A moment of ridicule? Or a badge of honor? While the press tries to package the US Treasury Secretary’s laughter as India’s humiliation, the truth might be far more complex—and ironically, flattering.
Consider this: no one wastes time mocking the irrelevant. Do you see Washington laughing at the economy of Botswana, or mocking the currency of Peru? No. Because those nations don’t matter to America’s grand chessboard. india, however, is different. With our population, our booming wallet PLATFORM' target='_blank' title='digital-Latest Updates, Photos, Videos are a click away, CLICK NOW'>digital sector, and our expanding geopolitical clout, we are no longer the quiet follower of global capitalism. We are the competitor. And what do competitors do when threatened? They sneer, they mock, they try to belittle.
Yes, the rupee is sliding against the dollar—but that’s hardly unique. The Japanese Yen, the british Pound, even the mighty Euro have all taken hits against a dollar artificially propped up by US interest rates. The difference? No one mocks japan or Europe, because they are already “accepted powers.” india, on the other hand, is still fighting to claim its seat at the high table. So when they laugh, they aren’t dismissing us—they’re trying to keep us in our place.
And what better proof of our rise? For decades, india was ignored. We were the back office of the world, not its rival. Today, we are strong enough that our weaknesses matter to others. Our rupee is not mocked in isolation—it is mocked because the world knows our growth, our markets, and our future matter.
Of course, our domestic challenges are real. Inflation bites, fuel costs burn, and the rupee’s fall hurts the common man. But in the larger sweep of history, these are growing pains. America mocking us today is no different than britain mocking the US during its messy rise in the 19th century. The laughter eventually fades, replaced by grudging respect.
So let them laugh. Let the anchors smirk and the secretaries sneer. Because deep down, their mockery is a mirror of their insecurity. And india, scarred but unbroken, marches on.
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