The Young Chronicle: For 4th Graders January 31st, 2015

YOUNG CHRONICLE Saher’s Views on Indo-US Relations, Post Obama’s Visit By Saher Kazi India is an emerging superpower, independent for 67 years and United States is an existing superpower, independent for 150 years. America has only 1/20th of the world’s population but contributes to 1/5th of the world’s income. India is the 2nd largest country in the world in population and contributes to 2% of the world’s income. What can be common between these two countries? Not a lot, you may think, but the truth will surprise you! India and America are on good terms today but in the past their relations were thorny. America supported Pakistan and India supported Russia. But slowly, things started improving because of efforts by leaders of both the countries. US President Roosevelt supported India’s fight for independence. During the India-China war, US President Kennedy said, “We should defend India, therefore we will defend India”. Today, trade between India and America is very important. In 2014, America exported goods worth $21.50 billion to India and India exported goods worth $36.15 billion to America. Both the countries exchange goods and services like information technology, textiles, iron, steel, tea, etc. Indians are now accepted and appointed leaders of important American companies and institutions like Satya Nadella (Microsoft CEO), Rakesh Khurana (Harvard College Dean), Kalpana Chawla (NASA), Chef Vikas Khanna, Preet Bharara (U.S. Attorney), Indira Nooyi (Pepsi CEO) etc. Similarly, American companies are also very famous in India like Mac Donalds, CocoCola, Facebook, FedEx, Intel, etc. Thousands of people in both countries have benefitted because of better conditions between the countries. If leaders of both countries continue to improve relations, then people of both the countries will benefit economically. The Nuke Deal The United States and India have ironed out all their differences, which came in the way of civil nuclear trade. One of the major differences were that India had passed a law that the suppliers of nuclear equipment would have to take liability in case of a nuclear accident; and India did not want the US to be able to track the whereabouts of nuclear material supplied to India. The U.S had to bow down to both these conditions. One can debate no end, India has suffered a lot post the Bhopal Gas Tragedy (refer to the archives for details on the same)? And many people are against building nuclear reactors, post the Fukushima disaster post the Tsunami in Japan. One may also debate what’s in this for the US. Do they genuinely want to help India, or are they just pushing India because they are threatened by China’s growth, just like they help build China when Russia was at its peak? Rambo and Pranks have been listening to their parents discuss and analyse the deal at length but they are happy that setting up nuclear reactors would help provide electricity and other utilities to many areas in the country.

The Young Chronicle: For 4th Graders January 31st, 2015 | Page 3