November 8, 2008, Balaji - India loves United States' President-elect, Barack Obama. Indians love their look-alike; at least in color to become the most powerful individual in our planet. Barack Obama has more supporters in India than in his country; it's a truth. (The author has very ably tried to present the facts before the world to differentiate between myth and realities).

 Diplomatic Answer-Obama keeps India equal to Pakistan

However, does he love India? Yes, of course would be his answer. Perhaps, may be.
During his campaign Barack Obama said two things relevant most to India. He idolizes Gandhi and worships Lord Hanuman.

But Barack Obama's love is not confined to India alone, it's is extended to Pakistan too. He called himself a "desi" which means a local both in India and Pakistan.

Barack Obama proved his improbably love for both the countries when he said in an interview that former U.S. President Bill Clinton will be appointed as "Special Envoy to Kashmir". This improbably love is due to "compulsion" and not in good faith.

The last thing that an Indian government either headed by the Congress or the Bharatiya Janata Party want is to internationalize Kashmir, though the person who announced the proposal (Barack Obama), and the one who acts (Bill Clinton) might have fan- followers in India.

Obama to favor Pakistan in lieu of cooperation in Afghanistan

Barack Obama's deal is simple: Pakistan can have an upper hand in Jammu and Kashmir but has to co-operate more in "War on Terror" in Afghanistan which would lead to the possible capture of Osama Bin Laden. On the other hand, India could be dealt with its obsession on J&K, though U.S. will continue to recognize the growing economic super power.

From a distance, Indian government has been following the U.S. politics. Indian journalists too have been following the Presidential elections. But India's journalists and the government had missed one picture of Obama.

Of all the traits essential for a great leader and visionary that Barack Obama possesses such as charisma, intellectual and articulation, nothing stands more than his ability to find and exploit the opponent's weakness and to mention "nice about them" only after defeating them.

Obama's deep diplomacy of  praising his opponents

Remember how he exploited Hillary's bad judgment on "War on Iraq" and McCain's track record resemblance to George W Bush. After winning the primaries, however Barack Obama praised both Bill and Hillary Clinton's contribution to the U.S. and acknowledged McCain's patriotism on winning the Presidential elections.

Barack Obama would "deal" with India on same note. India's weakness is Kashmir. He knows it. Also, Pakistan's weakness is its sympathy to Taliban in Afghanistan even seven years after 9/11.

Meanwhile, the Indian government has not got the message. The improved Indo-US relations during George W Bush's Presidency which culminated in the Indo-US nuclear deal would become history, if Obama's deal is put in practice.

Myth of Democrat US President more favorable to India do not match facts

Also, the myth is that U.S Presidents from the Democrat party are favorable to India than the Republicans, whereas facts prove otherwise.

Democratic Party's Presidents from Woodrow Wilson to Bill Clinton had let India down whereas Republican Party Presidents who had ruled either in the beginning of the 20th century (Theodore Roosevelt) or the 21st century (George W Bush) had favored India. 

Woodrow Wilson failed to implement in his promise on India's independence despite its active co-operation with the allies during the World War I, John F Kennedy was reluctant to intervene when China invaded Akai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh in 1962, Bill Clinton's presidency was quoted with Kargil War and Kandhakar hijack, Lyndon B Johnson didn't support India during the Indo-Pak war in 1965, and above all Kashmir was internationalized during the Harry S Truman's presidency in 1948.

On the other hand, 20th century's first President, Theodore Roosevelt was a Republican who supported India's independence, Dwight D. Eisenhower normalised Indo-US relations in 1958 during his visit to India, Democrat turned Republican President, Ronald Reagan started co-operation with India in the field of technology, and 21st century 's first U.S. President George W Bus pulled India out of the nuclear isolation by signing the Indo-U.S. nuclear deal.  

But there are two exceptions to the reality. One, during the Bangladesh Liberation War in 1971 Republican President Richard Nixon threatened India by sending the nuclear submarine - USS Enterprise to Bay of Bengal, and  Democratic President Franklin Delano Roosevelt ( FDR) risked his working relations with then British Prime Minister Winston Churchill by proposing a "new deal". The deal envisaged U.S. co-operation with the allied forces in the World War II only after India's independence from the colonial British government. Though FDR didn't live long to see India's independence in 1947, his role in Indian independence couldn't be denied.

Obama changed American History, would he change for India?

Meanwhile, can Obama, who had changed his party, country, can change himself for India.

Even Obama's cynic will accept that Obama appeals to all religions, citizens, tribes, ethnics and parties, and "Obamania" is above bi-partisan politics.

After all, Obama emulates two Republican Presidents. The best American President-  the unifier of the whites and blacks in U.S. - President Abraham Lincoln who led with success during the "Civil War" and second, the founding father of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA and freedom fighter, George Washington.

India's present generations are not aware of Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. But Abraham Lincoln's speech on the "Perfect Union" among all sections of the society, and George Washington's rhetoric of Freedom and Democracy holds India together as a nation.

India still wish Obama all success and hope balance in his policies

However, India wishes to see Barack Obama – the first African-American as President of the U.S. to "change" myths on Indo-U.S relations from the past and expects the today's reality that India is an economic super-power to be accepted by the U. S.