George W Bush and Manmohan Singh were an unlikely couple. Singh the sober former economics lecturer, and Bush the back-slapping former fraternity boy. If Singh had been teaching at Yale University in the 1960s instead of Punjab University, the future President could well have stumbled in late to the future Prime Minister?s class. Yet, each having risen to their nations? highest offices, they came together to transform US-India relations.
On the margins of next week?s G-20 summit in Pittsburgh, Singh will sit down with his host and Bush?s successor Barack Obama. It will be their first meeting since London?s G-20 summit in April.
The relationship between these two leaders will determine how rapidly the US-India bilateral relationship continues to strengthen. With both men freshly elected under clear mandates, they have the opportunity to strike an alliance that can become a 21st century version of the US-British special relationship.
The early signs are positive. To Obama, Singh is a ?wonderful man.? For his part, Singh sees Obama as a ?ray of hope?. Aside from their mutual affection, the two men have a lot in common. Though they were born 29 years apart and a world away from one another, their lives have taken some similar turns.
Obama came into the world on the very edge of his nation?s western border, two years after Hawaii had achieved statehood. Singh came into the world beyond what would become his nation?s western border, 15 years before India achieved independence.
Singh was born to a family of modest means. He studied by candlelight, as his village had no electricity. His mother died when he was young, and his grandmother raised him.
Obama was born to a teenage mother. She woke him early to give him extra lessons, as she could not afford private school. His father left when he was two, and his grandparents raised him from the age of nine.
Singh taught economics before going into government service. He rose to his nation?s highest office thanks to the powerful wife of a slain ex-leader. Obama taught constitutional law before going into politics. He rose to his nation?s highest office by overpowering the wife of a vain ex-leader.
Obama went nuclear against George W Bush in his campaign and won a first term, ending years of hostility against his country. Singh ended years of hostility against his country by going nuclear with George W Bush, and won a second term.
Obama?s greatest moment: an election victory fuelled by donations from his party?s base. The money helped him carry his party to a majority in the legislature. Singh?s worst moment: charges of a nuclear victory fuelled by donations to the basest members of the opposition. The money was carried by the minority party onto the floor of the legislature.
Singh won votes for his experience, despite his lack of rhetorical skills. Obama won votes for his rhetorical skills, despite his lack of experience. Obama chides American companies that outsource jobs to Bangalore. Singh in-sourced one of Bangalore?s best to fill a job in his cabinet.
Singh undid what Nehru wrought, by bringing the power of the free market to an economy suffering from excessive government control. Obama intends to undo what Reagan wrought, by bringing the power of government control to an economy suffering from excessive freedom.
Obama pushed through a huge stimulus after his election, pumping cash into his nation?s economy when everyone knew it was needed. Singh pushed through a huge stimulus before his election, pumping cash into his nation?s economy almost before anyone knew it was needed. Obama?s stimulus was economically motivated, and has cost him politically. Singh?s was politically motivated, and helped India economically.
Singh fears a war with a nuclear Pakistan. His only choice is to negotiate now because it is too late to fight. Obama fears a day when he will have to negotiate with a nuclear Iran. His only choice may be to fight now before it is too late.
It is no wonder America?s first non-white President and India?s first non-Hindu Prime Minister like each other. The Pittsburgh
G-20 will give them a chance to convert this affection into action on shared interests. If Bush and Singh can pull off the nuclear deal, just imagine what Obama and Singh can do.
The author is a former US diplomat
This is the first of a three-part series previewing the September 24-25 G-20 summit in Pittsburgh. The second article in this series will analyse how, in holding the G-20 in Pittsburgh, the Obama administration is billing it as a success story for remaking a former industrial city. But Pittsburgh is not the success it is being made out to be