The country which, once, owned a quarter of the earth and ruled over 458 million population, alas, is in shambles since the day it voted to come out of the European union. Not because she intended to ruin its own Empire but because nature has begun its own way of reclaiming its debt. That is what political analysts say, “United Kingdom is supposed to pay through its Brexit process if it really goes ahead with it”.
This time, it is not Britain that is calling shots as had been the practice for the last three centuries, it is the twenty-seven European countries, mostly led by Germany and France that harbour overdue hidden scores to settle with it as well.
Otherwise, why would a country with aproper constitutional monarchy, strong network of institutions, strategicpolicy to lead and vibrant economy would wish to destroy thecastle it had built since centuries? Is this close to the frequently used adage”what goes around comes around”.
After Brexit referendum in 2016 which costDavid Cameroon his prime ministership, now the current Prime minister, TheresaMay has pledged recently in the Parliament that she will leave her throne soonif her Withdrawal agreement is voted out by majority. The withdrawal agreementgot rejected many times.
The Brexit agreement resonates with ourtreaty of Amritsar 1846 when Colonial Britain sold Jammu and Kashmir toMaharaja Gulab Singh for 7.5 million nanakshahi rupees. We were treated as mere”slaves” that went along with the sale of land and power.
At the moment, it is the European Uniontrading Britain against huge amount with eyes on Scotland and Northern Irelandto get freedom from the UK. This could reduce the Britain to “moth eaten”country, same when she left “moth eaten Pakistan” during its hasty partition.
The country carries a dirty historicalbaggage of many centuries old.
While dealing with Ataturk of Turkey at thetime of elimination of Caliphas’ in Eastern Mediterranean, the treaty of severe1920 was the worst ever deal for Muslims of the region that led to thedismemberment of the Ottoman Empire, losing power centre, Muslim unity andTurkey’s national status. Though the treaty was revised after the first Worldwar by the allied countries, the harsh policies were framed by the BritishEmpire which had scared its allies of Muslim united front. Since then, Muslimsget divided into sects, ideologies and countries.
Then came the turn of the Subcontinentwhich Britain had ruled for two hundred years. Leaving it was necessitated bythe second world war frenzy that had shredded Europe into tatters economically,but the way Britain left, it claimed two million lives and fifteen milliondisplaced and many million divided in the region and it continues to bleed,even, today.
The British policies created the twobloodiest disputes on the world map. The machinations of the great empire wereto kill many birds with one sword.
It wanted divisions on religion in theSub-continent.
It wanted to create land for Israel thatresulted into the dislocation of Palestinians.
And, it wanted strong European Union freefrom war, disease and poverty but hegemony over the rest of the world.
According to one of the recent books on the creation of Israel, “after world war second, the Europe, mostly influenced by Britain wanted to get rid of Jews who were running the most important economic institutions and banks. The hidden policy was to get them out of the Europe and settle them in Palestine.
When at the same time it was intended to dislocate Palestinians in adjacent Arab countries to destabilise Middle East which had started to establish a little bit after the elimination of Ottomans in 1920. Millions of Jews migrated to Palestine leaving their business, banks and economics institutions in Europe. The region has been restive and Palestinians are still without their home.
Britain had played a significant role inAfghanistan, Iraq and Libya in dethroning the rulers and taking part in everymilitary exercise that was meant to destabilise Muslim countries.
The same country seems now at receivingend. The divisions in British parliament have never been so visible since twocenturies. Two main parties, Tories and labour, both without strong leadershipgiving space to the far right like UKIP which has seven members in EuropeanUnion. The far right has been growing influence with anti-immigrant policy like Hindutva’s antiminority policy in India.
Scotland has already done one referendum toget freedom from Britain whereas Northern Ireland separatist sentiments haveresurfaced with a strong demand to stay close to European Union rather thanwith Britain. There is every apprehension that the country might be left withEngland and Wales.
The way it created disputes in the world,the way it ruled with iron hand and the way it played politics of divide andrule has come back to bite it and, this time it is not striking any poor thirdworld country but its own, the United Kingdom.
The mighty once, Soviet Union has become aforgotten page in the world history, the same could happen to the strong blockof Europe which has claimed to be the champion of Democracy, rule of law andhuman rights. But, when it comes to play with the internal politics of the restof the world, mostly Muslim world, it stayed close to Monarchs or cruel rulersrather than with the people who get crushed by their own governments as well.
So, is there any lesson for those countriesthat thrive on suffocating and repressing the genuine political demands,creating fear psychosis among minorities, gagging the saner voices, arrestingintellectuals, banning religious organisations or crushing the basic humanrights?
Wait and watch.
Many civilisations have become buried underthe debris, many powers have come crashing to earth and many powerfulpoliticians have fallen from the grace. Those who think they are invinciblehave to listen to the same music as the once mighty colonial power is listeningthese days…
And, may be the true meaning of thisall-time universal adage comes true “what goes around comes around”.
(The writer is ex BBC editor and Penguin author)