Travelling around India this month, in blinding contrast to the evident levels of stark poverty that can be seen in a great number of its citizens, something in the air tells one that India is pulsing with energy for change. For throughout the next half a century India will be seen to emerge as one of the worlds most successful economies and will rightfully seat itself as a new world power.
The economy is one driving force of this change, projected to grow at over seven percent for the fourth year in a row something previously unseen since its independence is 1947.
Another driving force is the startling achievement of maintaining democratic rule in a country riddled with abject poverty. Prime Minister Singh and his government are currently enjoying a decoration of compliments at the diplomatic table of foreign powers, with everyone jostling for a position of favour as the country takes its larger seat.
Who could deny then the motives of the other powers currently doing the complimenting? The rise of China in economic terms, and so in military might, will certainly one day challenge the US worldwide hegemony, and so there is a geopolitical rationale to...