As an Indian living in America, like the author, I have the following points to make, all of which counter the author's theses:
1) Obama 'must' not do anything, and will not do anything, just because India is a great nation and the world's largest democracy and so on...geopolitical relationships are always centered first on self interest (of each country).
2) Just because Obama does not say hail India more often does not mean Indo-US relations are in bad shape. The United States is fighting a tough war in Pakistan and walking a very thin line between 'helping' Pakistan to avoid a huge civil crisis, using US drones to attack militants inside Pakistan etc and at least appearing to show some respect for Pakistan's sovereignty. Given Pakistan's suspicion of anything India related, it makes sense for the US government not to make any loud pro-India gestures without sufficient reason. Behind the scenes the picture may be (and indeed most likely is) very different. See for example the appointment of Richard Holbrooke. Originally he was supposed to be the US envoy for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir. Kashmir was dropped because India insisted the US has no role meddling in its internal affairs.
3) Why this obsession with how much attention the US pays India? I understand that expatriates from all countries in the world who are now US citizens lobby for better US relations with their countries of origin (see Israel for example), but India's growth (or lack thereof) is not going to come from how much praise a US administration showers on us. In fact it's quite the reverse, this and future US administrations will have a lot of incentive to treat India favorably as long as India's growth story as an economy and a democracy is intact.
1) Obama 'must' not do anything, and will not do anything, just because India is a great nation and the world's largest democracy and so on...geopolitical relationships are always centered first on self interest (of each country).
2) Just because Obama does not say hail India more often does not mean Indo-US relations are in bad shape. The United States is fighting a tough war in Pakistan and walking a very thin line between 'helping' Pakistan to avoid a huge civil crisis, using US drones to attack militants inside Pakistan etc and at least appearing to show some respect for Pakistan's sovereignty. Given Pakistan's suspicion of anything India related, it makes sense for the US government not to make any loud pro-India gestures without sufficient reason. Behind the scenes the picture may be (and indeed most likely is) very different. See for example the appointment of Richard Holbrooke. Originally he was supposed to be the US envoy for Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir. Kashmir was dropped because India insisted the US has no role meddling in its internal affairs.
3) Why this obsession with how much attention the US pays India? I understand that expatriates from all countries in the world who are now US citizens lobby for better US relations with their countries of origin (see Israel for example), but India's growth (or lack thereof) is not going to come from how much praise a US administration showers on us. In fact it's quite the reverse, this and future US administrations will have a lot of incentive to treat India favorably as long as India's growth story as an economy and a democracy is intact.