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UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 NEW DELHI 002094 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NP, AC, PM 
 
STATE FOR INR/MR 
 
STATE FOR SCA/INS, PM/CBM, PM/PRO 
 
STATE FOR SCA/PPD, PA/RRU 
 
STATE FOR AID/APRE-A 
 
USDOC FOR 4530/IEP/ANESA/OSA FOR BILL MURPHY 
 
E.O. 12958:N/A 
TAGS: KMDR KPAO PGOV PREL IN
SUBJECT: SPECIAL REPORT: PRESIDENT OBAMA'S NOBEL PRIZE 
DRAWS MIXED REACTION IN INDIAN MEDIA 
 
¶1. SUMMARY:  Indian media commentators were divided on 
whether President Barack Obama deserved the Nobel Peace 
Prize. Those in favor argued he has shown remarkable 
initiatives on the Middle East, inclusive Muslim 
outreach, and non-proliferation and has all the makings 
of a world statesman. They felt the prize will only 
help keep up the pressure on him to stay the path. 
Others argued that it was a premature decision, and 
that the Nobel had been compromised.  Some 
editorialists feared President Obama's dream of a 
nuclear weapons-free world could imply arm-twisting an 
easy country like India. The entire range of commentary 
from India's leading English and vernacular newspapers 
follows. END SUMMARY. 
 
--------------------- 
IN FAVOR / OPTIMISTIC 
--------------------- 
 
¶2. "DECODING THE AWARD," THE TIMES OF INDIA, English 
daily: "We agree that Obama hasn't done nearly enough 
to earn him the stature of, say, a Nelson Mandela. But 
does that invalidate the Nobel committee's decision to 
award him the Peace prize? On the contrary, it could be 
a brilliant move. The future of the world hinges on men 
like Obama. By awarding the Peace prize to him, the 
Nobel committee is in effect telling Obama that the 
world has certain expectations of him." 
 
¶3. "THE BURDEN OF EXPECTATIONS," THE HINDU, English 
daily: "It reflects the tremendous hope that has 
underlined the emergence of Mr. Obama as a world figure 
on whom is placed the burden of enormous expectations. 
The Nobel committee's logic appears to be a proactive 
one. The peace prize is not just about recognizing 
achievement. It is also meant to be a catalyst for 
positive change. This high level assertion of faith in 
Mr. Obama's sincerity and capability should make it 
easier for him to take bold strides in diplomatic 
initiatives in West Asia and on the disarmament front. 
 
¶4. "NOBEL WINS AN OBAMA," THE HINDUSTAN TIMES English 
daily: "There are occasions when the institution itself 
can bolster its own standing - or should we say public 
image - by awarding someone whose clout in terms of 
brand equity is much larger than its own. The Nobel 
Committee's decision to award Mr. Obama this year's 
Peace Prize can only be explained along these lines. 
If nothing else, the Nobel Peace Prize now can be seen 
for what it is: a brand-building exercise for the Nobel 
Committee. The award also makes us understand at last, 
even if indirectly, why Mahatma Gandhi, among a few 
others, did not get the precious honor." 
 
¶5. "THOROUGHLY DESERVED," THE ASSAM TRIBUNE, English 
daily: "Despite being saddled with two wars not of his 
making, Obama has been projecting to the world his 
vision of a world bonded in fraternal ties, 
irrespective of race, religion, creed or nationality. 
The Nobel Peace Prize is a symbolic acknowledgement of 
this hope and is thoroughly deserved by Obama." 
 
NEW DELHI 00002094  002 OF 005 
 
 
 
¶6. "WHO DESERVED IT MORE THAN OBAMA?" DAINIK BHASKAR, 
Hindi daily: "A Nobel for Obama is a reason to rejoice, 
not lament. This will strengthen the American 
President's leadership role in the world. If Obama 
lives up to his great ideals, he can change the map of 
the world." 
 
¶7. "OBAMA FOR PEACE," DAINIK HINDUSTAN, Hindi daily: 
"Obama's opinion on disarmament may be uncomfortable 
for India, but his intention is certainly to make the 
world more secure. We hope the Nobel will help make his 
efforts successful, for the sake of world security." 
 
¶8. " 'NOBLE' OBAMA," SAKAL, Marathi daily: " In just 10 
months, Obama has shown to the world that the head of a 
powerful nation can also speak of friendship. Obama's 
befriending smile endears young and old at the same 
time." 
 
¶9. "ALL HAIL OBAMA," THE NEW INDIAN EXPRESS, English 
daily: "If he proves in the end to be indeed the Great 
Conciliator, as Ronald Reagan was the Great 
Communicator, the Nobel Committee's decision will be 
seen as prescient." 
 
¶10. "REWARD FOR NEW INITIATIVE," DINAKARAN, Tamil 
daily: "President Obama's initiative for peace through 
dialogue has influenced leaders of several other 
countries. The Nobel prize will encourage President 
Obama to do more in this direction." 
 
¶11. "PRIZE NOT BED OF ROSES, BUT CROWN OF THORN," 
AKHBAR-E-MASHRIQ, Urdu daily: "We cannot deny that 
Obama has set certain targets to achieve world peace. 
He has stopped torturing arrested terrorists, closed 
Guantanamo, expressed his vision for a nuclear-free 
world, and started the process for Middle-East peace... 
Hopefully, the Nobel award will make him more 
responsible and accountable." 
 
¶12. "NOBLE AWARD TO OBAMA," MILAP, Urdu daily: "It was 
no mistake to award the Nobel peace prize to President 
Obama. But now it is his responsibility to protect the 
honor of the award. Islamic countries should welcome 
it, as Obama has initiated steps to forge a new 
relationship with the Islamic world. This award is a 
suggestion to Muslim countries to accept his efforts 
for peace." 
 
¶13. "NOBLE PEACE AWARD TO BARACK OBAMA," SIASAT, Urdu 
daily: "The award encourages President Obama to 
continue his ongoing efforts for nuclear disarmament. 
Apart from this, a big responsibility has been put on 
his shoulder for restoration of peace in the Middle 
East." 
 
¶14. "POLITICS OVER NOBLE PEACE PRIZE," RASHTRIYA 
SAHARA, Urdu daily: "The Noble Committee's decision 
seems to be to put its stamp of approval on the 
American people's decision to elect Obama as President. 
 
NEW DELHI 00002094  003 OF 005 
 
 
The Republican Party is playing a cheap politics on the 
issue." 
 
----------------------------------- 
AGAINST / SKEPTICAL / NOT CONVINCED 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶15. "A PRIZE TO BIND NUCLEAR INDIA," THE MINT, English 
daily: "The Nobel is sure to give Obama affirmation 
about his ideas for a nuclear weapons-free world. The 
trouble is that he is unlikely to be able to get 
countries such as Iran and North Korea to back off from 
the path they've chosen. He is also unlikely to be able 
to get Russia and China to disarm before the US takes 
such steps. That leaves players such as India that are 
considered easy to arm-twist in this quest. 
 
¶16. "NOBEL PRIZE FOR PEACE HAS LOST ALL CREDIBILITY," 
columnist M.J. Akbar in THE PIONEER, English daily: 
"Mr. Obama might have saved himself a great deal of 
trouble by saying thanks, but no thanks. But he could 
not resist an award whose credibility collapsed the 
moment he got it. Mr Obama has given a few pretty 
speeches and knocked on the table at the United 
Nations. Mr Obama has made no effort to rein in the 
most powerful nuclear weapons power in history, a 
nation that refused to accept any international control 
or convention and continues to develop the most 
sophisticated nuclear weapons technology. That country 
is, of course, the United States of America." 
 
¶17. "AUDACITY OF NOBEL," THE TELEGRAPH English daily: 
"In an ideal world, the Dalai Lama would meet, greet 
and welcome the newest member of what is the world's 
most exclusive club, especially since the two men have 
worked for peace in the Nobel Committee's assessment. 
But that will not happen.  Although the Dalai Lama is 
spending a week in Washington, his itinerary will not 
include a meeting with the President because Obama...does 
not want - or perhaps cannot afford - to annoy the 
Chinese.  That, in a nutshell, sums up one of the many 
contradictions in the somewhat bizarre decision to 
award Obama the Nobel peace prize." 
 
¶18. "AWARD GOES AWRY," THE STATESMAN, English daily: 
"This is not to slam the highly charming President, he 
does have the potential to attain what would merit the 
Nobel Peace prize, but he hasn't done that as yet." 
 
¶19. "THE NOBEL AND THE AUDACITY OF HOPE-GIVING," 
strategic editor Siddharth Varadarajan, THE HINDU: "The 
world is so accustomed to American presidents waging 
war that the first incumbent to promise diplomacy gets 
to win the Nobel peace prize regardless of what he 
does." 
 
¶20. "WHAT HAS OBAMA ACHIEVED?"  RAJASTHAN PATRIKA, 
Hindi daily: "Obama has himself shown surprise at 
getting the Nobel. With the kind of reactions he is 
getting, President Obama should graciously return the 
award. " 
 
NEW DELHI 00002094  004 OF 005 
 
 
 
¶21. "HASTY NOBEL," NAI DUNIYA, Hindi daily: "With his 
peace initiatives Obama has created an image of himself 
completely different from his predecessor George Bush, 
but let us not forget those initiatives are yet to bear 
fruit. No doubt the award will strengthen Obama's will, 
but awards are for showing results not intentions." 
 
¶22. "OBAMA NOBEL - HARD TO DIGEST," AMAR UJALA, Hindi 
daily: "The Nobel committee has belittled its own award 
by conferring it upon Obama. Does the most powerful man 
on earth need a Nobel to encourage him to work toward 
peace?" 
 
¶23. "NOBEL COMMITTEE'S SHOCK," MAHARASHTRA TIMES, 
Marathi daily: "Obama's policies are yet to leave a 
mark on the world. Its effects are yet to be seen. By 
giving away this prize the Nobel committee has not just 
acted in haste but has also reduced the seriousness of 
this prize. " 
 
¶24. "NOBEL PEACE PRIZE SPREADING DISORDER," NAVAKAL, 
Marathi daily: "If Obama is given this prize then the 
U.S. should not attack any country in the future.  It 
should not give financial help to any country to buy 
weapons. It should have regulations on its factories 
producing weapons." 
 
¶25. "OBAMA GRADED EVEN BEFORE EXAM," NAVASHAKTI, 
Marathi daily: "It has been one year since Obama has 
been president but the nuclear weapons free world of 
his dreams is still a far-fetched proposition. In such 
a scenario the Nobel committee's decision seems a 
little astonishing." 
 
¶26. "PRIZE NO LONGER NOBLE," GUJARATMITRA, Gujarati 
daily:  "Are only efforts sufficient to win an honor of 
this stature?  Doesn't one need to show results? The 
last date for nomination was February 1, while Obama 
took over on January 20 as the President.  What did 
Obama do in those 11 days for peace?" 
 
¶27. "NOBEL PRIZE DEVALUED?" DIVYA BHASKAR, Gujarati 
daily:  "Isn't it surprising that the head of a nation, 
known for its global policeman attitude gets the Nobel 
Peace Prize for just making an appeal for global peace? 
Under his leadership, Pakistan received massive aid 
that the latter is using against India." 
 
¶28. "IS PRIZE STILL 'NOBLE'?" JANMABHOOMI, Gujarati 
daily:  "The decision to award Obama can be defended on 
two counts -- firstly to encourage a visionary leader, 
and secondly to commemorate an African-American's rise 
to US Presidency....  However, the decision seems hasty." 
 
¶29. "WILD CARD: THE CHOICE PUTS THE AWARD IN A NEW 
LIGHT," DECCAN HERALD, English daily: "The Nobel 
Committee was perhaps influenced by the idea of Obama 
as it was projected, evolved through his campaign and 
was understood by the world.... The Committee could have 
waited for Obama to realize that idea through his 
 
NEW DELHI 00002094  005 OF 005 
 
 
actions at least partially before rushing to honor 
him." 
 
¶30. "PRESTIGE OF PRIZE IN JEOPARDY," PRAJAVANI, Kannada 
daily: "Obama's ideas about nuclear non-proliferation 
are still only vocal, and many of his assurances like 
withdrawal of forces from Iraq and about Palestine 
issue are yet to be realized." 
 
¶31. "NOBEL FOR OBAMA," UDAYAVANI, Kannada daily: "This 
development has created doubts in the minds of people 
about the Nobel Peace Prize. Now, the responsibility of 
restoring the credibility of the Prize rests on 
President Obama. He should don the role of the 
messenger of peace" 
 
¶32. "WHY NOBLE AWARD TO OBAMA?" MUNSIF, Urdu daily: 
"What are Obama's achievements? What has he done to 
save humanity from horrifying atrocities of war, for 
which Noble Prize is being awarded to him?" 
ROEMER