The new United Progressive Alliance – Can Sonia manage these components of the Alliance?

Sonia Gandhi will not only turn out to be a good Indian politician, she will excel in World Politics. Kofi Annan recently mentioned about a void in UN leaderships. The World is lacking good international leaders who are followed not only in their own country but also in other countries. Such a leader could have made the world avoid unnecessary wars like in Iraq and elsewhere. Charismatic leader are just not there – says Karla Johnson of the Institute of International Politics in Washington DC. Charismatic leaders change the course of events in the world. When they are bad, they cause havoc. When they are good, world leaves in peace. 

Sonia’s biggest advantage is that she is foreign born. Any Western leader meeting her will have the notion in their head – she is not typically Indian. That perception gives her a major initial advantage. At heart she is more Indian than many with complete Indian heritage. India under her leadership may surprise all. She may be able to articulate real peace between hostile parties like Israelis and Palestinians, Chechnyans and the Russians, Iraqis and American and not to mention India and Pakistan in her own turf. 

Look what is happening in Kashmir! According to Kashmir Times, those Kashmiris who had no problem criticizing Vajpayee and Advani are getting extremely embarrassed to criticize her. They are already feeling that she one of them – not part of main stream hindu India. Her compassion, non-political approach to problem solving and grace may bring surprise to the whole world. India is the only country who will now have a minority President and a so-called “foreigner” Prime Minister. Countries like USA, Russia and China with equal status in world politics should learn from India. It takes extreme maturity for a democratic country to reach that status. 

Prime Minister Sonia Gandhi is the only foreign born leader that will lead a nuclear powered nation in the modern history. History will remember her as the leader who made impossible happen in a country like India. She will take India to the glory of becoming a true super power because the world will hesitate in criticizing her as an Indian. Musharraf now will have a very hard time in justifying his covert act. When Collin Powell visited India and met with Mrs. Gandhi, he really wanted to know what happens in India behind the scene. It was almost them versus us. Them – the Indians and we – the foreigners. Screwed politics is to put a person who looks like a White European but at heart a pure Indian – the leader of the nation. The leverage India will get from other nations is just incomparable. At the same time, her compassion for the poor and the rural sector will make the Western nations wonder if she is true “mother” of India. 

It is complex philosophy. You get things accomplished not just by your act but by the perception you create about your act. For example, you may work hard and create a situation where no one notices you. On the other hand you may look real good by working intelligently where people watch you working harder. India’s biggest advantage now is the fact she has shown the world that minorities are all welcome in India. Pakistan for the first time has problem justifying hostilities even among its own population. Benazir Bhutto has mentioned that Pakistan should learn from India about the value of true democracy. 

We do not know how far Sonia will be successful. One thing is certain though; India last week has created a tremendous diplomatic lever that will make India thousand feet tall in the world. India has created a major history.