[nukkad] Mark Tully on Queen's visit

[Naren Chawla <chawla@home.net>]

The Queen was let down by officials who ignored Indian sensibilities,
   writes Mark Tully

   British officials stoked the fires of Raj rage


   THE Queen's visit to India was conceived in error and botched at
birth
    or, to be more accurate, during the birth pangs. Now we are being
   told by Robin Cook, the foreign secretary, that the birth was smooth
   and the future is rosy, while some British newspapers are blaming
   India for creating a storm in a teacup. Nothing could be further from

   the truth.

   The apparent cause of the problems was Cook's offer to mediate in the

   Kashmir dispute, an offer made in Pakistan before the royal party
   reached India. At least two Pakistani papers published the offer,
   sparking off the inevitable reaction in India. India flatly rejects
   any attempt to internationalise the Kashmir issue.

   But the British party attempted no damage limitation until Inder
   Gujral, the normally diplomatic Indian prime minister, exploded,
   describing Britain as a third-rate power. After hurried last-minute
   negotiations during the Queen's first night here, both sides issued
   denials. That was a compromise everyone could see through.

   Indian officials had certainly told the press about Gujral's remarks.

   Why didn't Cook clarify his position before he came to India? Was he
   so ill-informed that he didn't realise the impact the report would
   have here, or was he prepared to risk the Queen's visit to gain
credit
   with Pakistan and Labour supporters of Pakistani origin in Britain?

   Cook playing politics during a state visit has drawn attention from
   the fundamental flaw in the Queen's trip. British officials thought
   there would be something very special about a visit by the head of
the
   house of Windsor during the 50th anniversary of India gaining freedom

   from her family.

   They were seduced by the sentimental, sloppy and historically
   forgetful nostalgia for the Raj in which Britain is swamped. They
   misread the generosity India has consistently shown to its former
   rulers. They ignored Indian officials' warnings that it would be
   neither popular nor politically prudent for the government to treat
   the Queen differently from any of the other heads of state who flock
   to Delhi every year. Then, with small-minded self pity, British
   officials sulked when the Queen was given that treatment.

   British arrogance was on display before the visit started. Why was it

   ever suggested that the Queen should go to Amritsar, the scene of the

   Jallianwalla Bagh massacre, one of the most shameful incidents of the

   Raj? When the Indian prime minister suggested it would be better if
   she didn't visit Amritsar unless she was prepared to apologise, he
was
   told: "Queens don't apologise".

   To avoid a row, Gujral withdrew his objection and the government of
   Punjab went out of its way to organise crowds to greet the royal
   couple, only to be rewarded by the Duke of Edinburgh casting doubt on

   the number of casualties in that unforgivable act of British
   brutality.

   During the visit British officials whined about every imagined
slight.
   They complained that the band of the Royal Marines was not allowed to

   play at the opening of the magnificent exhibition of treasures from
   the British Museum. It is unfortunate that the substitute Indian
   military band did not have time to practise God Save the Queen,
   playing it an octave too high and falling just short of the top
notes.

   Then British officials leaked stories that they had been snubbed by
   receiving too few invitations to the president's banquet in Delhi.
   Surely the Queen had come to Delhi to meet the great and the good of
   India, not British officials.

   If that wasn't enough, it was the British spokesman who said the
   banquet speech in Madras had been "cancelled". In fact, there was a
   genuine misunderstanding that could have been glossed over.

   Throughout the visit, British officials seemed to be looking for
   evidence that the Queen was not being treated with the respect they
   thought she should command. Apparently unmoved by the controversy,
the
   Queen behaved with great dignity and she now has the right to demand
   that the Foreign Office takes proper account of local sensitivities
   when future visits are planned and executed.

   But perhaps she should also ask herself whether travelling with the
   band of the Royal Marines is an appropriate way of showing respect to

   countries her family once ruled. Britain should not kid itself that
   the ruled wear the rulers' rose-tinted spectacles when looking back
on
   the Raj.

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