Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his rare address to the nation, advocated for the Swadeshi movement and ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’. These remarks came during the ongoing tariff tensions with the US and H-1B visa fee hike.

The Swadeshi movement is not new for Indians. The first Swadeshi movement built nationalist unity; today’s version of the Swadeshi movement can build economic confidence. The modern Swadeshi movement is not about rejecting globalisation, but about smart self-reliance.

The US tariffs on India have created shock and disappointment among Indians. On social media and other platforms, people are saying the US will not be a trustworthy friend anymore. These tariffs will create both short-term challenges and long-term opportunities.

For India, the key is not to see tariffs only as barriers, but as a chance to restructure trade, upgrade industries, and position itself as an alternative hub. When Donald Trump became the President of the US for a second term, everyone in India thought he would strengthen the relations between two largest democracies. Everyone expected that, in Trump’s second regime, US tariffs would be primarily aimed at reducing reliance on Chinese supply chains. It would leverage India to adopt the “China 1" Strategy.

But shockingly, he imposed tariffs on India rather than China. However, the tariff trade war may not be longer as both countries need each other strategically and economically. India also needs to have good relations with the US for the success of the China 1 strategy.

Trump’s turbulent policies should help India’s administration to understand the needs of the Swadeshi movement. Instead of just giving slogans of the Swadeshi........

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