God save the Nobel Peace Prize
Once a symbol of rare virtue and global statesmanship, the Nobel Peace Prize has now become the unofficial trophy for delusion and self-congratulation. And this year, the stampede is real. Everyone with a microphone, a modest PR team, or a record of doing the bare minimum for peace—or in some cases, nothing at all—is gunning for the prize.
Let’s start with the ever-humble Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s Prime Minister and a man not exactly known for his dove-like diplomacy. He’s nominated none other than Donald Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize. Yes, that Donald Trump—real estate tycoon turned Twitter warrior turned president, and now, a peace icon.
Why? Because Trump allegedly stopped the Iran-Israel war. No mention, of course, that both Iran and Israel were running out of rockets, and needed a breather. Or that the “ceasefire” was less a masterstroke and more a mutual timeout to reload. Or that Trump’s “intervention” was timed with surgical U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities—something Tehran furiously denies but the Pentagon proudly winks at.
So, the logic goes: blow up stuff → provoke a truce → win a Peace Prize.
Even better, Trump is now touting the Israel-Iran truce and the alleged “slowdown” in Ukraine as proof of his peace-making prowess. Vladimir Putin, meanwhile, rolled his eyes and kept marching toward Kyiv. But facts have never stopped Trump from proclaiming himself the global fire extinguisher—never mind that he’s often the one striking the match.
Then comes India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi, nominated not by any parliament, peace committee, or international diplomat, but by Bollywood’s resident controversy magnet, Kangana Ranaut. In an interview with Times Now’s Navika Kumar, Kangana—who once likened herself to the Rani of Jhansi—has now elevated Modi to Mahatma Gandhi-plus. That’s her personal view, and she has every right to feel so, as India is, after all, a land of “peace and tranquility” that has never invaded another nation. Its Sanatan roots run deep—culturally rich, spiritually grounded, and historically non-aggressive.
The irony? Modi had recently and unequivocally denied accepting any foreign mediation during the recent four-day India-Pakistan standoff. The Indian Army’s brutal retribution following the Pahalgam terror attack—reportedly christened Operation Sindoor—wasn’t triggered by a “Trump call,” but by Pakistani provocation and DMRO outreach. The ceasefire wasn’t permanent; it was tactical—and more importantly, self-earned. That hasn’t stopped Trump from patting himself on the back for preventing yet another war he had absolutely nothing to do with.
As if the circus wasn’t entertaining enough, former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal—India’s self-certified anarchist—has also thrown his hat into the Nobel ring. For what, you ask? For peace through protest? For harmony via hawala? Or for the poetic way he turned Delhi’s administrative machinery into a crime thriller—complete with liquor scams, luxury bungalow upgrades, and cozy backroom chats with Khalistani sympathizers?
The man who once took pride in being an anti-establishment voice now wants the establishment’s highest global honour. That too, while sitting on corruption charges. Maybe the Nobel committee should introduce a special category: Peace through Drama.
Let’s not forget, the Nobel Peace Prize first jumped the shark when Barack Obama won it merely for existing as a decent alternative to George W. Bush. Since then, it’s been on a reputational decline—slow, but steady. But this year’s chaos might just be the final nail. Trump, Modi, Kejriwal—three vastly different men, united by one shared belief: that they, and only they, have saved the world.
If being loud, self-important, and stubborn now qualifies you for the Nobel Peace Prize, the committee might as well ship it to Elon Musk next. After all, he’s promised to “colonize Mars peacefully.”
Meanwhile, the rest of us are left wondering: Is there a Peace Prize for staying sane while watching this madness unfold?
God save Alfred Nobel’s legacy.
