By Vivek Pattanayak in Bhubaneswar, August 7, 2025: When Narendra Modi as the Chief Minister of Gujaratwas denied visa to visit US, then under the Republican President Bush, to attend a function organized by the Indian diaspora mostly from his State, many in India were simply stunned, and also equally shocked because there was noeloquent protest from the then Government of India. Soon after that event, Modi visited China, and he was received warmly by Xi with respect.

After Modi became the Prime Minister with a massive mandate from the people in India, Xi visited India starting from Gandhinagar. Bonhomie between the two was clearly visible. Since then both the leaders maintained excellentpersonal equation until Dokhlam subsequently Galwan. Nevertheless, due to commendable efforts on both sides, there is a reduction of tension on the borders having paved the way for normalization of relations although affected by the recent Indo-Pak conflict.

The US, under Democratic President Obama, invited Modi to visit US. He was given a warm and rousing reception. What does it reflect thinking people must ruminate? The ruling American culture respects strength and power. Domestic politics can humiliate a leader.

Threat of tariff and sanctions cannot compromise sovereignty of India. Time has come for the people of Indian origin in US who have contributed a lot to the economy and technology like Jewish lobby should play their part. When Goa was freed by the Indian intervention NATO and great America remained helpless. One should remember how USA had tried to bully India by sending Seventh fleet during Indo-Pak war. Russia is our time-tested friend. We are free to buy oil from Russia and Iran. Rising dystopia and intolerance in the global scene give the impression, might is right to assert the age-old evolutionary theory of survival of the fittest.

Today’s media, having ubiquitous reach driven by technology can have an enormous impact on people’sopinion.The world’s populace is tilted towards young people who are oblivious of the past,even what happened in the last hundred years.No wonder they are likely to be carried awayby technologicallyled media and also by AI and similar spectacular developments.

This is a warning tothe growing population of youth, oft referred to as demographic dividend or future asset of the nations, world, and humanity, that they should recognize “all that glitters is not gold.”The way undocumented immigrants were deported the global youthmust accept thatthe American dream is over.

Attempt is being made to invite the millionaires of the world to buy US citizenship so that US can free itself of its debt, a crazy idea which can be given only by a billionaire. Hard truth is the entire world has to survive not only the rich Americans.Even if the US wants to isolate itselffrom the rest of the world it cannot.

The US cannot resuscitate its position as the only superpower which was the case after the dissolution of USSR. The world has moved far ahead. China, a country of great civilization is the largest economy by Purchasing Power Parity. It is militarily strong with nuclear weapons and missiles, and its space technology has been demonstrated by its presence on Mars. Russia in spite of US and the Western sanctions continues to be strong with nuclear weapons, missiles, space technology and its reservoir of fossil fuel.

Similarly, India, a nuclear power with long civilizational history has made stupendous progress in last seventy-fiveyearsalso has made spectacular attainments in the space technology. South Africa and Brazil are equally strong countries. Needless to say, Japan, only nation to have been the victim of American nuclear bombs, is economically powerful and technologically very advanced with glorious past.Iran another civilizational nation has demonstrated how it can exist and progress in spite of being levelled as a part of “axis of evil,” being a cornucopia of fossil fuel, would not be shaken by the American and Israeli bombings.

A tiny Cuba has survived after more than sixty years of sanction of “Great America.”The Middle East consisting of Iraq Syria, Egypt, and Palestine, have great historical past, once a part of Babylonian, Sumerian, and Pharaonic links. Let us not forget that Arabs had been in Andalusia and Iberia for more than five hundred years. Mexico was the seat of the Aztec civilization, and rest of Latin America can be legitimately proud of the Mayan and the Inca past.

Europe although divided has made enormous contribution to science and technology,art, and literature architecture, not to forget the Iberian, French,British, Dutch, and German and Ottoman empire apart from the glorious ancient Roman and Greek civilizations. One should recollect theadventurous Vikings; the predecessors of people of Denmark, Norway, and Sweden had trans-Atlantic presence.

If one gleans through the world map and goes back to history one will understand how geography and geology can play a big part in the destiny of a nation. Saudi Arabia and, UAE once inhabited by indigent nomadic desert Bedouins after discovery of fossil fuel became prosperous on whose resource “Great America” has been dependent for decades.

US under the present leadership where in reality power and wealth are with few oligarchs cannot survive if the rest of the world boycotts. If one reads the book of Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, one will realize that America is a veritable plutocracy, not democracy in the modern sense. As Jeffrey Sach has rightly observed that a person indicted by the International Criminal Court is misleading the US deep state, present and the past how to destroy Iran. What is happening in Gaza is simply unbelievable that in the 21st century such inhumanity can be committed with the full knowledge of the civilized world.

History knows of great contribution of Jewish people and how they have suffered just as the contribution of the Germans to the world. One German leader actually, an Austrian could mislead the Germans in the name of so-called Aryan supremacy. Similarly, one Israelite cannot mislead humanity. In the world there are misguided people in every race, religion, region who can resort to crazy misadventure including terrorism. In the USA, attacks on children in schools due to gun culture speaks volumes.In Sweden,Norway, Finland,and New Zealand such incidents have taken place. Therefore, the world should wake up not to get cowed down to a bully and his newfound friend.

India must open its window towards China. Xi and Modi can join hands. Putin knows Trump very well. Zelensky does not have to give mineral wealth to the new found monarch or his friend.He should make direct negotiation with Putin or takethe mediation of Modi and Xi to have an honorable settlement. Even Lula and Ramaphosa can join.Immediate ceasefire is the answer with UN peacekeeping force to monitor.

Let us realize Russia and Ukraine both Slavic countries have suffered immensely as aptly described as “ridiculous war” which Biden could have avoided.

Let strength and Prestige of the international bodies like the UN etc. be revived and restored to protect people irrespective of race, religion, region, nationality, language, caste, creed, sect, and economic inequalities. Triumph of innate values like truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance may prevail. Let not the musky wealth have the trump card.