Since the start of the Russia Ukraine war we have seen an increase in comments about morality, especially in regards to India. Is this a major change that we need to be aware of as part of the narrative war we see happening around us today?
Being morally correct and on the right side of history, something we hear a lot today especially in India. The blame is today put on Indian relations with Russia and the purchase of energy form Russia or its so called record on human rights. India has been asked the same question time and again and has given the same answer highlighting our own national interest. At the official level things seems to be on the same page but the same cannot be said for the media based narrative coming out of the west. The western narrative machine did not appreciate the chinks in its own armour before calling out for India.
In April a Bloomberg report said “Germany weighs snubbing India as G-7 guest over Russia stance,” was at the beginning post the dust of the evacuation and the failed negotiations had settled. We also witnessed a flurry of western leaders supporting the Ukrainian cause visit India with Boris Johnson and Ursula von Der Leyen being some of the biggest names. Their statements about trying to push India on the path of the righteous west. Joe Biden’s comment “India’s position in the world would not be enhanced by relying on Russian energy sources” during a video call with PM Modi and on India being “somewhat shaky” showcased the involvement of the highest office in the US committed towards changing Indian lines. Further statements hinting towards the efforts being made by the collective west to work with India to reduce its defence dependence on Russia showcased the desperation of this cause.
Looking at the western media narrative it was indeed not expected that the Indian perspective be highlighted in the way we would like it to be, but the responses coming in from the foreign ministry of India created spaces of communication on many international platforms. In a seemingly endless effort towards questioning the Indian foreign minister each time he addressed the media could be noticed even today. The responses given by India stating clearly its position what is rarely completely showcased in the western media. A comment on India’s choice on being on the right side of history was even made. This is quite rich coming from the west who decided to selectively sanction Russia based on their own needs. One of the biggest examples was the imports by the west of uranium needed for their nuclear programs coming largely from Russia. During April-October, India’s total exports went up 12.5% to over $263 billion, while oil product exports soared nearly 70%, with a large quantity going to Europe. Indian imports of Russian oil is being turned around for a profit back to Europe, while the same Europe tells India to reduce its dependance on Russian energy. To look outwardly “moral” western nations have also resorted to ship to ship transfers or blending in friendly ports, reducing the chances of any tracing tests. The pressure went to a threat of ‘consequences’ by Daleep Singh, Dy NSA of the US. The chart below describes in Numbers the true nature of the western position for itself in goods apart from oil.
Moving a bit from Russia, we come to Switzerland, a neutral country whose ‘efficient’ government hides what lies in the vaults of its banks. It is the holder of a third of the worlds black money – without revealing its sources. How does it showcase a model Europe, where the UK plans to send its asylum seekers to Rwanda, a so called used as a deterrence for people not to come to the UK. Human rights being a strong arrow with the west which can be shot at any country using the label of morality. Questions must be asked about the same human rights in terms of refugees where Ukrainians were welcome but people from countries at war due to western actions were not..
India in many places has been called an autocratic democracy inspite of free and fair electronic elections and the US whose elections are under question by a large segment of the population enjoys the power of calling India that. Morality in terms of religious freedom is more often than not described in western media reports, as a predominant concern in India but forgets its own funding of mass conversions via NGOs and other ‘charitable organisations. This away from the racial discrimination and multiple examples of religious persecution. The west ignores the blatant violations of human rights in the autocratic middle east and became partners towards ensuring the regimes survive and are kept strong.
No country can match the output of moral judgements that spew out from the editorial pages of the New York Times and Washington Post and from the reports of the greatest think tanks and universities in the world. This moral compass should have shattered during western excesses in Guam Prison but resilience of “western morality” has kept them alive. Have these publications forgotten the joining of forces with the remnants of nazi Germany to counter the latest enemy post world war 2, the Soviet Union?
Rules based international order is the garb under which morality has been packaged. We see mention of this order to ensure western hegemony is kept strong. We must remember this was the order that’s spoken about before the beginning of the middle eastern wars. How far is the day when India becomes a threat to this so called order and is sanctioned not to hurt a system but the citizens of this country, as is being seen today.
As a post colonialist country India must be aware that colonialism would not be of physical occupation but be based on a battle of narratives and perceptions. Western pressure towards countries, in combination with a subtle hint of being left out of the economic framework, largely controlled by the west, has proven more than enough for countries acting beyond their own interests. This is clearly visible in an unexpected place like Europe today who is loosing its economic stability and lifestyle to support a war far away from its interests. The cost of a powerful few waging a war is borne by the rest of the world in terms of inflation and supply chain disruptions. Today the US sounds alarms about the system in China while forgetting that it was them who aided Chinese growth as a counter balance against the Soviets. While engaging with China did the west forget the outcomes of the cultural revolution or Tiananmen square.
Morality is today and in the future would be used to gauge the level of international acceptance a country gets. In the case a country does not have a great stand the impact in that country’s health and economic standing could be severely impacted. We have seen examples of the west fighting “moral” wars to defeat authoritarianism, where win the west itself the power rests in the hands of a certain few both inside and outside the government.
Morality as a gauge has been set according to western ‘values’ forgetting the civilisational identities of nations like India who have a value system thousands of years older than the west itself. The sheer drive to be the top dog in the game has led to the west ignoring the basics as the sheer confidence of holding the economic structure of the world has many civilisational powers falling back. The current situation in the world has exposed this reality to the world and Indian stance keeping its interests on the forefront has given the world another avenue and a “Third Pole” to stand behind. Our ways of life are at stake here in this war of the world and we in India must win….