An American delegation on a visit to India were being shown round the capital. In the evening they were taken to the Secretariat for a panoramic view of Vijay Chowk and Rajpath. Came the closing hour and thousands upon thousands of clerks poured out of their offices. The place was crammed with bicycles and pedestrians.

‘Who are all these people?’ asked the leader of the American delegation.

‘They are the common people of India; the real rulers of the country,’ proudly replied the minister accompanying the visitors.

A few minutes later came a fleet of flag – bearing limousines escorted by pilots on motorcycles followed by jeeps full of armed policemen.

‘And who are these?’ asked the American.

‘These are us,’ replied the minister with the same pride, ‘the servants of the people.’