It was an act straight out of a police state. In a morning crackdown, the Malaysian police rounded up 270 Indian it professionals in Kuala Lumpur, physically abused them, tampered with their passports and kept them for hours in illegal confinement. It was, according to the explanation from the authorities, part of a campaign against illegal immigrants. The Indians were not; they were bona fide employees with valid visas working for Malaysian companies. Though most of them were released, that act of "benevolence" doesn't bring an end to this horror story from the land of Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, the high-profile proponent of Asian values. The domestic practice of these values has been dubious and the victims of those values in action have been Malaysian, usually politicians. Now at least India knows how those values could pose a serious threat to foreigners as well. For a change, India, usually a tolerant state-quite often unreasonably so-refused to sit back and take the humiliation in its stride. The response of India was that of a nation that cares for its people, no matter where they happen to be, no matter who the oppressor is. It was a radical shift, and a redeeming one too.

Radical because India has shown a will, in no-nonsensical terms, to assert itself, uninhibited by the diplomatic niceties of bilateralism. After all, India and Malaysia maintain a healthy relationship, though at the recent NAM summit, Kuala Lumpur, as host, was reportedly less than fair towards Indian interests. India is now reconsidering certain civil aviation agreements with Malaysia, and the External Affairs Ministry is prepared to revaluate the worth of the friendship. Details don't matter. What matters is a nation whose utmost concern is its citizen. One citizen kidnapped, killed or harassed in an alien country drives certain nations to a diplomatic offensive. India, unfortunately, has not been such a nation. This belated awakening sends out a message, not to Malaysia alone but to the entire world: when it comes to the safety of its people anywhere in the world, India is willing to stand up and retaliate. National assertion comes from national confidence. India may not be as economically vigorous a nation as Mahathir's but it is one of the most evolved democracies in the world, confident and responsible. Today it can afford to call the bluff of the brute, to assert itself. Let other potential tormentors take note.