An observer studying India’s position on the Russia-Ukraine conflict may well be confused by a dual picture, a duality of opinion.
The first view is that of the Indian government, which, while urging an end to hostilities, has maintained a stance of strict neutrality between Russia and the US, which continues to push New Delhi to side with it against Russia.
The New Delhi rope between Moscow and Washington is clear. In the past, Russia has been India’s much more credible ally in terms of military and moral support than the United States, despite the talk of building a “strategic partnership” with the world’s most populous democracy.
India’s dual vision of Russia and the United States comes to the fore when the relative attractiveness of the two to the individual Indian is taken into account.
A comparison between visa queues – for students, business travelers, tourists, would-be immigrants – outside the Russian and US embassies in New Delhi provides much-needed evidence that when it comes to ballot voting, public India, as opposed to The government of India is much more in favor of Washington than Moscow.
The reason is not far to be sought. To the average Indian, the English-speaking “soft power” of America – as represented by Hollywood, Netflix, pizza, burgers, ripped jeans and the holy grail of the Green Card – is far more enticing than “hard power”. Russia’s supply of fossil fuels and arms, and alignment with New Delhi on geopolitical issues related to Pakistan and other areas of contention.
Russia is a good, stable friend to have when things get tough, unlike the US which, at best, is an unreliable accomplice who is notorious for dumping its friends when it proves uncomfortable.
Uncle Sam is like the rich Mamaji who promises all kinds of goodies, from Ivy League training that is a passport to an international corporate career, to the 32 flavors of a world-famous ice cream.
However, the two views of Russia and the US, the view of the government and the view of the individual, are summed up and reconciled in a 1955 film song celebrating India’s tradition of eclectic cosmopolitanism:
‘Mera joota hai Japani / Yeh patloon Englishtani / Sir pe lal topi Roosi / Phir bhi dil hai Hindustani.’
Denial of responsibility
The views expressed above are those of the author.
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