There is no immediately obvious reason why a colony that was exploited for 200 years before winning its independence should align itself with western powersIt is an annual ritual for tens of thousands of residents of Delhi: the sumptuous sight of floats,soldiers, tanks, and dancers and dromedaries. Overhead roar jets. In the stands lining the path of the Republic Day parade ,thousands cheer and wave. The visiting dignitaries – France’s François Hollande this year, Barack Obama last year – nod, and smile and try not to let their envy at the latest set of topline figures about their host’s economic growth display too obviouslyFor that growth is as impressive as any of the displays of traditional arts or freshly painted armoured vehicles. It is certainly more principal to India than either. New figures released by Indian authorities last week achieve economic growth in the emerging power at 7.5% in 2015,the highest in the world, and up from 6.9% the year before. Growth in China is heading in the opposite direction – predicted to be only 6.3% in 2016 – while the US will expand by a mere 2.6%. To spare Hollande’s blushes, or let’s not even mention the predictions for France.
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Source: theguardian.com