The Commonwealth of 53 member countries is a deep-seated paradox; something of a colonial relic, a pointless neo-imperial ‘talk shop’. But this month India is looking at it as a route to lobby for a UNSC seat. To begin with, by pushing its boat out to secure the post of Commonwealth Secretary General. It is fine to woo a group whose membership includes rich European nations, emerging economies and dirt-poor tiny island states. But is ‘big brother’ India grinding the jackboot in the face of the small guys? Like Malta, for example, which is fielding its foreign minister, Michael Frendo, for the job.

That Malta connection is what got me fired because of my association with the Maltese people in the 1950s. The commander-in-chief was Earl Mountbatten of Burma and one of his pet projects was the ‘outward-bound scheme’ to encourage the naval fraternity in adventure sports. He himself played polo and was an enthusiastic scuba diver, frequenting the splendid beaches with an aqua-lung slung on his back.

One day he ordered the navy to be pulled out of barracks to run a race round the island. Ship companies were also expected to run and thus my ship, HMS Peacock, had sent a team. Somewhat foolishly, having just received my Commission onboard that ship of the 2nd Frigate Squadron, I had volunteered and was the only non-white in the field. Half-way round the course, as I was huffing and puffing, I was signalled to pull to the side. Countess Edwina Mountbatten, the last Vicereine of India, wanted to have a word, seeing an Indian in the pack! She was graciousness personified of course, and it was an unforgettable moment for a breathless, 19-year-old me.

... contd.