In his editorial on the politics behind the forthcoming selection of the new IMF chief (“Self goal”, May 28), T N Ninan says, “....In the Doha Round of trade talks, the rich countries have been able to drive a wedge between ‘emerging markets’ like India and the more numerous poor economies, by pointing out that the two groups’ interests are not synonymous.”
This was earlier called the “divide and rule” policy, which the British effectively used with Jaichand (the ruler of Kannauj) as their first quisling. And towards the end they stoked Jinnah’s passion for power to divide India.
Today, China, the US and Europe routinely use this policy to good effect; Ninan’s column unfortunately did not argue for a mature and wily India that uses the same policy along with other lessons from Chanakya’s statecraft teachings to further its goals and avoid being manipulated by other richer and powerful countries.
Saurabh Sharma, Chennai
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