“To become truly great, one has to stand with people, not above them.”
“The price of greatness is responsibility.”
“History will be kind to me for I intend to write it”
No, the above quotes are not by Dr Singh, they are for him.
The time has come for the Government of India to take the final call on the Indo-US nuclear deal.
It's time for our Prime Minister to finally prove his mettle.
What will it be, good doctor?
Will you choose the path of least resistance and squander a historic opportunity for the sake of being in power for a insignificant few more months?
Will you choose to become a national hero, cheered for his vision and respected for his contribution to the India success story or do you choose to be mocked as a man responsible for India's loss of face in the international community?
Do you want to be remembered as a Prime Minister with an enduring legacy or as a Prime Minister who is known as the Bahadur Shah Zafar of the 21st century?
History is ruthless, Mr Prime Minister. It does not give anyone a second chance. This is the act that will define your career. Any other contribution made by you in your entire earlier career will be eclipsed by how you choose to act on the nuclear deal.
It's in you hands, how you choose to be remembered as. With great power, comes great responsibility. The choice you make will affect the lives of all your billion plus countrymen.
Will you choose to take the country forward into the new century or will you plunge it into darkness?
The choice is clear, Dr Singh. All you need to do is stand up for what you beleive in. All you need to do is not cower down to elements opposed to the deal because of flimsy reasons, elements whose logic is far beyond any reality, elements who would sacrifice the good of the country for short term personal gain.
Do what is necessary. Make nice with all your political enemies. It doesn't matter. We will forgive you for all that. After all, in politics there are no permanent friends or enemies.
Sign the deal and we will stand up and applaud you.
Sign the deal and you become the toast of the nation. You get more coverage than the entire bachchan clan.
Sign the deal and we will even try to forget the past four years.
However, if you don't sign the deal, history will label you as the most spineless prime minister ever.
Future generations will remember you not as the man who had a part to play in the development of our country, but as just another politician whose loyalty lay elsewhere.
Dr Singh, remember your oath. Country, People, God, Party. Remember it.
Also remember, that history is ruthless. It does not forgive. Nor does it forget.
