By Robert Clements
Let’s Start Walking Our Talk, Sir..!
I read the news report with a smile—one of those polite, tight-lipped smiles you give when someone’s trying to sell you something you already own.
The headline proudly declared: “Zelensky calls Modi; Modi tells him efforts should be made to find a peaceful solution to the war.”
Ah! Great words. Noble words. The sort of words that sound like they belong engraved on a plaque right next to “Live, Laugh, Love” or “Save Water, Drink Coffee.” But then I read the fine print—the bit that usually hides the truth like the “terms and conditions” no one bothers to read. Turns out, President Zelensky didn’t just call to exchange pleasantries. He called to explain, very diplomatically, that if India stopped buying oil from Russia, it would help bring the war to an end.
In other words: “Dear India, the keys to peace are partly in your pocket.”
And our Prime Minister’s reply? “Yes, there should be peace.” That’s like your neighbour telling you, “Your broken drainpipe is flooding my living room,” and you replying, “Yes, everyone should live in a dry house.” The problem isn’t the words—we’re brilliant with words. We can churn out lofty statements faster than a politician’s media team can tweet them. We talk of “peaceful co-existence,” “justice for all,” “inclusive growth,” and “world’s largest democracy.” We have official slogans that sound like TED Talk titles.
The trouble is, the world—and our own people—are beginning to notice that our walk is limping far behind our talk.
It’s one thing to say we want peace in a war 5,000 kilometres away; it’s another thing entirely to make the difficult, practical choices that would actually help bring that peace about.
Likewise, it’s easy to proclaim we’re the “world’s largest democracy” when speaking to a global audience; it’s much harder to ensure that dissent is respected, the press is free, and the rule of law applies equally—whether it’s for a poor street vendor or a rich industrialist. And here’s the thing: credibility, once lost, is like that slippery bar of soap in the bathroom—easy to drop, hard to pick up without bending over and risking a fall.
The world no longer just listens—it fact-checks. The moment we make a statement, a thousand analysts, journalists, and social media warriors (many with more free time than wisdom) are ready to pounce. And they don’t just listen to the words—they pull up the receipts. If the deeds don’t match the declarations, screenshots start circulating faster than a political rumour in Delhi.
Now, some may say, “But Bob, the world doesn’t understand our constraints, our compulsions, our internal politics.” That may be true. But here’s what the world does understand: when words and actions line up, trust grows. When they don’t, suspicion creeps in like damp in an old wall—and once that damp sets in, no amount of whitewash can hide the stains.
Even at home, we must be careful. You can’t keep telling your people that justice is being served while they see a different reality on the ground. You can’t tell citizens that all voices matter if some are told to stay quiet. You can’t keep sending delegations abroad to “explain” our democracy if the headlines back home are doing the explaining for you.
The same principle applies whether we’re talking foreign policy or domestic governance: don’t just say it—do it. If you believe in peace, take the steps that promote peace. If you believe in democracy, strengthen it by protecting its institutions. If you believe in fairness, make sure it’s visible not just in speeches but in street-level reality. Because words without action are like a beautifully wrapped box with nothing inside—they may excite for a moment, but the disappointment that follows is even greater. History doesn’t remember the speeches—it remembers the steps taken after them. Think about it: nobody quotes Churchill for his wartime tea breaks; they remember the actions that matched his rhetoric. Gandhi’s speeches didn’t move the British Empire because of their eloquence alone—they were backed by nonviolent marches, boycotts, and actual sacrifice. If we want the world to take us seriously, we must start walking our talk—whether that means rethinking our oil purchases in a way that aligns with our declared values, or ensuring that “justice for all” actually means all.
And this is not just a matter for governments—it’s a mirror for all of us. We all know people (perhaps even ourselves) who talk about honesty but fudge their taxes, who praise cleanliness but throw litter out of car windows, who speak of helping the poor but conveniently forget when the opportunity comes.
The credibility crisis doesn’t begin in New Delhi—it begins in our living rooms.
So yes, Mr. Prime Minister, the world needs peace. But peace doesn’t arrive by invitation—it needs effort, sacrifice, and sometimes, the courage to act against short-term gain for long-term good. The same is true for justice, for democracy, for every ideal we love to put on banners and podiums.
If we keep saying one thing and doing another, we risk becoming that person at a party everyone stops taking seriously—the one who says, “I’ll be there at 7,” but always arrives at 9:30 with an excuse and a grin. Let’s put the rupee where the rhetoric is. Let’s back the speech with the step. Because sooner or later, the world stops listening to people who don’t mean what they say—and that’s a risk no country, however large its democracy, can afford.
So, let’s start walking our talk, Sir. The world is watching. And so are we…!
(Robert Clements is a newspaper columnist whose column “Bob’s Banter” has appeared in over 60 newspapers across the world. You can request for his daily column on Whatsapp by messaging him on [email protected])