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India Retold: CHINA AND INDIA: COMPETITION OF CIVILISATIONS
- The Chinese, like the Indians, have historically not been a conquering race; they too have been invaded and conquered; they too have survived the onslaughts. And, like the Phoenix, they have risen again. But this time, they are apprehensive. They are alive to the fact that religion-generated clashes of civilisations and cultures demand dumping of traditional tools of response. They have also learnt from the West that, in the changed global scenario, a nation cannot protect itself and its interests by looking within and fighting its potential enemies on its soil. Wars must be fought and won on enemy territory or the high seas. That is why they are furiously arming themselves to the teeth and seeking to dominate areas and countries well beyond their real borders; the more the padding, the safer the mainland.
- Above all, the Chinese can see that, for the first time in history, they have a real chance of becoming the greatest power on earth. And they are going full blast to achieve that objective.
- That is where India comes in as a painful thorn. They know that India is still not interested in conquering any lands. They are aware that India will never impose its culture on them or anyone else in an offensive, exclusivist manner. They can also see that the India of the present is an underachiever only because its trying hard to disown its own cultural genius and blindly ape the West.
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Tuesday, October 13, 2009
India Retold: CHINA AND INDIA: COMPETITION OF CIVILISATIONS
