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Journalism of Courage
PC means different things to different people. Politically correct, personal computer, polite conversation and8212;if you are part of the royalty-crazed British public or tabloid press8212;perhaps even, Prince Charles. It8217;s an amusing coincidence that the initials coincide. Because if someone were to draw up a CV of Charles Philip Arthur George, Prince of Wales, Duke of Cornwall, first born of Queen Elizabeth II and heir apparent to the British throne, here8217;s one thing that should definitely find mention under the head 8216;8216;job requirements8217;8217;: making PC.
In the days since he set foot on Indian soil for the first time in a decade, Charles has spent anything ranging from three minutes to three hours with artists, architects, politicians, diplomats, and people from every other profession you could think of including the one that would loosely be described as 8216;8216;ex-royalty8217;8217;. From all accounts, he8217;s exchanged notes with them on an entire gamut of subjects from GM foods to garden conservation, education, architecture, polo and everything else under a sun that in an age gone by was known never to set on the British empire.
Who knows? Maybe the Prince is genuinely interested. Maybe you too would be interested if you8212;like him8212;had earned pound;10 million from your estate in the Duchy of Cornwall just last year. Maybe you too would raise pertinent points about Mughal gardens and architecture on a visit to Humayun8217;s Tomb in Delhi if you8212;like him8212;chaired the Royal Collections Trust that has under its care the priceless 17th century Padshahnama, an officially commissioned, illustrated account of the first 10 years of Shah Jahan8217;s reign. You would certainly be able to discuss polo intelligently if you8212;like him8212;could afford to indulge in that expensive sport, though a senior courtier has been famously quoted as saying, 8216;8216;The Prince raises pound; 800,000 a year for charity from playing polo but that is the only reason he plays.8217;8217; Aw, what a bore!
But seriously, those millions notwithstanding, it couldn8217;t be easy. Charles must surely be aware that his face is not as beautiful as his late ex-wife Diana8217;s, and that his dresses will, in all likelihood, never be as pretty. His charitable inclinations will never draw as much attention as hers did. If he were to shed tears on stage in the middle of a speech as she did, chances are he8217;ll be called a wimp in addition to everything else. And he must surely know that during the reception at the British Council in Delhi8212;as at every other function he has attended in India so far8212;there were more wisecracks about butlers floating around than there were hors d8217;oeuvres on trays. There are other cracks too. 8216;8216;People ridicule and lampoon me in the British media about my concerns over genetically modified foods and organic farming,8217;8217; he reportedly told guests at a gathering at the British High Commission. 8216;8216;But I can8217;t help myself. They8217;ve all gone barmy.8217;8217;
The Prince8217;s visits to India seem uncannily to coincide with difficult developments in his life. He was last here in 1992, the same year that his separation from Diana was announced. This time round, he comes under the cloud of A Royal Duty, the book by Diana8217;s butler Paul Burrell, with its damning allegations against the British royal family. But still, he makes PC.
