prasad1
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According to the Henley Passport Index, India’s ranking has fallen from a high of 74 in 2010 to 86 in 2019. International awards pouring in for PM Modi hasn’t helped. But what people see is bonhomie
Today, if anyone was to ask an Indian ‘How is the josh?’ she/he would in all likelihood stand up, salute and say, ‘High Sir’.
This response has apparently got to do with the success of the Bollywood commodification of the surgical strikes against Pakistan and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi using it as an India-coming-of age statement.
And there is every reason for Indian citizens to be on a high. Article 370 has been abrogated with ease and without an international peep. This, besides suggesting BJP’s stranglehold on the country and the political narrative, indicates that the international community has reconciled to India’s continuing Modification.
What better proof of this than Narendra Modi being the most internationally awarded Indian Prime Minister ever? He has been awarded a peace prize and is the recipient of an UN environmental award. Even Bill Gates presented him with an award as he thinks Modi is doing a fine job for the country’s people. Further, several Muslim majority countries have awarded Modi ji their national awards. Hindutva apologists argue that such recognitions only prove his secular credentials.
One cannot argue against such an observation. However, one needs to point out that these countries do not have much to say about democracy, freedom of expression, dissent or human rights, the Uyghurs or about the Palestinian morass for example. In fact, Saudi Arabia, which too has conferred an award on the Prime Minister, has also honoured Chinese premier Xi Jinping.
A recent article suggested a certain expediency to the Modi hugs — the hugs are more forthcoming with leaders of rich nations. Similarly, one cannot but not wonder about the Machiavellian motives behind these national awards presented to the Indian Prime Minister.
But that does not concern the common Indian. They see bonhomie, even if made for the camera and to the other person’s discomfort, and international recognition. Thus, it came as no surprise that at a rally specifically organised at the airport on his return from the UNGA and the ‘Howdy Modi’ event in Houston, Narendra Modi could majestically announce that the world’s respect for India has grown since 2014 — that is, since he came to power.
What are the tangible outcomes of this ‘increase in respect’? According to the Henley Passport Index, India’s ranking has fallen from a high of 74 in 2010 to 86 in 2019. In fact, between 2014 and 2015, India’s ranking fell from 76 to 88. Thus, the rise in international respect for India has not translated to visa-free entries to more countries.
www.nationalheraldindia.com
Today, if anyone was to ask an Indian ‘How is the josh?’ she/he would in all likelihood stand up, salute and say, ‘High Sir’.
This response has apparently got to do with the success of the Bollywood commodification of the surgical strikes against Pakistan and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi using it as an India-coming-of age statement.
And there is every reason for Indian citizens to be on a high. Article 370 has been abrogated with ease and without an international peep. This, besides suggesting BJP’s stranglehold on the country and the political narrative, indicates that the international community has reconciled to India’s continuing Modification.
What better proof of this than Narendra Modi being the most internationally awarded Indian Prime Minister ever? He has been awarded a peace prize and is the recipient of an UN environmental award. Even Bill Gates presented him with an award as he thinks Modi is doing a fine job for the country’s people. Further, several Muslim majority countries have awarded Modi ji their national awards. Hindutva apologists argue that such recognitions only prove his secular credentials.
One cannot argue against such an observation. However, one needs to point out that these countries do not have much to say about democracy, freedom of expression, dissent or human rights, the Uyghurs or about the Palestinian morass for example. In fact, Saudi Arabia, which too has conferred an award on the Prime Minister, has also honoured Chinese premier Xi Jinping.
A recent article suggested a certain expediency to the Modi hugs — the hugs are more forthcoming with leaders of rich nations. Similarly, one cannot but not wonder about the Machiavellian motives behind these national awards presented to the Indian Prime Minister.
But that does not concern the common Indian. They see bonhomie, even if made for the camera and to the other person’s discomfort, and international recognition. Thus, it came as no surprise that at a rally specifically organised at the airport on his return from the UNGA and the ‘Howdy Modi’ event in Houston, Narendra Modi could majestically announce that the world’s respect for India has grown since 2014 — that is, since he came to power.
What are the tangible outcomes of this ‘increase in respect’? According to the Henley Passport Index, India’s ranking has fallen from a high of 74 in 2010 to 86 in 2019. In fact, between 2014 and 2015, India’s ranking fell from 76 to 88. Thus, the rise in international respect for India has not translated to visa-free entries to more countries.
What is the truth about India’s ‘increasing international respect’?
According to the Henley Passport Index, India’s ranking has fallen from a high of 74 in 2010 to 86 in 2019. International awards pouring in for PM Modi hasn’t helped. But what people see is bonhomie
www.nationalheraldindia.com
