Interview of Ranjeet Chaturvedi

New Delhi, India

 

What do you think about Barack Obama winning the presidency of the United States?

 

Number one, he’s a colored person.  So one message which goes out strongly is that it is not a white person that needs to be the number one man in the US, it’s a black person.  It’s a minority.  In the next twenty years time you can expect it to be an Indian who could be the President of the United States.  And the United States holding the most dominating position in the global economy makes a big difference.

 

Number two, he comes from a Muslim family and the United States has been battling Islamic extremists for ages. They were with them, they were against them.  This is also going to make a difference.

 

Obama however is going to get the biggest shock of his life when he takes office and the current administration hands over the books of accounts.  The recession was known by many people for a long time.  He’s going to have a difficult time managing the current books of accounts.

 

He is the President of the United States right now.  He has taken charge in an era which requires…  It’s like fighting a battle across a table in your suit with an invisible weapon which is your mind.  It can be used as a sword, it can be used as a gun, but it’s your mind.  Bush thought of something else.  He sent in troopers, the conventional way.  What Obama’s going to try to do is peace talk.  Lets not fight, lets not hit each other, lets speak and find a solution.  This is good from the humanitarian perspective.  Everyone will be happy with him, but everything is going to depend on the next one year and what he does during that time.

 

Has Obama inspired you?

 

No.  Honestly, I see very few people as an inspiration.

 

Who does inspire you?

 

People who sacrifice.  In history, whoever has sacrificed his or her life for something, for a cause, it could be a commoner.  I am impressed by those people.  For example, Ashoka.  He wanted to be the greatest king of Indian history.  He realized he was achieving greatness, but he realized that it was at the cost of killing so many people.  Then he had an enlightening moment in his life and he adopted Buddhism, which was in complete contrast to what he was doing.  He taught his kids that you can’t even kill an insect.  He sacrificed his own ambitions, for a greater cause.  That’s a sign of greatness.

 

There are many others, including Nelson Mandela and Mother Theresa.

 

What do you plan to do in a positive way for the world?

 

I just want to see people happy.  I want to do a business of happiness.  It could be anything.  If I could make someone smile, my job is done.  Because that’s very rare…  people don’t smile! 

 

Timothy Geithner, appointed as Treasury Secretary

President-elect Barack Obama has taken a step in the right direction with his appointments of Timothy Geithner as Treasury Secretary, Larry Summers as head of National Economic Council and Christina Romer as Chairwoman of the Council of Economic Advisers.  The appointments are seen by many as a departure from Obama’s campaign promises of protectionism and higher taxes for the rich.  Instead, the team has a nice balance of conservative and liberal views and has been built to address the most important need of the hour, the economy. 

Many economic experts have weighed in with their opinions about the appointments at the National Review Online and a copy of the editorial article can be found here.  Although the national media and the stock market seem to have taken the news of the appointments with fanfare, most economists and congress members are taking a wait and see approach, citing tough economic conditions and a huge task at hand.  Bailing out failed banks and auto companies is going to put a strain on the US budget and the question about where the money is going to come from to pay for the bail-outs has been asked by many. 

“My first priority and my first job is to get us on the path of economic recovery, to create 2.5 million jobs, to provide relief to middle-class families,” said President Obama in a speech earlier today when announcing the second set of appointments to his economic team. But he also wanted to set up a long-term plan to reduce deficits “and make sure we’re not leaving a mountain of debt for the next generation.”  Bottom line is that he is going to go through the current budget with a fine tooth comb and cut wasteful spending.  Through this process he hopes to find the funds required to pay for the large stimulus package he has promised Americans.

 

Interview of Mishi Vadera

New Delhi, India

 

What do you think about Barack Obama winning the presidency of the United States?

 

Thank god!  I was rooting for the guy from the start.  I had a feeling that he might not become president.  There’s a video on YouTube that had a lot of Republicans that were being racist, saying things like he’s a terrorist and that this is a Christian nation and he shouldn’t be considered.  Which is not true.  America is a conglomerate of all religions and all kinds of people.  I was really afraid because they voted for Bush the second term and the first term said it all.  The fact that they voted for him for a second term, I wasn’t confident that Obama would come to power. 

 

The reason why I stopped believing in McCain is because when he was in Iraq for a visit, he was standing in the green zone with a body vest and twenty body guards around him and he said that Iraq is safe.  Who was he trying to kid?  Iraq is safe?  Iraq is a shit hole.  Iraq was a flaw to begin with.  Everybody knew it, except America.

 

Has Obama inspired you?

 

Obama has inspired me.  Definitely.  He has not only inspired the younger generation, but he has also inspired the old African-American population. To have dreams that they never thought were achievable.  Even though he’s bi-racial, don’t forget that.  His mom is white and his dad is Kenyan. 

 

Lets not forget the American people have a reputation to keep.  And that reputation has been tarnished so bad and it’s now at its worst.  Bush has brought America ten steps backward. 

 

So are we hopefully on the verge of salvation with Obama?

 

I’m not saying salvation, but I believe we are on the right track.  When I saw his victory speech, it made me feel like I could believe in him.  No one can solve everything.  He’s not a fucking messiah.

 

How is Obama going to inspire you to contribute to the world in a positive way?

 

I’m going to be more environmentally friendly. 

 

If you were in Obama’s shoes and could make one change, what would that be?

 

Dialog.  Dialog is the answer to everything.  It’s always been the answer.  It has been the answer for India.  Remember, India did a non-violence movement and it worked.  Martin Luther King was a big supporter of Gandhi. 

 

In this day and age, with all that has happened with September 11, the United States thought they could use brute force to get their point across.  Look what happened with Iraq.  They can not even afford to go into Iran now.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interview of Michael Knowles (Designer)

New Delhi, India

 

What do you think about Barack Obama winning the presidency of the United States?

 

I am very pleased.

 

How do you think Obama becoming president affects India?

 

If you look at the straightforward economic things in terms of problems with outsourcing, there may be bit of an economic backlash.  But in principal, the fact that America has a black and I hate using the word black, black, white, orange or green doesn’t make any bit of a different.  But as a black President, it’s a wonderful thing.  Anybody that has been subjected to any type of oppression, especially if you look at the American situation, the fact that people are liberated and have moved on is great.  Looking back at our history in India with all of the people that have ruled India, its very liberating and a very good thing.

 

Do you think Obama is inspiring and has he inspired you?

 

His whole thing about saying things like we need a new system and a new way to do things, that’s inspired a lot of people.  He’s a JFK.  He actually does come across very strong.

 

I’ve heard Rahul Gandhi has stated that India has millions of Obamas, what do you think about that?

 

I am a great fan of Rahul Gandhi and if Rahul Gandhi says that, I’ll back what he says.

 

Is Obama going to inspire the next generation of Obamas and get them to contribute to the world in a positive way?

 

It’s not just Obama.  We all have a responsibility to work towards this new change that’s going to happen.  If we don’t work towards this new change, then we’re all dead within three years.  You know the real state of the economy at the moment.  You know what’s going to come up in six months times.  It’s going to be a massively difficult thing to handle.  It needs people pulling together, not being divisional, not being fractious, it needs people to just get on with the job and that’s what we all need to do.

 

If you were in Obama’s shoes and could make one change, what would that be?

 

There isn’t one change to be made.  In fact, the biggest change has already been made.  The fact that we have actually broken down barriers that we do not need as human beings.  If that now goes through the rest of the way that other people think, that whether we are black, white, orange, green, Hindu, Muslim, whatever, it makes not a jot of difference.  We are citizens of this planet and we need to work together as citizens of this planet.  And we’ve got to get through that crucial stage.  If we don’t, rich or poor, we are gone. 

 

Rahm Emanuel (Chief of Staff for Obama) recently said that ‘A crisis represents opportunity because you are able to do things that you otherwise would not be able to do’, what do you think about that?

 

Let me relate that back to India.  I’m a designer working over here.  I work a lot with craftsmen.  I have this strong feeling and many of my colleagues do as well about India being a very special place.  Its one of the oldest civilizations, we need over here to go back to some of our fundamental roots.  India must not become China.  We can’t dump human beings and replace them with machines.  Even China has recognized that now. 

 

India has an amazing opportunity to show itself as being the paradigm of a new world order.  If Obama is talking about a new world order, this is a fantastic place for a new world order.  Because we aren’t a young society, we are an old society and we could set the example for the rest of the world. 

Interview of Chris Miller

New Delhi, India

 

What do you think about Barack Obama winning the presidency in the United States?

 

I am proud to be American again after eight years of being embarrassed of being American.

 

I take it you weren’t thrilled with George W. Bush being in office.

 

That’s an understatement.

 

Why do you believe Barack Obama has inspired not only people in the United States but also the rest of the world?

 

Because he means change.  He will show that the US can be a super power with moral authority that can lead the world and show what’s right and try to achieve foreign policy aims through diplomacy.  He will show what’s good for the rest of the world as well and create a win-win situation for everyone.  

 

Hopefully even for the people who are borderline terrorists, who’ve lost families, who are likely to support the terrorist cause, now they’ll float back to the other side.  They will decide that actually there are good people in the world and the United States decided not to support the hard lined crusading type, but actually we are there for democracy. 

 

If you were in his shoes and could implement one change, what would that be?

 

That’s very difficult.  I think I would try to reach out to the Islamic world and try to engage them and make them partners.  I would let them know they are not an enemy of ours and try to find common ground so we can have world peace and stability. 

 

Does he represent a beacon of hope to the rest of the world?

 

I hope so, but we’ll have to see what he does in office.  I think he does and he can make a lot of changes, but we will have to see. 

 

Do you think he is going to inspire millions of other Obamas around the world?

 

That will be great.  We’ll have to see what he does in office again, but I hope he will also make the Americans happy at home so that he’ll stay in office eight years and he can have the chance to make the changes that need to happen.

 

Will he inspire you to do anything different?

 

No, because I have never been different.  I have always been the way I am.  I just agree with what Obama is doing and I think he is the best opportunity for the United States right now.  I think its great and I hope it sends a message to the world.

Interview of Anshu Sisodia

New Delhi, India

 

What do you think about Barack Obama winning the presidency of the United States?

 

Unfortunately I couldn’t follow the election, but it was great to see Obama winning.  Whatever thoughts I saw about him in the paper, especially for our country, sounds much more sensible and much more promising than what McCain had to say.

 

If you were in his shoes and could make one change, what would that be?

 

Create more educational institutions.  Lack of education and awareness causes a lot of problems.  When education and awareness is there, you know your goals and it helps you to understand your dreams.

 

Do you believe Obama has inspired a new generations of leaders?

 

Absolutely.  When Obama speaks, he is not extravagant about his thoughts and opinions and it makes sense to almost everybody.  It’s a big deal for a country like America to have a black President.  I hate to use that term, but unfortunately whites are the most racist people that we have come across.  Whether its Americans or the British, they are big racists. 

 

Do you think Indians are racists?

 

Not at all, when foreigners come to India and dress up like us or eat our food, we treat them with so much love.  When we go to their country, we are looked down upon and that’s a fact that is known globally. 

There is no doubt that President-Elect Barack Obama has his work cut out for him.  Along with the current financial crisis the United States and the rest of the world is facing, tensions are increasing in Russia as Vladimir Putin continues his dictatorship rule. 

 

Garry Kasparov, leader of The Other Russia coalition and a contributing editor of The Wall Street Journal, wrote in a recent article that Obama must not “look into Mr. Putin’s eyes instead of looking at his record”, a mistake President George W. Bush has often made when assessing the Russian leader. 

 

The article by Mr. Kasparov is a must read and can be found here. 

 

Russia’s economy, which is highly dependent on oil, is on the verge of collapse.  Despite this, the political leadership of the country is more concerned about personal business interests and extending term limits so they can stay in office longer.  The democracy that Russians were promised is nowhere in site.  The current Russian President, Dmitry Medvedev, was elected by a single vote, that of Mr. Putin.  This is hypocrisy at its best.

 

What’s interesting to me is that even 142 million Russians are hopeful that Obama will bring positive change to their country.  How much can one man do?  We are surely going to find out. 

 

We are undoubtedly witnessing history being created right before our eyes.  Barack Obama has rekindled hope in the hearts of people around the world and has given a voice back to those that have kept quiet for the past eight years.  Day by day Obama’s global army of change agents continues to grow.  He can only accomplish the impossible with the help of millions at the grassroots level and in local communities.  Join him, and together lets make the world a better place to live.

 

Interview of Rory Wilson

New Delhi, India

 

What do you think about Barack Obama winning the presidency in the United States?

 

To be honest, I was at a loss for words when I heard it.  It was such a powerful moment for me because my mom was involved in the civil rights movement in the 1960s and 1970s.  When you consider America’s racial past, the segregation, Rosa Parks and everything like that, it was so historic for America to elect a black President forty to fifty years after all of the troubles that were taking place.  It was very moving for me.  I had heard that CNN had announced that he was the winner and to be honest, tears welled up to my eyes because I just found it really moving and really emotional. 

 

You are here in New Delhi, India right now, what do you think are the sentiments of Obama in New Delhi and around the world?

 

It may be controversial to say this, but a lot of people I have spoke to in New Delhi are supportive of Obama and they are happy for Obama, but not many of them are as politically aware and hold a strong interest in the election as maybe people from the United Kingdom, people from Western Europe or Kenya.  Possibly because they are a bit more detached from the election and they are going about their daily lives.  They don’t hold as much as vested interest in the election as maybe a few other people. 

 

But the ones who did follow the elections, most of them were for Obama.  A couple of my friends, however, who used to live in the United States and go to the United States quite often, were John McCain supporters mainly due to tax policies, but I would say the vast majority were pro Obama.

 

Does Obama inspire you?

 

Yes and no.  He’s inspirational because I think he is going to take the country into a new direction post-Bush.  I don’t know if you can publish expletives, but Bush was an absolute fuck-up. 

 

On the other hand, I don’t support Obama’s policy on Israel and Palestine.  I am more sympathetic towards the Palestinian side and their needs and causes. 

 

Do you think it is going to be controversial with Rahm Emanuel as his Chief of Staff?

 

In a sense, I do think so.  The biggest reason is probably because Emanuel is a Clintonian.  He’s from the Clinton years.  A lot of people saw Obama as this catylist for change bringing in fresh new faces and Emanuel comes in and he’s an old face and there he is Chief of Staff.  Another thing that has disappointed people is the fact that during the campaign Obama said he wasn’t going to bring lobbyists into his government and he has just announced that lobbyists, to a certain extent as long as stipulate to an ethical code, will be allowed to be part of his administration.  So people see that as a role reversal.

 

He does flip flop on a few issues.  Like campaign funding.  He signed with McCain a statement he would accept federal funds for his campaign, but he backtracked and decided for private funding, and thus he raised three to four times the amount that McCain raised.

 

Is Obama going to inspire a new generation of other young Obamas around the world?

 

I’m skeptical.  I don’t think that one could find another Obama in the United Kingdom.  I don’t think we’re as progressive compared to the United States.  Maybe a few other countries, possibly France or Germany there could be.  When you consider the diversity in the world today and the number of countries and the number of political systems and the number of religions, America is fairly unique with the system and history it has.  I would disagree.  I would think that Obama for the time being is fairly unique.

Interview of Shaunali Nanda

New Delhi, India (visiting from New York City)

 

What do you think about Barack Obama winning the presidency in the United States?

 

As it is the presidency of the United States is an honor, but he has achieved something far greater being who he is.  The most important fact is that America was proven not to be a hypocrite.  They put their money where their mouth is.  All those great things they have prophesized all their lives about liberty, justice and equal opportunity, they have proved themselves right by voting for a Black American.  That means they have come a long way and have truly liberated themselves as a true secular and equal nation.  For them, that was huge!

 

If you were in his shoes and could make one change, what would that be?

 

There are so many.  At the moment there are still minorities considered.  I would eliminate the differences between minorities and primary citizens.  It should just be equal for everybody.  Because Obama’s proven that, that’s the first thing he should do. 

 

He has to be very tight on laws for sexual harassment for children.  He has to be very tight on parole officers and what they do with prisoners.  Another thing he definitely has to do is take care of healthcare in the nation.  I have a job and I have healthcare, but I just feel so bad for those that don’t have healthcare, especially for children who don’t have it, because it is such a huge expense. 

 

Has Obama inspired you?

 

Very much!  I will tell you very proudly that I wasn’t going to vote for him.  I was going to vote for McCain.  I would have regretted voting for McCain.  I am so happy that Obama is President.  Because when he did become President, you have no idea what euphoria was.

 

You see, he’s black.  You can not take that away from him.  And what he has set is a standard for achievement for minorities.  Now you can go home and tell your child, that is what you can be.  Otherwise it was always limited…  “you can’t achieve, you can’t get into this college, you wont get this job.”  But now, you have a standard you can reach.  You can become the President of the United States, irrespective of color, which is huge!

 

Can Obama fix the world’s problems on his own or will he need help?

 

He has said that he can not do the job alone.  He has said that I can not be the brother, I can not be the father, I can not be anybody else, but I can work with you.

Interview of Siddharth Sood (Director of Marketing, AG Acoustics)

New Delhi, India

 

What do you think about Barack Obama winning the presidency in the United States?

 

I think it’s fantastic.  I was about to leave for office when he was about to make his speech and I have frankly never heard a better President-elect make a speech.  What he said, he said with so much passion, that I believe he will do the things he promised.  Seeing the people’s faces when he made that speech, you could see that they were looking for change and hope.  Which is what has happened.  Obama becoming President represents change. 

 

I was in the United States two months ago and the people there were all looking for change.  That is something you saw in their faces.  People had tears in their eyes when they watched his speech.  He said some things that pleased everybody, including the ones that supported him and even those that didn’t support him, he said the changes might not happen in a year or in one term, but I have never been more hopeful.

 

It was inspiring.  And I am not the type of person that gets inspired easily, but after the speech, the kind of optimism that was there in people’s minds was great.  The world and the change is about optimism.  We all live in hope for a better tomorrow.  We are not hoping that things will get worse.  He has given everybody hope at a time when the world needs it most.

 

Do you think Obama is going to inspire a new generation of young leaders? 

 

Yes, absolutely.

 

Why is that?  What’s so special about him?

 

Everything about him.  What isn’t?  This is a guy who comes from an African-American background and for the first time in the history of the United States becomes the 44^th President. 

 

Now Indians in America will tell their kids that you can aspire to become the President.  It is only in the United States of America where something like this can happen. 

 

Sonia Gandhi is accepted today in India because she is a Gandhi first and an Italian second.  Let a person of non-Indian origin try and stand up for the Prime Minister of the country.  The opposition will gun him down immediately.

Obama represents so many things.  He was chosen over an all-American veteran war hero.  That says it all.

 

If you were in Obama’s shoes and could make one change, what would that be?

 

Betterment of mankind, society and less pollution.