How stolen wealth became the Commonwealth

Kolkata: In Birmingham, these days, the Commonwealth Games are in full swing, with many of the 56 member nations in willing attendance. A rather remarkable feat for a geopolitical union that is alarmingly obsolete and scandalously audacious. 

After letting go of her marquee colonies, via rebellion and abdication, Queen Elizabeth, still reigning, shared her momentous vision for the new Commonwealth in 1953. It was meant to usher in a splendid ethos of friendship, projecting the foremost values of integrity and collaboration. Even by the highest standards of benevolent thuggery, which the empire ably epitomised, this noble befriending of the shamelessly looted was priceless chutzpah.

In truth, this was an extension of their well-honed exit template, not so smartly replicated in Brexit. The sublime skill to depart as exquisite heroes, with the undeniable contribution towards education and governance shining bright, and the systematic oppression relegated to the impoverished small print. Additionally, the masterful skill to divide and rule, through ethnicity ideally, would further enhance the ex-colonist's continued dominance as a developmental springboard and an emotional anchor, while a bloody partition and routine alumni wars continued unperturbed.  

In a matter of decades, the Commonwealth however lost its sheen, both politically and economically. The former was accentuated by the Suez Crisis and the latter by the degeneration of London as a financial powerhouse - the USA and NATO, as well as the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact, ruling global dynamics. So this old boy's club of the wondrous empire moved on to, ahem, just an old boy's club of Gin and Tonic, a cute social alliance with limited genuine influence. Even the CHOGM, once famously hosted by Indira Gandhi, became inevitably insipid and what remains, as a surrogate of the allegiance, is the well-constructed sporting fiesta. 

While it does serve as a defensible global forum for athletes to gain plaudits, there are many valuable reasons why this union, and thus the event, should be promptly abolished. As plainly obvious, this old timers consortium is plainly irrelevant in matters of global impact, Britain itself a laughing stock courtesy the clownish Prime Minister, befuddled royalty and botched European relations.

The atrocities of the empire are now being increasingly exposed, Shashi Tharoor et al, and therefore meeting for routine High Tea is rather inappropriate, in this era of unprecedented candour. Most importantly, for the millennials and their successors, the occupation is increasingly a decisive but deprioritised period of history, as long-independent nations hungrily craft ever-evolving future agendas. On the sporting front, I can soundly wager that most athletes are oblivious to this retrospective context, treating Birmingham like yet another global foundry for metals. 

The continuance of the Commonwealth thus ensures the continuity of several socio-political anomalies, all of which must be quashed summarily. Most anachronistic of all is the British monarchy still being head of anything remotely significant, except arguably tourism revenues in Old Blighty and tabloid eyeballs. 

Also, there is a cost attached to every nation that still indulges in this futile bonding, which can well be diverted to building occupation museums, amongst many noteworthy opportunities. Instead, precious diplomatic and athletic energies should be focused on genuine arenas, whether to do with collaboration or competition, vigorously abstaining from pampering a primordial chapter.  

Please don't get me wrong, I am a huge fan of meaningful heritage, as a source of indelible learning and astute wisdom. However, the Commonwealth was always a dubious institution, built on a faulty premise of sustainable conformity, even after the enforced ties were acrimoniously snapped, scholarships and awards notwithstanding. In 2022, the beginning of the metaverse age, it is simply beyond archaic and belongs to the nostalgic show reels of British Pathe and not a throbbing YouTube channel. 

On the iconic 75th year of independence, our Government should sincerely consider a snapping of ties with the Commonwealth, unbelievably meaningless in our progressive worldview. India today is a relentless leader and nobody's follower, and that must include even a symbolic adhesion to the past master.