It’s official. United States of America, the world’s finest hegemonic power is on its way out. By the looks of it, it’s going under and is not even trying to spare its allies from the mystery six feet under. Yes, there is time, maybe lots of it. But let us look at the country, we have left with us, when US bids a final good bye to the world.
Our Fundamental Rights-without which one can only imagine a crippled existence in a democratic polity like India-first, became popular in the American Bill of Rights. This is to imply that the link between India, globalisation and America is not only one of luxury but has always been one of political and social necessity. It’s not just that denims replaced khadi but that while I type, the computer has Thomas Jefferson in its memory and puts Motilal Nehru as a typo! Also, to sustain ourselves in the competitive man eater of a world outside, we had to shatter what we had within. Culture remains the gimmick of socialites and politics a pool of mud both hated and loathed.
They are all clichés. But like Mr Shashi Tharoor says, clichés are there because they are true! Every dream in the world is an American dream. No matter how many sociologists hail it as cultural synthesis, homogeneity is much of the reality. We need Richard Gere to tell us about AIDS, Oprah Winfrey to tell us about charity and George Bush to tell us how to chariot the world with the ace charioteer Democracy. Reminder mates! This is in a country where Ayur Veda blossomed, Asoka planted trees for the betterment of the people and Akbar ruled. What irony! India- where the world’s first communist government thrived under E.M.-is still said to be famous for its spices and yoga.
If you are boggled by those facts, all I am saying is that as a politically vibrant, independent nation, we have had limited exposure to the light of glory because of the hegemonic condition we have been growing in. but the predicted fall of the US, is just reluctant optimism saying “make way for a new king”. This leaves one question. Is US really diminishing? Not anytime soon. However the liberty of hegemony is not decorated with permanency. Of course there shall be a new super power, the world shall remain univocal perhaps garbed in the myth of multi polarity and this country then too shall fear the shine.
