Lengthening shadows in West

Recently, I had the opportunity to travel through the UK and the US for almost a month. Great Britain and America cannot be compared in economic or political prowess because the latter is literally dominating the world. Yet one thing common I found was the loss of direction in the two countries. There was no vision.

Both US President Barack Obama and British Prime Minister David Cameron exuded confidence when they were talking either to the press or to the people. Nevertheless, I could see that the talks were predicated with many ifs and buts and most of their conclusions generally comprised wishful thinking.

Both countries are supposed to be coming out of recession. Yet, America primarily depends on China and Great Britain, for strange reasons, has targeted India. Obama is coming to India in November to assess if New Delhi could be part of Washington's efforts to avoid another recession.

Cameron was recently in India and reports say that he has been able to persuade Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to step up the use of British technology and services. It was interesting to note that more businessmen and industrialists accompanied Cameron to India than to America.

Whether Obama and Cameron are doing their best to stall another round of recession is difficult to say because their critics feel that they have been so reckless in the past — having no supervision of any financial institution — that the D-day can be postponed but not avoided. However, I saw America doing a bit better compared to a few months back.

Challenges

The UK, looking every bit like a poor relation, has been able to save the pound from sliding further. Even this upsurge may have happened because of a successful tourist season. Customers have not yet come back in the numbers they did a couple of years ago. Many industrial units have stopped production because of a lack of demand.

Yet the impression is that the efforts that Cameron is making through visits abroad, particularly to India, will pay dividends sooner or later. India's economic growth rate of 8 per cent is seen as advantageous to Great Britain.

Suddenly, India is being respected and wooed like never before. Cameron even went to the extent of condemning Pakistan from Indian soil, saying that Islamabad must stop exporting terrorism.

Even though Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari went on an official visit to London soon after Cameron's remarks, the latter did not offer any apology.

Britain is banking on New Delhi to open up its markets for British exports having made visa procedures for Indians wishing to visit the UK more lenient. However, America has not relaxed its visa policy in favour of India or people from South Asia.

In fact, security procedures at its airports are humiliating. I experienced them even with a diplomatic passport.

Obama's recognition of India is apparent from the number of people of Indian origin he has appointed to several jobs in the White House. They total more than any other ethnic community.

Time to protest

It's a pity that the West, which has already consumed one-third of the world's natural resources, has still not woken up to the devastation it has caused. The developing world will have to muster collective pressure on America, UK and European countries to stop plundering whatever is left of natural resources. India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have been badly hit by climate change.

The devastating floods in Pakistan are a recent example.

What I personally missed both in America and the UK was the liberal thought that once attracted intellectuals and others to look towards Washington and London. It is true that the 9/11 tragedy and the subsequent terrorist attacks in the UK have scared people.

Still I hoped that there would be some individual or organisations to raise their voice against shrinking political space and personal freedom.

What Muslims undergo is a slur on democratic liberty. I thought the permission by the New York City Council to build a Muslim cultural centre next to the 9/11 site was a gesture worth commending.

The relevance of liberal voices, both in the public and the media, can retrieve the situation to some extent. But the fact is that even those people who feel that democracy is being deformed and mutilated do not speak out. Protestors have become fewer, feeble and all too respectful to the establishment.

Famous universities, which once raised the banner of defiance, are busy with meaningless curriculums and fund-raising campaigns.

I am not looking for Professor Laski or John Kenneth Galbraith to rise from their graves. Yet I expect those who remember their sane, liberal and moderate voices to take a stand against the sense of narrowness and parochialism which is consuming whatever is left of free thinking.

Who else will fight the encroaching darkness?

Kuldip Nayar is a former Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom and a former Rajya Sabha member.