It’s time for India to focus on expansionism

Being excessively communal has many disadvantages, one being the collective focus disappearing from important goals to meagre issues. Who we pray to is of no consequence to anyone outside the realm of our homes and personal lives. Time and again, when the going gets good, the deeply ingrained issues resurface in form of excessive communal disharmony in India. A millennial’s understanding of this issue is usually more from movies than news now. The age-old atrocities of British colonialism is barely forgotten in India and neither are the horrors of separation. Let us assume we are people of faith and good conduct, the collective set that comprises Indians, then why are we not able to forgive and forget like all religions teach us? Power of the subconscious and conscious minds are immense and by continuously giving food to divisive forces globally and within India, we are simply trying to cause tectonic plates to shift further and further away from each other. I am talking about Hindu-Muslim divide and demand for Khalistan from time to time. India has reached a high level of seniority in United Nations and is one of the largest economies in the world. If all goes well, we should be looking at a strong third rank in the gross domestic product by the end of this decade. That means a seat that carries with it, immense responsibilities, such as to monitor peace and stability in the South Asia region, provide aid when needed, send peacekeeping forces when required and so on. Today, China will be one country that will veto against our entry to the Security Council along with few other able Nation’s who deserve a seat to rescue the failing and ailing United Nations which has been accused of favouring the West too much. India nearing the big league, an economic tri-poly with USA and China, quadra-poly if we assume European Union as one, means a polarized world and thus, peace and stability becomes of paramount importance. There is no way China is speaking the truth when it comes to their intent to stay peaceful if they continue with border escalations everywhere, it is a sign of panic and distress and is as if they are unaware of international laws pertaining to borders and intrusions thereof. With the state of affairs as they are, a regional peace campaign in the subcontinent according to lawful resolution of Jammu & Kashmir land, is the need of the hour. There is so much in the pot for peace, that going “all in” is smartness. Pakistan being in duress, will do anything for China’s money, even harm India like they have been doing, but today cannot stand along with us nor withstand war against us. Gauging by mutual sentiments, they will never come to us for a long term solution to their crippling economy. Soon, I strongly believe China won’t be able to stand India’s assaults in war, or even show an anti-India international alliance strongly to ally with them in an emergency. They will not be in a position to help Pakistan either with the end of foreign manufacturing on their soil. It is stopping on their land due to the negativity around their country’s policies. Our country, on the other hand, is indispensable and safer than ever before, but we just have to let go of history and its scars, reclaim what is lost and move on with gusto into the future. Our constitution states that we are a secular country and to further the cause of any one religion is not in our constitution, and never will be. To tolerate them and letting them flourish is everyone’s fiduciary duty and responsibility. We have to let go of internal fervours which are divisive and focus on collectivism, tolerance and live with a ‘love thy neighbour’ attitude. Right from tourism to economy, our neighbours are suffering just as much as us, if not more due to Kashmir issue. Internally, instead of tearing chapters of 9th standard history books, it’s time to focus and plan around higher goals which are global and expansionist in nature. Good diplomacy at this time should open markets for our goods and services, and earn us all mutual security against divisive forces. It’s just the good versus bad, what all religions preach, and people decide what is good for them in democracies.