If everything goes well, the deal is bound to change the history of contemporary world. In essence it is the strongest and the most effective step to protect and promote rich and colourful human civilization. Its significance lies not in military muscle it may forge or the formidable war machine it may manufacture but actually in terms of the path it will pave to lead mankind to the destination of freedom and human dignity.

Indian and American leadership deserves full appreciation for their understanding of ground realities of contemporary times. Coming together of two democracies is a clear signal to regressive forces that the assets of human civilization cannot be left to spoliation.

India desperately needs energy source to meet economic demands of a burgeoning population. The US needs a global structure to support and promote her commitment to human freedom and dignity. The two requirements are interdependent.

The future world must make a shift from military use of nuclear energy to its civilian use. That is perfectly in the interests of all nations. But this cannot happen overnight. The US, with its unique position, is understandably the right country to take the initiative.

India has responded to this initiative with wisdom and pragmatism. It has set an example for others who, unfortunately, assign limited and rather unrealistic use to nuclear energy source.

As economic and technological cooperation between the two democracies grows and impacts the life of broad masses of people in both the countries in a tangible way, the compulsion of military use of nuclear energy will diminish correspondingly. The US and India have caught that vision and taken a bold initiative, which in reality is the first step towards a world free of WMD.

George W Bush is the fifth President of the US to visit India since India’s independence. But he is the first President to reach the people of India: he is also the first President to understand that India a mosaic of different faiths, languages, cultures and ideologies is making the unique yet most stupendous experiment of carrying the one fourth of world’s population along the path of democracy, secularism and pluralism. The US President recognised it fully when he said that in some way Indian democracy was functioning better than that of his own country.

The deal has to be ratified by the US Congress and the Indian Parliament. That is what makes it significant and historic. The Indian Prime Minster has already essayed for majority support in the parliament by making a suvo moto speech delineating the basics of India’s approach to the deal. President Bush will be moving in the direction.

It should not go unnoticed that weeks before the deal was struck the Democrat leader Mr. Kerry had a meeting with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in New Delhi. Prior to that the Saudi King was our guest on Republic Day. Only a week prior to President Bush’s visit, the French President was briefed in New Delhi. In all probability, the Indian government took into account global implications of the impending deal. That is a high watermark of astute statesmanship.

Finally the Indian Prime Minster will be meeting the Left and Muslim representatives for an exchange of ideas about the nuclear deal. The Left in India have, as usual, remained glued to an outdated mindset. But the ink on the deal had hardly dried up when no less a person than Jyoti Basu conceded that economic benefits accruing to the poor people from the deal could not be ignored. Left’s countrywide anti-Bush demonstrations have exposed its bankruptcy of ideas and initiatives. In due course of time, the deal is bound to shatter the Indian Left’s faultfinding psyche.

The Muslims of India have far better understanding and experience of democracy and secularism and by and large have rejected terrorism as the instrument of resolving disputes. Many Indian Muslim leaders have disapproved Iranian President’s tantrum of annihilating Israel. Therefore the Indian Prime Minister appears to be on safe ground while dealing with sceptics.

The author is the former Director of Centre of Central Asian Studies, Kashmir University, India.

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