Is India Quietly Improving Its Global Handicap by Playing the Long Game
About the Golf Metaphor for Nations
In golf, improvement does not come from attempting heroic shots on every hole. It comes from understanding one’s handicap, respecting the course, and choosing clubs that match capability rather than ego. The same logic increasingly applies to nations navigating a more balanced and competitive global order.
No country hits every shot perfectly. Some swing with borrowed confidence, others with brute force. But a few understand the course, the wind, and the limits of their own swing. Those are the ones who improve consistently.
Why Nations Often Overestimate Their Swing
🔹 The United States attempting to police a multipolar world.
🔹 Russia assuming a swift resolution in Ukraine.
🔹 Israel extending military action beyond strategic and moral limits.
🔹 Power creating confidence that exceeds sustainable capacity.
In golf, professionals warn amateurs against choosing equipment that demands skills they do not yet possess. A high-performance ball does not compensate for insufficient swing speed. When ambition exceeds capability, the result is not distance but inconsistency.
This is where many nations falter. Power tempts overreach. Overreach exposes limits. And limits, once revealed, are costly to hide.
The Changing Global Course
| Old Assumption | New Reality |
|---|---|
| Unipolar dominance | Multipolar balance |
| Power equals control | Power requires restraint |
| Speed over strategy | Endurance over impulse |
The world is not necessarily becoming more violent; it is becoming more equal. As more nations develop economic depth, technological capability, and military competence, old hierarchies strain under their own assumptions.
|
India’s Playing Style
🔹 Discipline over bravado. 🔹 Patience over provocation. 🔹 Long-term positioning. |
What India Avoids
🔹 Flashy but unsustainable moves. 🔹 Declared superiority without depth. |
India does not attempt to hit every shot perfectly. It accepts variance, learns from misses, and improves incrementally. Its progress is not loud, but it is measurable. Economic scale, demographic depth, technological ambition, and diplomatic agility are being added methodically to its bag.
|
Where India Is Today
🔹 Not yet a single-digit handicap. 🔹 Still refining execution. |
Direction of Travel
🔹 Consistent improvement. 🔹 Capability-led confidence. |
India’s handicap is not declared through speeches or slogans. It is earned quietly, through repetition, resilience, and restraint. That makes it durable.
Investor Takeaway: Derivative Pro & Nifty Expert Gulshan Khera, CFP® observes that long-term success—whether in markets or geopolitics—comes from playing within one’s true capability while steadily expanding it. India’s approach reflects the same principle disciplined investors follow: master the course first, then aim for lower scores. Such strategic perspectives are shared at Indian-Share-Tips.com, which is a SEBI Registered Advisory Services.
SEBI Disclaimer: The information provided in this post is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Readers must perform their own due diligence and consult a registered investment advisor before making any investment decisions. The views expressed are general in nature and may not suit individual investment objectives or financial situations.
