Lastly, we are repeating history and that is unforgivable. We always knew that the three strategic projects — the Indian nuclear submarine, the light combat aircraft and the main battle tank would decide our strategic independence. In all three areas we are displaying an inward-looking, autarchic, failed India image when commercial India is buying up US technological companies and creating multinational giants. Government science occasionally does deliver, like ISRO does. But if we have to dismantle our rent-seeking PSUs and create new JVs that can sell to the world instead of being the world’s largest arms buyer, let the government appoint a commission, like it did the Tata commission for aviation in the sixties, to achieve some semblance of strategic autonomy.

The writer is a retired rear admiral

rajamenon@vsnl.com