Sushma Swaraj's mission to Myanmar is a defining moment
April 24, 2016  15:11
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The External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajs forthcoming visit to Myanmar (Burma) on May 1 comes not a day too soon. There is a new dawn in Myanmar (Burma).

Foreign Minister (and state counsellor and de facto ruler) Aung San Suu Kyi put it nicely at her first meeting with the diplomatic corps yesterday when she left it to the world community to choose how to call her country Its up to you, because there is nothing in the constitution of our country that says you must use any term in particular.

What disarming candour and directness! For an uptight nation such as India which is tying itself in a million knots, where everyone is being hustled to chant Bharat Mata ki jai in misplaced patriotism, Suu Kyis relaxed approach to nationalism and patriotism must come as shock and awe to our powers that be.

Indeed, the change to Myanmar from Burma was a nationalistic gesture by the military. But Suu Kyi now asks disarmingly, Whats in a name? Not much. To be sure, Swaraj will be in her elements with Suu Kyi.

Her visit to Myanmar comes 3 weeks after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yis trip. These are extraordinary times when we are obsessed with the China bug biting us all over on knee cap, armpit, elbow, earlobe and so on. But, for heavens sake, Swaraj should not be burdened with a China-centric Myanmar visit.

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