AS INDIA ARRIVES

There was a time when India was the cynosure of many eyes. That was ancient India, of which there may be as many believers as sceptics. There were many Indologists who wrote copiously on India, admiring it in no uncertain terms. But then things started changing, and India was just considered a land of snake charmers, sanyasis, and beggars. That was the medieval India, tormented by the Mughals and subsequently looted by European.

Though there were flashes of occasional uprisings trying to find the soul, if at all. But those attempts were ruthlessly suppressed, like the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Divergent views about its nature notwithstanding, it definitely was the first attempt in a very long time to give precedence to self over ‘salt’ as salary was supposed to be considered those days. Self-respect, for the first time, was an issue. But the suppression of that revolt by the spring of 1858 saw many far-reaching consequences for India. It lead to a massive shake-up in the way the country was ruled.

The power shifted from the Leadenhall Street in the city of London, the headquarter of East India Company, to Downing Street and White Hall, the seat of Imperial British Government. All authority was transferred to the crown, and the British traders who ruled from a distance ceased to be masters.

The exploitation of the worst form thus began and continued for around 200 years, inflicting a serious blow to the Indian psyche. It severely bruised the Indian ego and the country had to struggle for quite some time to find its feet in the comity of nations.

But the wheel seems to be coming a full circle if the straws in the wind can be seen as any indication of India’s changing fortune in the global order of the 21st century. The signals are rather clear, though reasons may be debated. This Diwali saw for the first time the lighting of the headquarters of the United Nations to commemorate the Indian festival of lights. As heads of States of leading Western powers, like the US and UK, waxed eloquence on the occasion of Diwali, one thing was discernible. India was slowly but surely coming back in the reckoning.

While this is by no means to give credit to any one individual or political party, it certainly is a recognition of the calibre of the new generation Indian. The young, the enthusiastic and, of course, the assertive Indian who now holds his country, his faith and his abilities in high esteem.

As the world economies are still finding themselves on a sticky wicket, the Indian economy is rather consistent on the growth trajectory. This is how history moves, this is how history operates. This Diwali indicated in no uncertain terms that India is arriving. For those having an eye for history this may be some kind of a ‘temporal determinism’, the movement of ‘Kaal Chakra’ that shapes the destinies of nations and civilisations. No wonder, from the US President to the British and Canadian Premiers, all appeared to be in sync with India as they lauded Diwali as an occasion to rejoice the victory of good over evil, light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance. As the knowledge century brightens, let us make hay while the sun shines and let the world get the real taste of India. But a point of caution — we still have miles to go.