Owner’s Pride – Neighbour’s Envy: Is India Facing International Conspiracy?

Leadership during Independence

“Owner’s Pride; Neighbour’s Envy” used to be a  popular slogan in 80s to brand a TV.  The same logic applies to India too, as a brand today. 

In the past few years, we have been hearing about International conspiracy theories to damage the India’s economics and image. Though it is getting debated over three decades, a fact remains that India is emerging as one of the largest economies of the world with talented human resources. At the time of Indian Independence in 1947, Winston Churchill was reported to have remarked, ”all Indian leaders will be of low caliber and men of straw.” While giving freedom to India, British regime gave an  option to 500 plus Samasthans to either join India or Pakistan or to remain Independent.  British regime  thought India would break into several pieces and the leaders would find this unmanageable.  After Independence, Indian leaders proved their leadership skills and  brought together all the 500 plus Samasthans under Indian republic, thanks to Sardar Vallabhai Patel. 

India’s growth story

Over 75 years, India has been growing steadily and strongly, under various Governments - proving wrong the statement of Winston Churchill. India has emerged as the largest democracy in the world with more than 800 million citizens electing the Central Government, that too through EVMs. The change of power from one party to the other has been very smooth in the last 75 years.  India developed her own written Constitution which saved the country from many crises. The Constitutional bodies like Supreme Court and Election Commission have remained independent.

After the liberalization in 1991, India is emerging slowly and steadily as one of the vibrant economies of the world. Today, we are in the fifth position, pushing even UK down.  On several occasions, when the political crisis happens, our leaders have shown resilience and resolved the crisis within the framework of  the Constitution and also with the guidance of Supreme Court.  India has shown the supremacy in Science & Technology and in its rich cultural heritage. Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) are heading many Multi-National Companies (MNCs) and political system in various countries. With nearly 130-crore population and with multiple caste, language and culture, India has shown unity in diversity, due to the attitude of the people. On the other hand, neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Nepal are not able to maintain their economy and political system properly. 

Even during the Covid time, India was able to vaccinate all the citizens with two or even three doses, besides sparing vaccine to some of the needy countries. India was able to reduce the death rate due to the proper management of the health system, while advanced countries suffered heavily.

Traditionally, some of the advanced countries do not like India to grow and become a super power in the globe. In the past few years Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is emerging as a strong global leader. He is being carefully listened to by both America and Russia.  India did not yield to pressure of America to stop import of oil from Russia. 

Naturally, all the efforts to damage the image of India are being done by vested interests outside the country. The recent Hindenburg report on Adani, George Soros statement against India and the BBC documentary on Gujarat riots can be quoted as some  of the strategies to damage the image of the country and that of the Indian Prime Minister. There are people who defend these reports in India and keep debating them in media. 

Past examples

Even earlier, there were continuous protests against Koodangulam Nuclear Plant in the UPA Government. The then UPA Government termed this as global conspiracy. Construction of six nuclear reactors with capacity of 6000 MW was unduly delayed due to protests by the local people.  The then  Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh blamed 3 NGOs using foreign funds to trigger the protests in India. 

In 2018, Sterlite Copper was closed at Thoothukudi (Tamil Nadu) due to protests by local people quoting environmental reasons.  The closure of this unit has resulted in the increase of import of refined copper from 0.44 lakh tonnes in 2017-18 to 1.52 lakh tonnes in 2019-20.  Same way our exports got reduced from 3.78 lakh tonnes in 2017-18 to 0.37 lakh tonnes in 2019-20. 

USING Indians to damage India

India’s growth and robust democracy is an eye sore to many of the developed countries.  Naturally, they would pump in money through various Indian NGOs and make use of Indian citizens, media and political parties for their advantage.  Innocently, our own Indian citizens, media and political parties knowingly or unknowingly help them to carry out the protests against the interest of the country. For example, the recent protests against CAA and Agricultural bill on a false narrative has created more damages.  There are reports of invisible foreign hand in these protests.

Unfortunately, our own Indian mainline and social media  play a role against the interest of the nation, supporting the invisible enemies under the pretext of environment protection, freedom of expression, social justice, etc. 

Indian Foreign Minister Dr Jaishankar has also in his recent interview to ANI confirmed that some forces were making clever attempts to damage India’s image globally. He felt that more than the conspiracy, politics was behind them.

Role of Indian media and political parties

Whether it is conspiracy or politics, we see a clear design to damage India’s economy and image through our own people. Indian media including social media users  and political parties should think beyond their self interest and not to be part of invisible hands that are damaging India.