Guest Voice: How And Why Did Bush Win Over India?

NOTE: The Moderate Voice occasionally runs Guest Voice columns. This is by veteran journalist Swaraaj Chauhan of New Delhi, India. He will soon join TMV as a co-blogger as well.

U.S. President’s India Visit – 2006

Wow! How did Bush do it?
By Swaraaj Chauhan

President George Bush’s visit to India two months ago was a milestone. Not merely in terms of public posturing…or, the ‘old chum’ body language of President George Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh…or, for that matter, the nuke and other agreements inked by the leaders of the two big democractic countries.

Here I am talking about Bush’s remarkable success in converting a large number of his detractors (including some Lefties) into somewhat reluctant sympathisers of his (and the U.S.) style of functioning on the world stage! After hearing/meeting Bush, a majority of the chattering classes in urban India were just swept off their feet, were even prepared to give him benefit of doubt, and appeared to absolve him of his ‘sins’.

Wow! How did he do it? Just imagine! Four decades of suspicion/anger/pity enveloping Indo-U.S. relations now suddenly disappearing in thin air! Pundits in the media were not of much help in explaining this sudden change of heart. The analysis/sermons from the venerable experts or members of the political think tanks, were mostly long-winded and cleverly worded that could easily put to shame a juggler or an Indian rope trick expert.

Bush’s trump card (related to the nuke issue) may have created ripples elsewhere but in India its progress in the U.S. Congress is being monitored with as much excitement as a cricket match between India and its arch rival Pakistan evokes. You may like to check today’s (April 9) report in a leading Indian daily http://epaper.hindustantimes.com/Default.aspx

Frankly, I was intrigued. How could this athletic looking man (whose popularity ratings are falling by the hour), charm the pants off the Indian power elite in such a short time. On his arrival in New Delhi, he flitted from one Indian leader to another in a most friendly manner, and then hugged the Indian Prime Minister and whispered conspiratorialy into his ear…as if Bush was at his Texas ranch and not standing on the hot Indian airport tarmac!

So what was the magic ‘mantra’ that endeared Bush to his Indian audience? An impressively large number of people in India (from small towns and remote villages to metropolitan cities) do not fret or fume when they fail to understand what’s going on in this world. (And they have sympathy for Bush for he, too, does not seem to understand what’s going on!) Here people just look up to the stars for answers!!! Or, what the stars foretell about events and personalities.

However, I had developed a healthy scepticism in the company of media persons, such as Joe Gandelman, when I cut my teeth into journalism three and a half decades ago. So no mumbo jumbo entered my life until recently. As I near my 60th year of existence on this mother earth, and having been a witness to the topsy-turvy world, I have now succumbed to the temptation of taking India’s tested centuries-old path of looking up to the stars!!!

As I am not familiar with the complicated Indian almanac for astrological predictions, I settled for a fascinating book on Chinese Astrology written by an American woman, Suzanne White, and gifted to me by a friend 12 (repeat twelve) years ago. The book tells me that anyone born between 2 February 1946 and 21 January 1947 is a ‘Fire Dog’. President Bush (born 6 July 1946) is also a Fire Dog.

No…no…Not that sort of dog who is running around with his tail on fire!!! In Chinese astrology, says White, those born under this sign “believe in justice for all and willingly take up worthy causes and bear weighty crosses against unfair practices…In life’s big Western movie, they definitely wear a white cowboy hat…

“All Fire Dogs are enthusiastic. Their native ebullience and ingenousness lend an attractive, childlike quality to a high-spirited personality and make us like and trust them instantly…They are well meaning and feisty but often off-base, naïve, quixotic. Their virtuous logic is full of holes…are most ardent supporters of their own dream worlds, becoming solitary crusaders…left out, misunderstood and furious with the human race…Fire Dogs are not compromisers…

“As his hypersensitivity causes the Fire Dog to feel things so deeply, he frequently absorbs the darkest aspects of any experience. By adulthood, the pain may have become unbearable and the Fire Dog may emerge as a crackerjack pessimist or Gloomy Gus. He must, of course, surround himself with peaceful, positive people whose sensitivities harmonize with his.�

After going through this Bush profile, as mentioned in Chinese astrology, it seems possible that even now the world could be spared its prolonged agony if only the present U.S. President (Fire Dog) decides to have only peaceful and positive people around him. But what can he do with those that surround him now? A good question.

People in India seem to believe in the wisdom in what White wrote: �Vital, independent and loyal to death, the perplexing nature of the oddly enterprising yet shy Fire Dog (Bush) is guaranteed not to bore you.�

Now pardon some digression. While on the subject of Chinese astrology book by Suzanne White, I could not resist the temptation of having a look at Saddam Hussein’s profile (born 28 April 1937).

Saddam is born under the sign of Fire Ox…â€?A veritable Gibraltar…Bulldozer. Fire Oxen fear nothing – even ridicule – and will forge ahead…until death do them apart…The flip side of this passionate-quest handicap is that the Fire Ox is often a genius, mightily successful and frequently accurate in choosing his targets.

“He’s ruthless, too. He may glorify everything to do with tradition until it doesn’t suit him any more. Then he will glorify something new and call it tradition.�

So how to deal with people born under these two tough signs. White has some interesting formulations/advice in her Chinese astrology book. Let’s begin with Fire Dog (President Bush). “Try not to be so painfully righteous.Accept compromise. Curl up here by the fire and dream of better days.� And, yes, the earlier suggestion to him to surround himself with positive and peaceful people.

Despite the hopeless situation in Iraq, White provides some hope to Saddam Hussein (Fire Ox). “During the second adult phase a misunderstanding between you and a neighbor or colleague may cause a deep, long-lasting rift. Don’t lose heart. Your old age will be both long and healthy…Lighten up.�

The best way to deal with Fire Ox (Saddam), says White, is to start being strong-minded. And later change the strategy. She adds: “Tickle the bottoms of his feet. He is certain to hate that and yet silliness, and purest, most innocent love are the best cure for those, like the Fire Oxen, who take themselves too seriously.�

And, finally, White’s startling observation regarding the compatability factor between Fire Dog and Fire Ox: “This Ox/Dog match starts out rocky but as time goes by they learn to love each other with fierce devotion.�

Well, well, well…anything is possible. For example, if in coming days Bush decides to have ‘peaceful and positive people’ around they may suggest to him to release Saddam after reaching an agreement!!!

As the 19th-century British leader Lord Palmerston, had said: “There are no permanent allies and no permanent enemies – just permanent interests.â€? As an aside, the British have been in that part of the world, including Iraq, for a much longer period than the Americans.

Talking of permanent interests, many Indians seem to have realized that their country now has the best chance to cash on the U.S. generosity/present need with a ‘vital, independent and loyal to death’ Bush at the helm…(as the stars foretell)!!!

The writer has worked as journalist with national and international media. At present he is Media Consultant with Press Institute of India, New Delhi. He is also Trainer/Mentor with BBC World Service Trust. Email: swaraaj47@gmail.com