Just when it seemed India-US relations were poised for a rupture, the political weather in Washington turned yet again. President Donald Trump—once quick to hail India as America’s reliable partner—abruptly announced a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports, even going so far as to label India’s economy ‘dead’.

Once upon a time—no, not in a fairy tale but in our grandparents’ photo album—marriage in India was an unshakable institution. Wasn't it a union sanctified by family, tradition, and seven solemn vows that supposedly carried you across seven lifetimes?

Diplomacy has always been a delicate craft. Words, carefully weighed, once built bridges where armies could not. But in the Trump era, that art has collapsed into gutter talk. The language of statesmen has given way to the slang of the street. And now, words are no longer instruments of peace but weapons of mockery.

The story of 24-year-old Anand from Mysuru is more than just inspiring; it is a blueprint for India's future. This young man, educated in a village school, now provides software solutions to American clients because a Bengaluru-based IT company saw his potential. He represents millions for whom the private sector isn't merely an employer—it is the primary engine of mobility, dignity, and national prosperity.

An ominous belt of turbulence now circles India. From Kathmandu to Colombo, Dhaka to Malé, and deep inside Pakistan, a fierce storm of public anger, broken economies, and betrayed hopes is shaking South Asia. What some call the ‘Arc of Instability’ is no longer just a geopolitical phrase—it is a living reality.

The US has imposed excessive tariffs on Indian exports and threatened to block energy purchases from Russia. In such a scenario, India must respond firmly.