Turning insult into inspiration: A call for bold national reforms

If we want to turn insult into inspiration, we must rekindle the hunger for bold, meaningful reforms among our people

I am not sure what’s more troubling: US President Donald Trump’s repeated disparaging of India on the world stage, or the likelihood that most Indians will quickly forget this humiliation and move on to the next viral distraction, like what elephant Madhuri ate at Vantara, or the court orders on stray dogs or the feeding of pigeons. Or, better yet, forwarding a “boycott foreign brands” WhatsApp message and feeling good about contributing to a national cause.

 

While Trump’s criticism may appear unfair and unwarranted, they are not unprecedented. History is filled with examples of Western leaders and opinion makers insulting