Each time that history repeats, the price goes up

To what do we owe this honour, Sir David?

In a significant decision, British prime minister David Cameron has allocated to himself the charge of dealing with India, while deputy prime minister Nick Clegg will handle China, according to an informed source. The higher level of engagement at Whitehall reflects the preference the seven-week-old coalition government wishes to attach to relations with New Delhi as opposed to Beijing. (via Cameron puts himself in charge of India affairs – India – The Times of India).

To what does India owe this rather dubious honour, Sir David? We really don’t need or deserve your attention. Coming to Indians …

This attention overdose from Britain can evoke three reactions from India.

Bankrupt Britain!

Warm glow of satisfaction

Rather dubious, my instincts tells me.

What benefit, value or satisfaction can British attention mean to India? A superpower in 1945, Britain is now bankrupt. With gross debt (including State, public and private sector debt) equalling 500% of its GDP. With its economy hollowed out in the last 60 years? From the position of a super-power to bankruptcy in less than 70 years.

Is there any record of such colossal political mismanagement in recent history?

Amused indifference

Indians can act superior and view this British scramble with detached amusement.

Bad idea. Societies like the British will always remain ‘killer-looter’ societies ruled by Conqueror-Emperor – short-coded by anthropologists as ‘hunter-gatherer’. Why would British elite, facing a domestic economic crises, the biggest in the last 100 years, high-tail to India. Business, they say!

I say, hogwash!

Britain on top!

The price of liberty

A prominent ideologue of the Desert Bloc once said, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.

Instead, we have the schizoid Rajput collaboration-opposition to Mughals that best represents Indian confusion. Co-existence with asuric societies requires eternal vigilance. India should reverse its behaviour of moral numbness, intellectual vacuum, ideological bankruptcy of the last 800 years (from 1206, the ascent of Qutubuddin Aibak). In the best tradition of collaboration with Khiljis, Tughlaks, Mughals, the collusion with the British was but a corollary. Indian’s ambivalence towards the Desert Bloc may yet land India in a ditch – yet another time.

Remember, eternal vigilance …