The American dream has ebbed in the city of Detroit, once the global hub for automobiles, but now a dereliction, a wasteland of decaying buildings, empty streets and not much else. It is a symbol of the country’s abject failure to move with the times; and its addiction to military spending and foreign wars. The role of a would-be global policeman has been an expensive venture, with little to show for the lost lives. Monies wasted could have been better spent in upgrading Third World domestic infrastructure, inner city development, schools and affordable medical care. The boast of heraldry, the pomp of power is the American establishment’s daily dose of assuring rhetoric to a largely politically illiterate public ignorant of global realities. “Isn’t it wonderfully ironic that an Indian company that began by importing US vehicles … is now coming back and investing in America,’ said Harvard-educated Anand Mahindra, Chairman of the Mahindra Group, at the inauguration of its new facility in Detroit, the ‘first new OEM operation in southeast Michigan in over 25 years. Anand Mahindra was flanked by the region’s representatives at Capitol Hill, one of whom cut the ceremonial ribbon.
Mr Mahindra who has a way with words, said, ‘We will blend with this community like sugar with milk,’ referring to the legend relating to the arrival of the Zoroastrian community of Iran in Gujarat centuries ago, fleeing the persecution of Islamic invaders from Arabia. The leader of these refugees is believed to have used the metaphor of milk and sugar when he asked for asylum to the local ruler. India’s thriving Parsi community have repaid the debt of their forbears many times over. Jamsetji Tata, JRD Tata, Dadabhai Naoroji, scientists Homi Bhabha and Homi Sethna, Field Marshal Sam Manekshaw, Air Chief Marshal Aspy Engineer et al figure prominently in India’s hall of fame.
Returning to Anand Mahindra, he said he was committed to a long-term vision for the American market, adding that the company would proceed with entry followed by consolidation and the next step and the next. ‘We are going about it in a thoughtful, strategic manner. We have to gradually introduce our brand to the market – tractors, utility vehicles, now this off-roader. We hope we will creep into the consciousness of the American consumer as the maker of every rugged, tough SUV and cross-overs – this is more of a brand journey,’ he explained.
Detroit has around 50,000 unemployed automobile engineers, with unrivalled experience and skills from which their Indian colleagues would stand to benefit. Mr Mahindra hoped to draw on this expertise in Detroit for the Research and Development hub that his company plans to set up at the appropriate time. Electric cars, next generation trucks and much else are part of the Mahindra dream. It should refurbish the once bright American dream.
Donald Trump won Michigan in his Presidential campaign on the strength of his promise to restore Detroit to its former glory. His catchall slogan ‘Make in America’ won over a deeply disillusioned electorate. He will surely be heartened by the presence of Mahindra in Detroit and the future that might unfold. His Secretary of State Rex Tillerson has cited Mahindra’s investment in America as an example of mutually beneficial commercial ties between the two countries. In this regard one should also point to the considerable footprint of Indian IT firms, from Tata Consultancy Services, Infosys, Wipro and others, and their employment of local Americans. The two-way Indo-US relationship is already much in evidence and is set to expand exponentially.
Pakistan military call the shots
The recent three week-old standoff on the outskirts of Islamabad blocking the road linking the capital to the garrison town of Rawalpindi by a relatively obscure Islamist party Tereek-i-Labaik Ya Rasool Allah, demanding the resignation of the country’s Law Minister Zaid Hamid on the ground of blasphemy. It resulted in a political crisis that exposed the fragility of the ruling civilian government. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi heads a Muslim League(Nawaz)Ministry handpicked by his predecessor Nawaz Sharif, who was forced from power for his alleged involvement in the Panamagate scam. There was deadlock between protesters and government, with violent clashes, deaths and injuries on the streets.
The government’s power base is Punjab, the heart of Pakistan. Desperate situations call for desperate remedies, which in this case was an urgent call for help to the Pakistan Army. The Army obliged. General Bajwa put the ball firmly in the prime minister’s court by telling him to settle the dispute through dialogue. Law Minister Zaid Hamid resigned and the leader of Tehreek-i- Labaik, Khasim Hussian Rizvi, called off his blockade and peace was restored. But for how long and with what results?
The first truth emerging from this murky episode was confirmation of the military’s stranglehold on power. An al-Jazeera TV discussion with three Pakistani participants, two journalists, the third a member of Amnesty International, who all agreed that every political party in the land had a military connection; in other words, were puppets on a string. The tentacles of the military through the body of Inter Services Intelligence directorate are like the embrace of an octopus.
The mere charge of blasphemy has long the clarion call to mobs to take direct action. A Christian girl of 13 has been sentenced to death for blasphemy; it turns out that a quarrel with a Muslim neighbor over a pitcher of water led to the accusation! – the neighbor’s revenge. Religious minorities, Hindus and Christians mostly are victims, with apostate Ahmediyas as occasional company..
If such developments were simply confined to Pakistan they would evoke regret, with perhaps an offer of asylum for those wishing to escape a perilous existence. But this culture incubates jihadi terrorism. The military’s connections with Islamist terror groups run deep. Some fall out with their benefactors and target the state, while others obediently volunteer for the holy wars against ‘Hindu India’ and the construction of a new Subcontinental caliphate to replace it. Christine Fair, the American academic, has authenticated this in her book on the Pakistan Army with a rich haul of documentation in the local Urdu language.
The naïve among us will have to wait for Godot, if they hope for a determined response from the West. Ivanka Trump’s gala reception in India notwithstanding, Daddy Donald in the White House is likely to twitter a warning to Islamabad to mend its ways, before turning to matters elsewhere.
French President Emmanuel Macron has expressed ‘concern’ at the release from detention of Hafiz Saeed, one of the masterminds of the Jihadi assault on Mumbai in November 2008. In Britain, the Labour Party, with its reliance on jihadi vote banks, can be trusted to say nothing of consequence.
India must look to its own resources in defence of the realm. These are not insignificant. It will require the requisite will to bring them into play.
Ashwin reaches a milestone
The spin wizard of Indian cricket, Ravichandran Ashwin, reached a milestone in his illustrious career, when he took eight Sri Lankan wickets in the Test match at Nagpur, claiming his 300th victim in 50 Tests to become the first international cricketer to achieve this feat in this limited timeline and overtake the Australian fast bowling legend Dennis Lillee.
At 31, Ashwin has at least five more years of peak performances, said the former Sri Lankan maestro Muttiah Murlilitheran, whose aggregate of 800 Test wickets places him at the top of the table. Ashwin earned the plaudits of his giant predecessor, who judged him to be the foremost purveyor of spin in the contemporary game.
During the same match, India’s Test captain Virat Kohli continued his amazing run with bat scoring his 19th century in 61 Tests and his 5th double hundred at 29 years of age and much good cricket hopefully ahead of him. Cricket’s uncertainties require caution, not star-gazing since many a heralded star in the past fallen from grace into the dark hole of anonymity.
India is fortunate to boast an abundance of budding batting talent: Sreesh Iyer, who has received the selectors nod for the coming ODIs against Sri Lanka is one such talent; Prithvi Shaw (hailed as the next Sachin Tendulkar), is a mere 18, as is Washington Sundar and Sanju Sampson 22. Indian selectors are partial to mediocrities long in the tooth but loath to retire from the limelight. The youngsters waiting patiently in the wings dserve better.
