Expert opinion from Japan on the 'Indian century'

A rangoli in Delhi to mark the 75th anniversary of Indian Independence last year. Photo: Rashmee Roshan Lall

On January 29, a piece appeared in Nikkei, the Japanese business daily that’s world’s largest in terms of circulation. Click here to read it. It was by Toru Takahashi, a senior staff writer.

What was notable was the clear-eyed but nuanced view it took of India’s undoubted rise and why it may not be wholly good news for everyone. Particularly, the writer suggested, for the geopolitical West, for all that it wants to worst China.

The writer ran through India’s thrusting ambitions to play a greater role on the world stage. On January 12–13, for instance, it hosted the Voice of the Global South Summit. It’s presenting its G20 presidency as a chance to “voice the discontent of developing nations”. Meanwhile, it’s buoyed by strong economic growth because the intensifying US-China rivalry and the pandemic have led to a quest for diversified supply chains.

But this may be a mixed blessing.…