What? Not everyone finds us fantastic?!

Being popular is tough. Even after behaving responsibly on the world stage, enthusiastically offering to solve the world’s most difficult intractable problems, and rolling out the red carpet for global leaders, it may shock the Regular Jatin that more than half the world doesn’t seem to like India all that much. This is disheartening, especially at a time when most Indians truly believe that everyone (except maybe the Chinese and Pakistanis) love them. According to the Washington-based Pew Research Centre, while 68% of Indian adults strongly believe that India’s influence has risen in the world, only a median of 28% of adults in 19 other countries seem to agree.

The survey by the phoren think-tank also says that barring Nigeria and Kenya, the favourability ratings for India have dipped in most countries. Believe it or not, the steepest dip is in Europe. And, even in Europe, it is the French, of all folks, who don’t seem to be gaga about us. Rafale notwithstanding. India should let this pass without much thought. Just because someone hasn’t heard of SRK in, say, Newfoundland, doesn’t mean SRK is not the king. To Newfoundlanders, Ryan Gosling may well be raja. In any case, self-love is all the rage these days. While indulging in it, India must seek out an objective observer – perhaps an extraterrestrial – to measure its popularity.