Beyond the Empire: Keir Starmer’s Bharat Visit and the Rewriting of Indo-UK History

Paromita Das

New Delhi, 9th October: When British Prime Minister Keir Starmer touches down in Bharat for his two-day visit on October 8 and 9, the symbolism will not be lost on anyone familiar with the arc of Indo-British history. This visit, stretching across Delhi and Mumbai, comes at a time when the global order is in transition — marked by geopolitical turbulence, great-power rivalry, and the reassertion of the Global South. Against this backdrop, Starmer’s presence in Bharat signifies more than diplomatic routine; it is an opportunity to redefine a relationship shaped by centuries of shared — and sometimes painful — history.

From Empire to Equality: A Relationship Recast

For centuries, Bharat stood as the jewel in the crown of the British Empire, and the traces of that period still linger in Bharat’s institutions, education system, and public life. From the civil service — once hailed by Lloyd George as the “steel frame” of British administration — to cricket and Shakespeare, Britain’s imprint remains woven into Bharat’s modern identity. Yet, what was once a relationship of domination has evolved into one of mutual respect and democratic parity.

After independence in 1947, Bharat’s decision to remain within the Commonwealth was both pragmatic and visionary. By choosing engagement over estrangement, Bharat signaled its readiness to build a new kind of partnership with its former ruler — one grounded in shared values, not colonial hierarchy.

Starmer’s visit today stands upon that foundation, carrying echoes of Anthony Eden’s 1954 reflection that Bharat’s democratic experiment was a “magnified and multiplied reproduction” of British constitutionalism — an experiment that has not only succeeded but surpassed expectations, making Bharat the world’s fourth-largest economy and a rising global power.

Reflections of History: From Rancor to Reconciliation

Every diplomatic encounter between Bharat and the United Kingdom carries the weight of a complex past — one marked by both admiration and anguish. The Jallianwala Bagh massacre, the policy of divide and rule, and the economic drain described by Dadabhai Naoroji in his classic Poverty and Un-British Rule in Bharat — these memories are scars that remind both nations of the cost of empire.

Modern Bharat’s critique of colonialism, articulated forcefully by Shashi Tharoor in Inglorious Empire, has revived global debate on reparations and historical accountability. Yet, this visit is not about reopening old wounds; it is about healing through partnership.

Indeed, figures like Annie Besant, Allan Octavian Hume, and Sir Richard Attenborough embody the moral and cultural threads that continue to connect the two nations. Their stories reveal a relationship that has transcended conquest to embrace collaboration — from art and education to diplomacy and trade.

A Changing World Order: Bharat and the UK as Strategic Partners

The geopolitical context of Starmer’s visit cannot be ignored. The world is witnessing a steady erosion of multilateralism, the rise of regional blocs, and a contest for technological and economic dominance. Bharat, with its strategic autonomy and global ambition, is reimagining its foreign policy beyond traditional alignments.

In this shifting landscape, London and New Delhi share common stakes: securing global supply chains, combating climate change, and upholding democratic norms in an era of authoritarian resurgence. Starmer’s visit, therefore, provides an opening to strengthen bilateral cooperation in education, defense, clean energy, and digital innovation.

Moreover, with the Commonwealth struggling to stay relevant, both Bharat and the UK could inject new vitality into it — by steering it toward development finance, climate resilience, and Global South representation. Just as BRICS has evolved into a development-centric coalition, a reimagined Commonwealth bank or innovation platform could serve as a symbol of equitable growth.

Mumbai and Delhi: Mirrors of a Shared Legacy

Starmer’s itinerary — from the corridors of Delhi’s diplomacy to the bays of Mumbai’s Marine Drive — reflects the layered nature of Indo-UK ties. Delhi, where colonial power once ruled, now hosts discussions of sovereign partnership. Mumbai, once a colonial trading post, is today a hub of global finance — its skyline rising where imperial warehouses once stood.

It is poetic that Marine Drive, often called the Queen’s Necklace, mirrors both nostalgia and renewal: a visual reminder that while the empire’s sun set long ago, the light of engagement between the two democracies still glows bright.

Beyond Nostalgia, Toward a New Compact

The challenge before Keir Starmer and Bharatiya Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not to romanticize the past but to redefine the partnership for the 21st century. In trade, defense, and technology, the two sides can create synergies that go beyond sentiment.

Both countries, anchored in democracy and diversity, have much to teach the world about resilience. For the UK, strengthening ties with Bharat aligns with its “Global Britain” agenda. For Bharat, closer cooperation with the UK diversifies its strategic options amid a fluid international system shaped by the US-China rivalry and European realignments.

If approached with vision, Starmer’s visit could mark a turning point in the post-Brexit foreign policy of Britain, and a new chapter in Bharat’s outreach to the West.

From Shared History to Shared Future

Keir Starmer’s visit to Bharat is more than diplomacy — it’s dialogue between two civilisations that have moved from conflict to collaboration. It reminds both nations that history’s weight need not be a burden but a bridge.

From the ashes of empire has risen a partnership grounded in equality, mutual respect, and shared responsibility. As Bharat marches toward becoming the third-largest economy and Britain redefines its role in a shifting world, their relationship stands poised — not on nostalgia, but on possibility.

The sun may have long set on the British Empire, but on the horizon of global diplomacy, the light of Indo-UK cooperation shines anew.