The Left will lick its wounds. As it does that, it should reflect that the tired notion of Imperialism is now overdue for the dustbin. It was, maybe, alright when India was a colony (though the comrades collaborated with the Imperialists during the Second World War). It may have been fine when their paymasters in the USSR used it for propaganda purposes. But the USSR is gone and China pursues a confident policy vis a vis the US unbothered by silly notions of ersatz Leninism. India has to be a proud and confident nation, stick to its own interests as a regional power and a global player. This is why the nuclear deal made sense and also why India’s Muslim population did not have a kneejerk reaction as the comrades wished.To be a communist may require unthinking behaviour but being a Muslim or a Hindu or any other kind of Indian does not.

Why did Congress win? I would say good growth record and inflation contained without much damage, plus a reasoned response to 26/11 and no surrender to DMK blackmail over LTTE. Plus of course, Manmohan Singh. He makes dynasty palatable. He has now renewed the dynasty’s lease on the the leadership for another generation. The short gap between 1991 and when Rahul is ready has been taken care of, and when the time comes Manmohan Singh will happily hand over the baton. I hope that is not too soon.

But Congress also has to watch it. Well done, of course, but let us hope it does not misuse its power like Indira Gandhi did. The national institutions which should be free of political pressure — the CBI for instance — have been corrupted and need to have their credibility restored. The use of president’s rule was rightly rejected when Mulayam asked for it before the election in his anti-Mayawati obsession. But now post-election let us hope Congress is not tempted to deliver to Mulayam his illegitimate dues. Congress needs to skip a generation or two in its memory. Forget Rajiv Gandhi and forget Indira Gandhi. Think of Jawaharal with his scrupulous respect for the due processes of law. Now there is time and there is the strength and the people’s faith for Congress to stop feeling hunted and persecuted. Relax and rule, but with due respect for law. What good is dynasty if it does not remember its true past.