 This is Think Tech Hawaii, Community Matters here. Okay, we're here. Global Connections, the four o'clock clock here in Hawaii, and we're talking by Zoom to our old friend, a student in Varanasi, India, Karnaki Mishra. It's nice to talk to you, Karnaki. Welcome back to the show. You're looking great. Yes, that's great. It's a long time, I guess. I'm glad we're together again. So you're a student. You're in the third year at a college in Varanasi, India, which is 350 kilometers from the northern border of India in the east. So what's the name of your school, your college? My college name is School of Management Sciences Varanasi. Okay, okay. And so you have, what, a year and a half to go, and you'll be graduated? Six months only. Oh, okay. Oh, that's terrific. So when you graduate with your business degree, you said you were going to take a graduate program. Where would that be? I think it's upon the exams if I qualify to graduate in different colleges, I guess. I will do my master's. Okay, do you mind sharing your grades with us, Karnaki? I imagine you have very good grades. It's fine, I guess. I have to wait for the results of the qualifying exam. Oh, we have to take an exam. Okay. So we don't know what's going to happen until you take the exam. Is the exam hard? Yes, definitely there. Is it business or is it all your college courses? It's business. It's business. Two years business courses, the MBA. And just to get the flavor of your career going forward. So after you take your master's, what's the plan then? Do you have a business plan in mind? Definitely not sure right now, but I will try to work for a private company first and then I will try, if I turn someone, I will invest in different things. Would you stay in India or try to go to another place? I will try to stay in India. So what is your long-term mission to make a lot of money or to do good? Both of them, because it's necessary in today's world. Touche. Okay, let's talk about the subject you had in mind and that's the G20 not too long ago with Buenos Aires. Mr. Modi was there, Donald Trump was there and the representative, the Prime Minister of Japan were there, Abe. And the three of them got together and then you have the JAI, Japan, America and India. What's so special about that? This is a trial action summit which took place around the sidelines of the G20. And this summit was special because it was focusing on the China and the South China Sea or the Indo-Pacific region that these three democratic nations cooperate with each other and maintain an independent free trade in this Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean. And the key center was how to help the prosperity of all the nations in that particular period. So what's the state of trade between the members of JAI, Japan, America and India? Are you having tariffs? Is Japan having tariffs with you? Is it a free trade group of three? What's the state of trade between you? It's not a free trade between any of these three nations. We are having surplus with United States by a few billion. In Japan, we trade largely in their side with surplus with Japan. So it's a mixed trade. We have few advantages with United States and we have few disadvantages with Japan. So it's a mixed trade, I guess. You sent me a video which I'm afraid we really can't play because it's probably copyrighted into a station in India. And so I'd like you to just describe, if you would, what's in that video because it seemed to me that in that video we had a lot of footage of Japan, Abe, America, Trump and India, Modi together. They seemed very friendly. So tell me what was going on there in that video. That's interesting because it is the first time this trilateral summit is happening on any international stage. First time Japan, United States and India is coming together in such an informal or formal meeting, whatever you call it, for the various global issues because these nations are cooperating in various key areas and this will develop in the future. I would like to tell you that Japan, America and India also cooperating in the Malabar exercises, naval exercises especially. So this is the kind of expansion of that Malabar exercises you can see. So as far as India is concerned, that was a notable connection with Donald Trump and America, likewise with Japan. Is that group of three important to India's business and geopolitical relationships, that group of three? Yes, definitely. This particular group of nations promotes all the ideas of democracy in this region because in South China there are issues regarding China and China is being oppressive in that region. Three nations are acting as a balance against China in that region. India is going with influences in the Indian Ocean and with Japan and United States we will promote the trade and free, I would say, transportation and all the trade which are taking through that region is very important for us. I noticed that the JAI, it's not JAIC. Why is there no C on JAI? Why didn't Xi Jinping, why wasn't he in the video? Because it's like to come to China so that's why Xi is not involved. China is definitely the target of the video. Let's talk about relationships between these countries. I'm very curious to know how much you have been following Donald Trump's adventures here in the United States and how the Indian people feel about him. In the United States you must know things are very polarized and a lot of people don't like him at all and his base, they call it his base which is roughly 30% of the electorate like him a lot no matter what he does. I just wonder how you react. When we spoke about this before you mentioned to me that the Indian people they are attracted to Trump because Trump is a strong leader and I wonder how that's going now. Is it still the same? It's still the same. There are so many people who support Trump in India because Trump has taken some decisive decisions regarding China and Pakistan. He has shown his concern about these two nations and these two are the primary concerns for the Indian geopolitics and that's the reason India sees opportunities in Trump. Though there are some differences regarding trade with Donald Trump to the surplus we are having with the U.S. So he wants to reduce that surplus and bring the balance of trade with China also, with India also, with China I think the surplus of trade is around $250 billion and he's planning to increase the tariffs from 10% to 25% on those particular goods. Well okay so let me break it down a little bit there have been so much news and so much chaos I mean for example without discussing it with his military staff he took all the troops out of Syria you know about this and he took all the troops out of Afghanistan. What do you think about that? India is not that far from Central Asia not that far from the Middle East and that may have a destabilizing effect on the Middle East and I wonder what India, what you think about his actions in that regard? Firstly I would like to say Donald Trump thought as an American for the American soldiers he was not thinking about the geopolitical perspectives of this thing he took simply out the soldiers who were purpose-less in the Middle East because this fight with ISIS went wrong I guess the civil war was involved in Syria many other things were happening Russia was involved so I think it was a good decision other powers will remain in the Western Middle East I guess Russia will remain United States may move out of Syria but I guess it's definitely a good thing that soldiers move out of Syria because they were also losing their lives I guess What about some of the other things? He wants to build a wall I'm sure everybody in India knows about the wall and certainly the government is already in a shutdown because of an argument about whether the Congress will pay for the wall or not pay for the wall and the wall is all about immigration policy the wall is all about keeping Mexican asylum seekers and others out of the United States and Trump has consistently tried to avoid any entries limiting entries from any source and India has been a great source of immigrants to the United States there are millions of Indians here and they have done very well I'm sure you know in the United States they are an essential part of our immigration in general so how do you feel about Trump's policies on immigration? Basically what Trump is doing is he is stopping the illegal immigration from the side of Mexico because many of the criminals and other people as he said in his elections that he will make a wall and Mexico will pay for the wall that was his whole motive during the elections of the US so I feel that his approach is against the illegal immigration which is happening in the US and he is not against the legal immigration which is taking place and though he is hard on that also he is a bit against all the immigration policies I believe that and this Indian employees are still working in the United States though the terms have been difficult I think Karnaki we are going to take a short break and we will try to reconnect with you on Zoom and then we will be right back to talk further with Karnaki Mishra a student in Varanasi, India about various things that have happened there and the connection of India with the United States and other countries we will be right back so there was no woman who lived in a shoe she had so many children she didn't know what to do she gave them some broth without any bread and she shared her education with the United States and she was amazing it was a great experience it was a great experience it was a great experience I think that and kiss them all soundly and put them to bed. Hunger is a story we can end. End it at feedingamerica.org. Okay, we're back. We're connected with Khartakee Mishra in Varanasi, India. And we're talking about various points of contact between India and the United States and other contacts it has around the world, emanating from and relative to the G20 and other things. So let's go through the JAI a little more. Japan, how are India relations with Japan right now? Japan's a democracy. You're a democracy. You have an affinity for democracies because you're proud of being a democracy. Yay! So how is your relationship with Japan? With Japan we share an excellent relationship, I believe. I certainly believe that. Japan is a nation in Asia which is a free strategic ally for India. And Japan also gives that status to India, that privilege to India, being a very good partner and ally in Asia. And that's the belief of both the countries that these two democratic nations should cooperate with each other in all the key areas, trade, military and many other multiple fields of innovation and technology. And we are working closely with Japan. Japan's Prime Minister also visited Varanasi in 2015. He was on a visit with Prime Minister Modi in Varanasi. And we are having a very good overall relation with Japan. That's great. Okay. Are you trading with Japan? I mean, you have a serious trade connection with Japan? Yes, we definitely have a very good trade with Japan. And the circle is with Japan in this case. What are you trading? Are you trading high-tech equipment? Are you trading commodities? Both. We trade in raw materials, food products, technology. All these various fields in which we trade is possible. We are trading in Japan. Now, what about China? China, you know, it's clear that China is turning to more repressive government. I read just yesterday that they put rules on Christmas trees, Christmas trees, and Christmas lights and decorations. And in some parts of China, it's criminal to have a Christmas tree or a Christmas light and decoration. And there's all kinds of stories and news reports about how China is cracking down, that Xi Jinping wants control, much more control. And he, of course, is now the president for another term and more powerful. And he gets what he wants. And so, you know, if I were in India and I would say, gee, that's not very democratic of him. India doesn't have those kind of oppressive things happen. How does India feel about China's current direction? Two things I would like to add. Firstly, all these financial terms and terms of development, China has been going in 78. In 70 years, China developed rapidly and is far ahead of India. And that's what I believe. In terms of development, they have this way, exceptionally well. And there will be no second China. That's the thing the Indians admire about China. Secondly, being on, coming to the oppressive terms, yes, China has some policies regarding its own people and other issues, like we talked about the Christmas tree. I recently heard about the news in the U.S. that, regarding Tibet, some fireside and executive order that until and unless China provides the access of U.S. media personnel since Tibet will not allow the media personnel of China in U.S. identity. And that's the whole approach. There are areas in which we cooperate with China and there are areas we do not. And we do not share the beliefs of China. Well, okay. But things are, generally speaking, friendly between you and China then. Yes, they are. So let me go back to the G20 for a minute. So we have the JAI and we have Japan and America and India, you know, in this video you said, and they are very friendly. But question is, did they cut a deal? Did they make an agreement of any kind? Or is it just a matter of handshakes? It was a kind of a meeting. It was not something which we led to a declaration or a definite conclusion. It was just a meeting between the three great nations for the very first time. And that was historic in its time, I believe. And we had a meeting with China also. We had the informal BRICS summit at the G20. Brazil was there, Russia was there, India was there, China was there, South Africa was there. So we had a BRICS summit with China. We had a BRIC meeting with China, what we call Russia today. And China meeting which took place after the gap of 12 years. So India is on good terms with China as well and the United States as well. Well, you know, one of the players at G20 was Russia. Vladimir Putin came around. And Russia is a subject of a lot of investigations now. I'm sure you know in the United States. And Russia is playing geopolitical strategies in the Middle East and elsewhere and trying to re-emerge as a global power and trying to expand its influence in many places. Now I wonder how that plays with India because Russia is really not a democratic country. I wonder how people in India feel about that and whether they see Russia as a threat to Indian interests. That's very interesting. Let me begin with brief history of Russia and India relations. India got its dependence in 1947 and it's 2018 we have completed 70 years of our independence. And we have been on very good terms with Russia far much better than the United States. And this year, India was really close to the USSR till 1991. We've had different projects with the USSR, different deals with the USSR. We've had weapons being supplied from the USSR. So India was a very good nation as a great partner for Russia and it's now also India is having a very big deal with Russia. We had the S-400 deal which was worth around 5 billion US dollar and Donald Trump put sanctions on that deal. He said that whoever trades with Russia, the United States will implement a sanction on these nations. India took the deal, India did the deal with Russia and the United States did not put the sanctions on India and commented that these relations of India with Russia are strategic in nature and the United States will not harm the strategic interests of its allies in the Asia. So I know it's hard to answer this but so you have China vying for India's attention to do business and making loans and investments in Indian projects. You have Russia the same thing and you have the U.S. I believe although it's questionable with Trump he's different. The U.S. but traditionally wants to stay close and have a close business relationship with India. After all we have so many people who are connected with India. Which one is the biggest deal? Which one is investing more and developing more and doing more business? Do you have a feeling about the order of magnitude? Yes, personally there are stages of trade, different levels of trade with different nations. I guess China is the largest trading partner of India in Asia and on global terms also. We have 100 billion dollars of trade with China, surplus lying in favor of China and that's the key issue with India and China. India wants to reduce that deficit of trade which is lying in their favor. Russia will mostly have a deal with them in weapons. We have a deal with them in resources, minerals, natural gas, various projects are there with Russia. And with the United States we are dealing with weapons, IP sector and a few other things. So if I have to give a rank to these nations, first would be China and second would be United States, third would be Russia. Interesting. So Mr. Modi was certainly an important player at G20. It was clear in the video that he's a heavy hitter. He was there and he was making traction there. It seemed to me from watching it. And I wondered how he's doing politically in India these days. You mentioned that there are national elections in May. How does it look for him? What's upon a time when we started speaking actually, you were telling me he was pretty popular. Is he still as popular today or have things changed, Karnaki? Things have changed for Modi. There were elections in state elections, what we were like have federal elections in the United States, similar to that. So he got defeated in three states by the corporate party and in other two states by the regional party. So on the state level or the federal level what he called, the performance of his party has not been good. Certainly he'll be having such influence on international politics and on different levels of the areas of government. He has a chance that he will be with such competition with the allies in 2019. So it will be one of the most interesting elections as for the Indian interest and thinking over things in mind. The alliance, I guess around 20 to 25 parties will make an alliance against the BJP or the Indian government whom Modi belongs. So who is running against him, you think? Is it clear? Is the field determined already about who is going to be running against him in May for Premier? That's a very interesting question. I'd like to add these alliance for 25 parties have not decided and needed. They have not focused on a particular leader that who would be the finalist after if they win the election. So that's the whole confusion about which person from which party will be the leader of the alliance because they have different interests, different beliefs, different ideologies and they are working totally against one focus that somehow or the other they have to defeat the Prime Minister Modi. That's their whole huge issue. They do not have any ideology behind or development plan behind. Their sole focus is to defeat Modi in 2019. So that's a very big issue that they have not decided a leader yet. In terms of progress, how would you say people see his achievements? How is he done by the economy? How is he done by relations with other countries? How is he done in advancing his initiatives? I remember, for example, when we spoke earlier, you told me that he had changed the currency arrangements so that to discourage the use of cash. That was unpopular at first, but it seems like people got used to it and so it may not be a negative politically for him now. Tell me about how people see his level of achievement and popularity these days. Okay. When Modi got in power in 2014 and Modi now in 2018, late 2018, we are moving towards 2019, his popularity has been definitely reduced by some of the decisions made by the government. So may they have a chart that says 50-50 kind of 50 person favoring the decision, 50 person not favoring the decision. So it is a kind of mixed feeling about him that people were having much more expectations from Prime Minister Modi when he came to power and those expectations were, I would say, different from reality, what he performed, the actual performance, and the expected performance added to it. And that seems to issue that Modi is facing this crisis in India. How is the economy these days? The economy is just trying, the growth rates are stable, but people from the alliance, as I said, were opposing few of his decisions, few of his views which he did. Overall, the economy is performing good. There are no doubts about it. We have good rates. But on the ground level, there are issues which people are talking about, but issues should be taken by the government. Excuse me. I remember also that in the time you and I have talked, there were various scandals about people, about men raping women on buses and doing misogynistic things. Is that still going on or has that been dealt with? That's the issue that has been dealt with, I guess. And these crimes are something which are in society. These crimes can't be stopped by one particular government. Like crimes do take place in the society. Kinds do happen in the United States. Kinds do happen in India. It's difficult to stop them for one particular person or one particular government. Things happen, but there are decisions. There are laws against it, and people are trying their best to stop suggesting these. Have there been prosecutions and convictions? Yes, they have. One last thing is, we're almost out of time, but I'd like to ask you, we're here in the U.S. We're about to celebrate Christmas this weekend. I don't know if you celebrate Christmas that much in India, but then the weekend after that, we're going to have our New Year's, and I guess you do celebrate New Year's. And I wonder what your thoughts are about how things are going to be for India and for India's partners in the global community into next year. I'd also like to know how you see your own future next year. My answer is that our dreams are taking place in India. People are hoping for the best in 2019. And government is also taking decisions that will help them in that next year because the elections will be there. So I feel that things are moving forward, and it just depends upon time, how things will progress for India and for the international politics as well. So in the U.S., around this time of year, we take time off, Kartike. We don't go to school. We don't work. The offices are closed. And this year, the government's going to be closed pretty well because we've had to shut down already. But I wonder if you're going to take any time off. And if you are for the holiday here at the end of the year, what are you going to do with that time? I am celebrating holidays. My holidays are currently running. I would like to say that my college exam ended on the 15th of December. And I'm celebrating the holidays. There will be holidays for Christmas. There will be holidays for New Year's. And we celebrate Christmas in Varanasi as we are. A three-day fair or a first place at the church is Varanasi. It's very interesting. I only have one last question. It just occurs to me now, Kartike. Do you think there's ever a time for you in India you might run for office? It does depend. If I run for office, if I become the prime minister, I will definitely visit Hawaii. Okay, well, if you run for office and you win for office, will you still talk to us? Definitely. I will visit Hawaii. Okay. Diplomatic relations with Hawaii. Well, I hope we can talk to you in January and catch up with you on whatever issues are relevant at the time. Thank you, Kartike. Kartike Mishra, a student in Varanasi, India. We enjoyed talking to him from time to time and finding out how things are doing in school in Varanasi and in India and in India's relationships. Thank you so much, Kartike.