The Young Chronicle: For Grade 3 January 31st, 2015 | Page 3

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 Nuclear Deal
The Nuclear deal has been under some scrutiny or the other for years. The deal had been initiated
by the congress government, but couldn’t be signed as India had passed a law that if ever an
accident would take place, the suppliers of nuclear machinery would bear complete liability. The
United States was uncomfortable with the same, as this law did not favour the suppliers from the
US.
The other issue blocking the treaty was, that the United states wanted to keep track of how their
supply of nuclear material was being used, which India was uncomfortable with. The United States
had to finally bow down and give in to both conditions for the treaty to come through.
Many are apprehensive of the deal, since India has suffered a lot post the Bhopal Gas Tragedy
(refer to the archives for details on the same). Many people are also against building nuclear
reactors, post the Fukushima disaster after the Tsunami in
Japan.
Rambo and Pranks parents have been trying to figure out
why is the United States so keen on this treaty. 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.