UK diplomat's note of harmony

WHAT happens when one of the best brains of the British diplomatic services gets appointed as British High Commissioner to India?
He doesn’t merely skim the surface, but plunges neck deep into the heartland of the country.
Understandably then, one of Sir Michael Arthur’s first jobs was to get a feel of the pulse of rural India. The British High Commissioner spent a couple of weeks in a village in Northern Karnataka, incognito.
“Living in a village was quite an exciting experience. I stayed along with a few NGOs and since no one knew who I was, I could live like anybody else. The warmth, openness and hospitality of the people there really touched me,� he tells us, on his first visit to Pune on Wednesday.
Going one step ahead, he even joined Uma Bharati in her election rally in Madhya Pradesh to get a further insight into what the real India entails.
Having stayed in Paris for several years, his appointment to India, he says, gave him a tremendous sense of excitement.
And he adds that a visit to Pune just couldn’t be missed. “I expected the city to be dynamic and buzzing and I’ve found just that ,� says the Oxford graduate, adding, “The fit of Pune goes very well with the fit of UK. It is in many ways an exciting example of India’s new emerging economy.�
Though it is the IT and BPO sectors that are Britain’s obvious favourites for investment and outsourcing, Sir Michael says that Pune is also special for its emerging alternative industry. His obvious reference is to the automobile industry and to the Tata Motors manufactured small car City Rover (Indica), marketed by British corporation MG Rover that will roll out from Pune.
“So now UK roads will have cars from Pune,� he says. About the controversy involving Tony Blair and his government spying on UN chief Kofi Annan, the High Commissioner prefers to steer clear of the topic. “Obviously everyone is talking about it, but as a diplomat, I can’t comment,� he says.
As for Blair’s altercation with the BBC and his hints to curb its rights, he says, “Britain has always enjoyed a free press and we have been very proud of it. BBC is a fine institution and holds a great reputation. Hopefully we can open a new page together,� he views.
As for India, the British High Commissioner says he has several plans lined up. “For UK, India is not a country but a continent. Right now, it is on top priority,� he says emphatically.
sandhya.iyer@timesgroup.com