What does India First mean?

Foreign interests are quick to dilute any initiative that tries to create a critical mass of Indians who think solely on behalf of India. This is compounded by Indian ruling classes, both resident and non-resident, who are cluelessly aligned with foreign interests. Further, India’s ruling classes have no interest in operating the country as a Liberal Democracy. Independent India owes its existence to the Constitution of India which coalesced a diverse set of populations under the auspices of a Liberal Democracy. But, even the most educated Indians don’t understand the meaning of Liberal Democracy.
 
We took all these factors into account when formulating the pre-requisites for an India-Firster. The pre-requisites are:

  1. Appreciates Indian identity and diversity without violating principles of a Liberal Democracy
  2. Treats all Indians as equals regardless of religion, caste, class, region, skin colour
  3. Views India as a global power that is not subservient to any other country/civilization
  4. Aligns career goals with India’s strategic goals
  5. Doesn’t work for foreign interests to the detriment of India’s interests
  6. Encourages products built by Indian companies
  7. Is obsessed with making India self-reliant, particularly in technology & finance
  8. Is obsessed with up-skilling fellow Indians to world class standards
  9. Is a rational, independent thinker who focuses on India’s problems, not personalities or political parties
  10. Behaves as a role model for fellow Indians

 
It does not require all Indians to be perfect human beings for India to be a global power. It is our view that 0.01% of Indians i.e., roughly 1 Lakh in number is all that is required to change the destiny of this nation. These individuals are a subset of the Indian Establishment which itself is a subset of the Indian Influencer Class (see How should the Indian system operate to achieve strategic goals?). India-Firsters should:

  1. be driven by the sole ideology of India First
  2. align on India’s strategic goals and
  3. work every single day to achieve these goals.