A brief recent vacation in Egypt (pop.120 million) exposed the insularity of Indian media and politics. While mainstream media is awash with news and developments of the Anglosphere, Indian media and politicians report little about nations in our neighbourhood, except disasters, elections and army coups.

Yet the uncomfortable truth is that putting its long tradition of building the ancient cities of Cairo, Alexandria and Luxor along with awe-inspiring pyramids and temples, and despite being heavily dependent upon the waters of the River Nile, Egypt’s GDP growth has been averaging a commendable 4.5 percent for the past quinquennium. As a result, its per capita income at $3,190 is higher than India’s $2,600. Notably, although Egypt is an Islamic country, it comfortably acknowledges, even embraces, its pre-Islamic history (which orthodox Islam prohibits). It celebrates its ancient civilization and pharaonic past which it has developed into a thriving tourism industry. In 2025, Egypt hosted 19 million tourists cf. India’s 6 million.

Despite its mistake — in common with India — of taking the socialist road in the 1950s, now liberalised Egypt is developing high quality infrastructure at fast clip. Its GEM (Grand Egyptian Museum) inaugurated last November eclipses France’s Louvre in scale and grandeur; and Alexandria’s new age Bibliotheque designed by two Norwegian architects aged 26-28 selected by global tender, sprawled over 11 floors and housing 8 million volumes and 3,000 computer terminals is the most iconic and culturally significant library constructed in the 21st century.

A lesson in humility.