India is a geographical term. It’s no more a united nation than the Equator.
(Winston Churchill)
Lahore, the capital of the Indian Federation, had grown considerably in size and population over the last years, discovered Sardar Ajit Singh Sindhu, when returning home from his assignment as ambassador in Tokyo. While his family settled into a government-owned bungalow in the diplomats’ village at Boghiwal, Ajit Singh left command of the servants to his wife and rather paid a visit to the foreign ministry, his future place of work.
He had an informal appointment with Balkirishna Ganesh Khaparde, the foreign minister and son of Ganesh Shrikrishna Khaparde, one of the founding fathers of the Indian Federation.
Being accustomed to Japanese circumstances, Ajit Singh was a little bit surprised by the nonchalant approach found in the ministry. An attractive female secretary dressed in a Chikan style saree received him at the guard booth and led him to Khaparde’s office, chattering about the latest gossip all the way.
Khaparde was just speaking over the phone, but nevertheless beckoned him to take a seat and listen to the conversation. Because Ajit Singh didn’t know with whom Khaparde was talking and was unaware of the subject of the conversation, he only listened with half an ear – and looked around in Khaparde’s office.
There was – of course – a portrait of Federal President Muhammad Ali Jinnah; however, Ajit Singh was more interested in the maps: There was a world map; a map showing Asia; one depicting the Realm of the Aryans, and one featuring the Indian subcontinent.
The secretary now entered again, serving tea and cookies, while Khaparde still was prattling on.
“Just help yourself, Sir.” she whispered into Ajit Singh’s ear “He sometimes talks for hours over the phone, especially after cabinet meetings – and there was one this morning.”
But it took Khaparde only fifteen minutes to come to an end.
“Sorry for that,” he addressed Ajit Singh “but it was an urgent matter that required immediate action. – Welcome back, dear friend. How does it feel to be in India again?”
“After five years in Japan it’s quite an eerie sensation. It’s like being tossed into utter chaos; but I think we can cope – at least my wife and I; for the children it’s like a new world.”
“They will quickly adapt; children are like that, believe me. – I hope the house is acceptable?”
“Oh yes, it’s fine. Harnoor Kaur likes it very much, and that is what really counts.”
“Sure, when the wife is happy, peace in the family is warranted… – I gather you are going to take some days off before you start here?”
“Visiting my parents – and Harnoor Kaur’s parents and grandparents, showing around the grandchildren and great-grandchildren respectively. You know how it is…”
Khaparde smiled compassionately.
“Yes, I know. – My father insists to be visited every weekend. – He wants to be informed about all new political developments. – Anyway, as chief of the East Asian section, you will be a busy man. We don’t think anything decisive will happen before the Chinese elections in November; but there is a considerable concentration of armed forces close to the Russian border.”
“Yes, I know. – Currently, it’s purely defensive. The Round Table is only reacting to information received about Russian intentions.”
“Well, the ambassador to the Kremlin – Ekanjeet Naugai, I think you know him – reports that the Russians are only reacting to information received about Chinese units moving close to the border.”
“The Japanese were observing all this in great detail; according to their interpretation, the Russians are setting the scene for a future war of revenge by preparing the infrastructure. But the construction of a second great rail line will take some time; it can’t be ready before 1938 or 1939. – Thus, one must not think war is imminent.”
“Oh, I think we wouldn’t mind a conflict between China and Russia – keeps the Chinese busy in a direction convenient for us. – You know, right now, the Federation is the only strong member of Airyanəm Vaējah, while Persia and Afghanistan are more liabilities than assets. And our other ally, Greater Mysore, is hardly better in that respect. – At least the rail line to Persia through southern Afghanistan is under construction since three years, although in Persia it has only reached Yazd yet. – Luckily, we got the Persians to pay the lion’s share of the expense; after all, they would need our troops supporting them – and not vice versa. And they have enough money; the Hokushinkai Mining Consortium is delivering a grand cheque to the treasury in Tehran each month.”
“Hokushinkai is growing rapidly. They exploit the Persian oil fields, those on Borneo and Kuye – and they have recently signed a contract with Burma. Only Mijnheer Deterding’s concessions on Sumatra are not yet controlled by Hokushinkai, otherwise every oil well from Persia to Alaska is in Japanese hands.”
“Well, at least they do sell oil to us, don’t they? – Our own oil field at Digboi would hardly suffice to satisfy our growing domestic demand. – And it will be your task to get a benefit for us out of Hokushinkai’s deal with Burma, after all, we’re Burma’s neighbour – and you know all these chaps in Tokyo…”