There is something about the presence of foreign dignitaries on our soil that inspires the worst in Indian political leaders. Either they bring out their begging bowls and start whining as India used to do in our days of glorious socialism or they demean us in other ways. An example of this kind of disgraceful behaviour was the manner in which Maharashtra’s Chief Minister kowtowed before Hu Jintao last week saying in the fawning tones of a Mumbai traffic lights beggar, ‘We also would like to make the same efforts to transform Mumbai as the Chinese government did in case (sic) of Shanghai’. The Chinese President graciously offered to help Mumbai develop a ‘modern look’.

In exchange would he like some help in giving the Chinese a taste of Indian democracy? Would he like advice on how to build the pillars of democracy like a free press, multi-party elections and an independent judiciary?

Mumbai can quite easily be transformed into Shanghai if that is really what we want, personally I would like it to remain Mumbai, but it’s not going to be quite so simple, dear Mr. Hu Jintao, for you to give your people the freedom and fundamental rights we in India have long been accustomed to.

It’s true that China is in many ways ahead of India. When I went there ten years ago, I was bedazzled by the speed at which Shanghai was being transformed into a modern city and blown away by the excellence of Chinese roads compared to our own bumpy tracts.

... contd.