“Hum aapke hain Kaun?”, Mr Bill Clinton?
February 24, 2006On 21/2/2006, the Times of India displayed a photograph of former American President Bill Clinton and his wife Hillary in Indian wedding clothes. They make an impressive sight and the former President even declares that he would wish the same kind of wedding for his daughter.He further said that he kept coming back to India because he loved India.
This is addressed to Mr Clinton and other American Presidents in general:-
Since you have mentioned our weddings so specifically, Mr President, I would apprise you of a movie that I had seen a few years ago. The name of the movie was “Hum aapke hain kaun” where perhaps for the first time , the Indian wedding was shown in full swing and splendor on the silver screen. It became the biggest commercial success of all time became a precedent for a spate of such movies . The word “Hum aapke hain kaun” literally means “ How are we related to you?’ .
Looking at the American foreign policy, it puts things in a very interesting perspective. It’s common knowledge the world over that the United states follows the policy of “short term gain long term pain “ in blindly following its “interests”. A small extract on Oscar movies from the latest post of my friend , http://oream.blogspot.com/
“Kaput!
The brutal murder of more than a hundred thousand Iraqis and two thousand plus American soldiers in the invasion of Iraq sent shockwaves through the world – and captured the attention of an author named William Blum.The movie covers his journey to create a bestseller ROGUE STATE: A Guide to the World’s Only Superpower. Through his extensive research, Blum compiles a detailed list of US governments involvement since WWII in torturing, kidnapping, harboring terrorists, using chemical and biological weapons and utilizing many other lovely foreign policy tools. The book got a recommendation from the most wanted and homicidal of terrorists, Ossama Bin Laden. (I am not kidding!)”
One comes across so many articles which state that the attitude of the Western world changed towards India and the third world only after they themselves experienced terrorism on 9/11 and the London bomb blasts. Does it take catastrophes for you to empathize with us?, Doesn’t it reflect poorly on the human race in general? Considering the recent cartoon controversy which has aroused worldwide resentment, one really wonders how much revulsion the Iraq war must have caused and what are its long term consequences Ponder again “Hum Aapke hain kaun?” I remember reading in a magazine before the war started that the Iraq war had the potential of creating more terrorists and more 9/11s. In the same magazine, I remember reading that though the United states was perceived as a bully boy in third world countries, the serial “friends “ is very popular in Pakistan of all places. That apart the American culture is aped the world over. It’s a great pity that despite having the right weapons in abundance, you tend to choose the wrong ones. Ponder again “Hum aapke hain kaun?”.Just as you have mentioned your fondness for Indian marriages, the romance for an average English educated child in India with the United States begins at the age of around 10-12 when he begins to read Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew or the Archie comics before graduating to better stuff( In my case, some great management literature). Considering that you and and we are the world’s oldest and the world’s largest democracies having the largest speaking English populations, we should have been the greatest of friends and the words “Hum aapke hain kaun” should have had no significance even during the cold war. That is long over and why start similar wars by pursuing such policies and create further cold wars. Iraq is a case in point.I have come across so many Americans who are opposed to the war. I hope that all the Presidents who form policy in the future have this question on their heads “ Hum aapke hain kaun”. .In a lighter vein, let me conclude:- Poem begins:- Mr Clinton for us it is a matter of pride. That your daughter you would want to wed like an Indian bride Why follow policies that most people in the world deride?Why try to take the rest of the world for a ride ? Instead of perusing policies from which you may have to hide The most powerful nation could proudly assume a different stride We too are proud that you have been so enamored of an Indian marriage.Why follow policies that arouse the world’s outrage Its high time American foreign policy comes of age The mood of the people all over is not something that powerful satellites can gauge. Use empathy and Spiritual leadership, many a great leader have had flashes of a sage. American presidents have been charming, wars they don’t have to wage Poem ends Then instead of your saying “Monica, Oh my darling”(old hindi movie song), the whole world may say “America, Oh my Darling” .
good post. I enjoyed reading it. and do you wan me to believe you are Frivolous poet. if you wan me to believe okie i believe but you are not what you claim to be. you are good in writting and frankly speaking i just scribble and i know nothing on poetry
Dude,
You need to do a bit of catching up with history. During the cold war India opposed US more times in UN than even the Soviets did!! Then how do you expect the americans to be friendly to India?
9/11 happened before Iraq war though by itself though it does not make Iraq war justifiable….
And since did being guided by self interests become a bad thing? If we have done that w would have been far better off…..
No offense man.
I think Amreeka is doing nothing wrong. They are doing everything for their own countrymen. Now its India that shud look towards its policies. Amreekan policies are built around OIL and everything else that is crucial for their survival in future. Dont blame Amreeka. India must work on its policies carefull and must not get “Bhramit” with these “I like India” dialogues.
haha funny …but I agree with confused. Doesn’t seem confused to me. Self-interest is the basic principle of Politics. I would want, wish, hope and pray that our politicians are like that.
Sort of agree with both Hiren and ‘Confused’ - after all, its only indulging in some good wishful thinking. But ‘Confused’ from what i gathered from that 9/11 sentence on the post, I dont think the quote (or Hiren) is trying to say that this gruesome incident happened after Iraq War. What I understood it is, that the war can create more such incidents in future. It could be right or wrong. Dunno about that!
Anyways, Hiren a good piece, combines sth very unusual and unrelated in a neat manner…
Nothing much to add - perhaps I should get DVD of HAHK again - ages sinces I saw it - and I love the film and its songs
Truly said. The USA doesn’t really have to do much selling of its image. It’s already bought into. What they have to be careful about is not tarnishing it by playing big brother at every juncture in international politics.
Thanks for stopping by.
not long ago i read a rather interesting piece abt how americans feel abt indian muslims… it said yankees are more comforatble with theindians than with anyother asian muslims cos they feel indians are least scary…. :))
wonder what is the yard stick for being scary and being not so scary…?
nice post hiren.
Hmmm… nice poetry again… I agree with you that America, with its power, can act or be like a friend to everyone instead of being the big bully of international politics.
But Hiren, ours is a very new democracy. Cant compare the age of our democracy with any of the western democracies.
@Vaishnav - Thanks
@confused,Deepa- I never said that pursuing one’s interest was wrong. But to go to the extent of disregarding the united nations, invading a foreign country, losing human lives and thousands and last but not the least, the weapons of mass destruction not found is clearly crossing the lakshman rekha.
@kumar-If supposing yours was among the affected families in Iraq or a soldiers family in the US, would you still say all this is justified for oil?
@Deepak- I have read in international magazines that such wars can lead to more 9/11 and HAHK was great all right
@I, me and my- Correct
@lash- I agree
@Atlantean- The age of democracies is not relevant in this context. Something like the Iraq war should never have happened.
Liked reading this piece Hiren!
Keep writing.
I think that America has always had vested interests when it comes to their foreign policy. Bush has said on more than one occasion,that in future US is going to face stiff competition from India & China alone and pushing US goods into India where it has a greater market esp. the Indian middle class is going to be the way forward. “If you can’t beat ‘em, sell it to them!”
Btw, thanks for stopping by my blog…
u r absolutely rt…..these USA with its resources can do so much for the world but unfortunately the policymakers have taken it to a path which only promises death n destruction………its indeed surprising y have they choosen this path………nice post
Once India needed the West. Even when we were close to USSR, all our trade and educational links were with the West. Today, developed countries like the US, need India as much we need them. We need to realise this. Secondly, the days of America’s unquestioned superiority in the comity of nations is almost over, if not already. Something similar to what Great Britain went through with decolonisation.
hii
thanks for dropping by my blog..
first time here
nice post
like the way u have corelated the shaadi thing to such a serious issue
shaadi is also serious agreed
nice one
keep writing
Cheers