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his microphone: “This is a big f***ing deal.” No one has a crystal ball, but it is safe to
And later brushed it off with a laugh in an say that US-India relations may be more
NPR interview: “Thank God, my mother business-like than warm. Pre-election
[8]
wasn’t around to hear.” [6] comments are never the essential indicators
and the view of the world is remarkably
What it means for India different. This will be true of Biden, the
On the Indian front, the victory of Joe Biden messiah of foreign policy which will be
has put the well-accomplished Bidens of based on multiple considerations — from
Nagpur, belonging to the Anglo-Indian domestic politics to economic and security
community, in the spotlight. They have a issues and evolving security conditions.
shared ancestry through a mutual great, Having said that, we can be certain that
great, great, great, great grandfather, John issues will probably be resolved so as not
Biden.[7] Leslie Biden of Nagpur had written to affect broader ties. This is reflected in
in 1981 to then Senator Joe Biden (after the first calls made by the Presidency to the
reading his article titled ‘American Express’ ‘Quad’ member allies Japan, Australia, India,
in the Illustrated Weekly of India), and the and the Middle East. Particularly, the call
senator had replied. Unfortunately, Leslie to India reaffirmed the US-India alliance.
passed away in 1983 and none of the media- Elevating climate change as a national
shy Bidens subsequently pursued their security concern was amongst the first of the
ancestry, though Joe Biden acknowledged executive orders signed by President Biden
this connection in speeches in Mumbai after the inauguration.
(2013) and Washington DC (2015). Noteworthy for Indians should be the
The Nagpur Bidens prefer to keep a low delivery on his campaign promise regarding
profile, saying they are doing well in life “by immigrants’ H1B visas, and rescinding
the grace of God”, and don’t wish to make the law which disallows H4 visas held by
claims of any sort. Their statement said, “The dependents to work in the US. There will be
Bidens of India extend their best wishes and zero tolerance towards terrorism in South
God’s blessings to (then president-elect) Joe Asia, cross-border or otherwise. He also
Biden and hope something good comes our committed to immigration reforms that
country’s way.” would allow almost 500,000 undocumented
Which brings us to the question, “What Indian immigrants to become citizens. Also
does Joe Biden’s Presidency mean for India?” included is his resurrection of the STEM
policy which would allow foreign graduates
to receive a green card along with their
doctoral degree.
Positive forecast
It would be safe to say that with Joe Biden
as the President, the global forecast is
positive. He will make alliances and win
back the trust of many a nation that felt
unfairly treated in the last four years. He
Joe Biden with his son Hunter, an attorney who manages a
private equity firm in Washington DC will not play at divisive politics nor condemn
SENIORS TODAY | ISSUE #20 | FEBRUARY 2021 9
