Hello, Mr. Gujral…

The turn of events that brought the Pakistan-born Inder Kumar Gujral to the seat of Prime Minister augurs well for India and South Asia. Without a political base of his own, Mr Gujral has little to lose by taking bold, potentially unpopular measures. By personality, too, he has more than once in his long career shown his willingness to take a stand, as when, as Minister of Information, he had a spat with Sanjay Gandhi over government control of media, or when he opposed the Soviets´ Afghan adventure while ambassador to Moscow. On a South Asian plane, Mr Gujral is the architect of India´s benign face to its neighbours, the drafter of the Gujral Doctrine of Non-Reciprocity. He is someone who has been derided by one Indian commentator as a member of the nefarious "Lahore Club" for being friendly with those who are promoting Indo-Pakistan people-to-people connectivity.

It was a surprise when this confirmed dove was given the high office of foreign minister of India by the previous government. And now, incredibly, he is Prime Minister of India!