On Knowledge - For A New World

"Local knowledge" is an extremely important element in the smooth working of the market economy. Thus, in the Vasant Kunj area, the auto-rickshaw drivers, the delivery boys, and many others survive not only because of their skills, but also because of their deep knowledge of local facts.


Our great, centralised, socialist The State lacks this knowledge - totally. Otherwise, this place wouldn't be such a mess.


In other words, they cannot run their Capital City - and they want to run the entire sub-continent!


Bollocks!


Daulatabad-upon-the-Sea will be run on Local Knowledge - and local knowledge alone. And we will NOT attempt to run any place else. We will run one city of our own - and not lay claim to any empires. Let the Age of Empires and Nation-States end - forever.


The "model" we will follow will be the "London Model" - and NOT the "Westminster Model" upon which the government of India is based. This is the model of the Olde City of London, whose Civic Corporation is over 800 years old and is steeped in history, pomp, pageantry and custom. From all these, we have much to learn.


For example, the purpose of the Civic Sword which the Lord Mayor of London holds aloft is to keep the King outside the City. Thus, to this very day, the King of England cannot march his army through this olde city without the Lord Mayor's permission. Also, the Bobby of the London Metropolitan Police cannot enter the olde city - where the Lord Mayor has his own men to do this job.


It is noteworthy that this Olde City of London - and the City of Westminster, where Parliament sits, lies outside its borders - has for centuries been the epicentre of global capitalism: the East India Company, the Virginia Company, the Levant Company, and so many more global businesses that enriched the British Empire were established in this olde city. We will attempt to emulate this great example.


Following our lead, cities and towns throughout India - and, maybe, the world, where chaos rules in many nation-states - can learn. But we will NOT attempt an empire. Our ideal must remain one of Free Cities and, perhaps, a League of Free Cities. It is important to further note that the area of the Olde City of London is just one square mile - and never in its entire history has the Lord Mayor aimed at bigger territory. The rest of Greater London is run by other agencies. And the City of Westminster falls in Greater London.


Our objective, thus, is to raise the Civic Sword in a Free City.


And keep all kings, and all governments, OUT.


Liberty, Property, Justice - and a Great City.


That is the goal I am aiming at.