By B.S. Ajaikumar

Long before colonial rule bent this country to foreign will, India stood tall as one of the world’s great economic and civilisational powers. The English explorer William Dampier described India as a vast manufacturing hub where “nearly every kind of product known to the civilized world had long been produced.”

We were once at the forefront of global commerce, a land whose goods travelled across continents through thriving trade networks. Then came colonial rule. British domination reduced a proud civilisation into a supplier of raw materials and a consumer of foreign goods, leaving behind a legacy of economic and psychological subservience.

After independence, India sought to reclaim its autonomy. Under Jawaharlal Nehru, it helped form the Non-Aligned Movement in 1961, gathering newly independent nations to chart a path free from both American and Soviet influence. Strategic autonomy was not merely a slogan; it was a statement of dignity.

Yet today that confidence appears to be fading. It is deeply troubling to witness India’s progressive submission to American geopolitical dictates. We seem to bow our heads at the first hint of economic pressure from Washington.

When the United States threatened sweeping tariffs and demanded India curtail purchases of Russian oil, New Delhi capitulated without so much as a formal protest. When a 30-day “grace period” was later offered allowing India to continue buying  unsanctioned Russian oil already on the water, Indian officials responded with embarrassing  gratitude. This is not diplomacy. This is subservience dressed in diplomatic clothing.

What we are witnessing resembles a modern form of neocolonialism. In the past, colonial power arrived through gunboats and garrisons. Today it comes through tariffs, financial pressure and the leverage of global institutions dominated by the West.

Earlier, our colonial masters issued directives  from London. Today, the signals arrive from Washington. The geography has changed. The  humiliation has not.

This is particularly troubling for a country that imports nearly 90 percent of its oil and saved an estimated $10-15 billion annually by purchasing discounted Russian supplies after the Ukraine war.

When Russia invaded Ukraine, sweeping sanctions followed swiftly; yet when the United States or Israel use force in the Middle East, the global appetite for similar punitive measures appears far less  certain — raising uncomfortable questions about whether international rules are applied equally.

If buying Russian oil at a steep discount makes undeniable business sense for a country where millions still live in poverty, why should that policy be abandoned the moment an American President frowns?

Meanwhile, the US-India trade relationship — valued at over $190 billion — actually runs in India’s  favour. In other words, India has leverage. It simply chooses not to use it. A confident nation would diversify its trade, strengthen ties with Europe and the Global South, and protect its strategic interests without apology. China does this without hesitation. India should too.

A civilisation that once led global commerce should not behave as though its policies require approval from Washington. A nation of 1.4 billion people deserves leadership that remembers its history — and its pride. The question before us is simple: will India act like a sovereign power again or continue to nod obediently whenever a superpower clears its throat?

Dr. B.S. Ajaikumar is the Chairman of Bharat Hospital and Institute of Oncology, Mysuru, Founder and Executive Chairman of HCG Cancer Centres. He is the author of the book ‘Excellence Has No Borders: How A Doctorpreneur Created A World-Class Cancer                                             Hospital Chain.’