Why are Indian politicians so fearful? Why do they behave like teenagers with acne and angst rather than like leaders of a global power? Lalu Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav may call themselves socialist but they fear not being protected from the masses. Indeed, every tinpot party leader and chief minister wants to be surrounded by Black Cats like some erstwhile nawab rather than a democratic leader.

And why is everyone afraid of Pakistan? First, the Prime Minister goes to a totally useless Non-Aligned Movement ‘summit’ as if the Cold War hadn’t ended 20 years ago. If by non-aligned, one means anti-American, then what were Dr Singh and Mr Gilani doing there? Once there, they meet in some dark corner and issue some faltu statement which was neither here nor there. And then all hell broke loose. One sentence and the Opposition thinks India has lost half her territory!

Hillary Clinton concedes that the US wants a special relationship with India and suddenly everyone is back to the days of 121 and Hyde Act. Then George Bush got on the phone to deliver the NSG. This time, Obama renews the same Act with weapons supplies and again the eagerness to take offence would shame a delicate debutante.

Please wake up to a great power status and smell the coffee. India is no longer one of the second rate nations that crowd NAM. Nations aspiring to permanent membership of the Security Council do not waste their time on dysfunctional neighbours who cannot present any serious military or political challenge. India has its own strategic interest in its own region, which is surrounded by a bunch of failed states, and it has paramount concerns in Asia. The only power to which it has lost one war and faces a possible conflict across thousands of mile long border has to be treated seriously, not so much as an enemy but a possible troublemaker. To insure against China, India cannot rely on NAM—which failed it in 1962—but on its own strength and strategic alliances.

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