly the same thing about Indians what people here say about the Americans. I have faith in the Indian people and politicians that they can handle American diplomats. There is no problem.
Our guys should deal with them on equal terms; but not dealing with them is a self-defeating thing. We want to be a member of the Security Council and we are afraid to receive American officials in New Delhi! People will laugh. Such a cowardly nation - how can it deserve to be a permanent member of the Security Council! We have to behave confidently. America will see American interests, we should see ours. If you are suspicious then the game is over. You have to push your case and be vigilant. We should say we will act in India's interest.
Q. During Jaswant Singh's tenure as External Affairs Minister, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Congress alleged that American influence was more visible in India than before, American diplomats are now openly going to Kashmir to talk to separatist leaders. How do you view that perception?
A. I am worried about the level of apprehension in India. We give long lectures to Americans about talking to Iran. On Iraq we express different views. On CTBT we were along and still shouting at the U.S. So what's the problem? How many Americans are coming here [to India]? I feel more should come. If we have just ten Americans here we start feeling apprehensive. We have ten thousand Indians working at NASA and they don't have fears.
You can't have it both ways. This is not a reflection of our diplomacy or what's happening. It's a reflection of the actual state of affairs in terms of who is more powerful. Of course, they are more powerful. What's the problem? If we behave in this fashion how do you deal with Nepal or Bangladesh? Their politicians say the same thing about India and we feel very bad.
The problem does not lie in American diplomats. The problem lies in the fact that in every field they are more powerful than you are. So change it! By not meeting them, will you become more powerful? It is a sign of immaturity as a nation when we show nervousness when diplomats visit us. That guy will come and try to influence us and will go back. Why should he influence you? And why are you not able to influence him? Then we should shut down our missions and build a Great Wall of China all around us and live in peace like a frog in a well.
Americans will come, we will have to learn to live with them and deal with them.
In Indira Gandhi's time, they came in fewer numbers. How did it help us? Fewer they come, more F-16s would go to Pakistan. If they don't come here, they don't understand you. And if they go often to Pakistan, they become friendly with them.
I thoroughly reject the theory that American big brother diplomats are coming and influencing us. Take your mind back. President [Linden Baines] Johnson pressurized India when he gave us PL480 aid. Do you know what was the pressure? The pressure was to take money out of heavy industry into agriculture.
They were here in the hundreds. They were all saying 'bring about the green revolution.'
Advice from outside does not mean that it is bad. We are giving advice to Nepal in harvesting water for hydraulic power. We are advising Bangladesh to exploit its oil reserves. They are saying exactly the same thing about Indians what people here say about the Americans. I have faith in the Indian people and politicians that they can handle American diplomats. There is no problem.
Our guys should deal with them on equal terms; but not dealing with them is a self-defeating thing. We want to be a member of the Security Council and we are afraid to receive American officials in New Delhi! People will laugh. Such a cowardly nation - how can it deserve to be a permanent member of the Security Council! We have to behave confidently. America will see American interests, we should see ours. If you are suspicious then the game is over. You have to push your case and be vigilant. We should say we will act in India's interest.
posted by yash | 12:59 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home