Chapter 2C: When millionaire genius’s compete – it is a fight between unequals. Beyond money and power is a fight for a larger purpose. For Aga Khan III, it was a private Shia Ismaili nation owned by him. For Bashesharnath (BN), it was replacing the Jewish bankers. He who financed wars, controlled the monarchs. Neither wanted to work UNDER the British.
There are puppets. Behind them are the puppeteers. And then there are those who instruct the puppeteers. And then those who design the puppet show. And then those who commission the show.
Wisdom is in knowing who is what.
Yesterday my IIT peer Kiran Gulrajani one of India’s best life coaches asked me, “close your eyes and think of a tree”. “Now describe it to me”. I did in vivid detail. He answered “your tree has no roots”. And that really summarises it all. What we see may not be the full picture.
We were now in the middle of a global war. Aga Khan is helping the British. The Ottoman Empire has gone rogue and joined the other side. Aga Khan is helping the British to infiltrate. He is valuable. And useful. And is even paid.
BN is raking it in. He says he is a humanitarian organisation. He provides temporary housing to those in need. He even provides medical assistance. And even food to the hungry !!!!! Really. On the battle front. And only on battle fronts.
At his Club in Lahore. British officers ridicule his narrative.
So he actually launches a healthcare business. Complete with doctors and nurses. Dr Lakshmi Swaminathan is his first export. She was his lawyer’s daughter and had just divorced his pilot. Her sister was to get married to a Swetambra Jain with an interest in nuclear bombs.
His name was Dr Vikram Sarabhai.
Dr Lakshmi became the most trusted officer of the Indian National Army under Subhash Chandra Bose. In Singapore !!! This was an export business. The cardinal rule of the BN Group was that war is good. But far away from your home. Bigger the war the better. And now he was the biggest supplier of the biggest war in recorded history. He was raking it in.
Suddenly there was competition. An unexpected one. USA realised there was money to be made in war supplies. And they decided to turn humanitarian as well. Led by President Wilson.
Wilson theorised that the United States’ most significant contribution to the world was the establishment of peace. In addition to this, he was of the opinion that his job was to serve mankind, uphold justice, and aid as an instance for the respite of the globe. Wilson believed that maintaining America’s neutrality was a responsibility in light of the commitments listed above. But there was no reason not to do business.
In 1917, USA entered the World War. In Newtons language, an external unbalanced force had entered. And suddenly inertia was disrupted.
BN promoted a new player to enter the match. The Lion of Punjab. Lala Lajpat Rai.
It was also a time to visit Bal Gangadhar Tilak. And to set up operations in Bombay.
