The new government — whatever be the acronym of its political combination —will take office against the backdrop of a combustible combination of global threats —terrorism, financial meltdown, energy scarcity, climate change, regional civil strife and possibly a pandemic virus. Each of these threats could (if it has not already) spill over our borders. The question is whether the new arithmetic in Parliament will allow individuals of requisite talent, experience, and competence to handle these emergent threats. Will it provide such leaders the space and flexibility to give precedence to the ‘truly important’ task of tackling these dangers over the ‘seemingly urgent’ pressures of party politics? Will it be prepared to accept some short-term pain for assured longer-term gain?

Time will provide the answers. What I wish to draw attention to here is the nature of the responses that will be required to successfully mitigate the consequences. Let me do so by drawing on historical experience.

Thomas Edison illuminated the lower half of Manhattan in 1882. His revolutionary technology did not however spread through the US immediately. It was not until the mid 1930s that even half of the factories had displaced steam power with electric motors. The reason for this slow diffusion was the design of the factories. They had been built vertically to accommodate the pulley system of steam power generation. Electric motors could not be accommodated within this architectural frame. The factories had to be consequently gutted and rebuilt — a long and capital-intensive process — before they could be electrified.

... contd.