The Vishwa Guru Myth: India’s Foreign Policy Surrenders and the Assault on its Farmers

For years, the Indian government has sold a loud, colorful narrative to the world: the story of a “Vishwa Guru” (Global Teacher) that stands tall and independent. But as 2026 unfolds, this facade has finally crumbled. What we are witnessing today is not the rise of a sovereign giant, but a spineless foreign policy that bows to global superpowers in secret, only to turn its aggression inward against its own people when exposed.

The recent events of February 2026 have laid bare the ugly truth: whenever New Delhi fails at the international negotiating table, it sends the bill to the Indian farmer—and uses the police “lathi” (baton) to collect it.

1. The 2026 Trade Surrender: A Sell-out of the Soil

The interim India-US trade framework signed in early February 2026 is a masterclass in national betrayal. While the government’s PR machine tried to spin it as a “strategic partnership,” the Financial Times (UK) was quick to expose the reality: this deal emerged under heavy pressure from Washington.

The US framed this deal specifically to dismantle India’s tariff structure, demanding access to a market that feeds millions. By folding to these demands, New Delhi has effectively signed a death warrant for the Indian peasantry. The facts are undeniable:

• The 86% Factor: Roughly 86% of Indian land holdings are under 2 hectares. These small-scale farmers have zero shield against the subsidized, industrial-scale agricultural dumping from the US.
• The Price of Silence: On February 12, 2026, a massive nationwide strike paralyzed the country. Farmers correctly labeled this a “Surrender Deal.” They know that when the gates open to US agri-giants, local prices will crash, leading to even more rural debt and suicides—a crisis already highlighted by the NCRB as a national tragedy.

2. A Chronic Habit of “Strategic Submission”

This isn’t a single mistake; it’s a pattern of weakness that has defined India’s global standing for years.

• The Iran Oil Capitulation (2019): In May 2019, India completely stopped importing Iranian oil because the US told them to. Despite the “strategic autonomy” slogan, New Delhi sacrificed its energy security and hit the pockets of every Indian citizen just to please the White House.
• The RCEP Retreat (2019): It took a massive uprising in November 2019 to force the government to pull out of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. They were ready to drop dairy and farm import duties toward zero, which would have obliterated the livelihoods of millions.
• The Rafale Shadow: Even defense deals, like the €7.87 billion (₹59,000 crore) Rafale agreement, have been shrouded in a lack of transparency. Instead of answering to Parliament, the government used disruptions and noise to hide the details of a deal that many see as more about diplomacy than defense.

3. If You Can’t Lead Abroad, You Crush at Home

The most disgusting part of this failure is the government’s domestic response. When the 2026 trade deal sparked outrage, the state didn’t choose dialogue; it chose violence. This has become the standard operating procedure for a regime that is “soft” on superpowers and “hard” on its own citizens.

The human cost of this ego-driven governance is staggering:

• The 2021 Tractor Rally: A peaceful protest turned into a war zone with 89 police injured and 200 arrests. Instead of listening, the state built concrete walls and planted iron nails in the roads.
• The 2024 Bloodshed: During the February 2024 mobilization, a young farmer, Shubh Karan Singh, was killed. In Punjab alone, 160 people were injured by police action.
• The 2026 Crackdown: In Noida and across border points, farmers demanding that agriculture not be “bargained away behind closed doors” were met with tear gas and lathis.

This is the “Mother of Democracy” in name only. In reality, it is a state that treats its food-producers as enemies of the state to hide its own incompetence on the world stage.

 The Illusion of Power and Foreign Police Failure

India’s foreign policy is a documented flop. It is a series of surrenders disguised as “strategic shifts.” From bowing to US sanctions on Iran to caving on agricultural tariffs in 2026, the government has shown that its “strongman” image is only for domestic consumption.

You cannot be a “Vishwa Guru” if you are a puppet to foreign trade interests. You cannot be a “Global Power” if you have to turn your own borders into war zones to stop your own people from speaking the truth. The 2026 trade crisis has proven that New Delhi’s “sovereignty” is a myth—one that is being paid for with the sweat, blood, and tears of the Indian farmer. It is time to stop the lathis, stop the lies, and start putting India’s people before foreign approval.