ndia has given clear signals that it is in no mood to accept the invitation extended by Beijing, citing violation of its sovereignty by the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), OBOR's flagship project, which cuts through the disputed territory of Kashmir.

However, given that the OBOR Forum is expected to be attended by at least 20 heads of state, representatives of 50 countries and a multitude of international organisations, India's absence in Beijing will be conspicuous, to say the least.

Since 2013, when President Xi Jinping first unveiled the ambitious idea, OBOR has not only caught the world's imagination, but has also become China's single-minded obsession. This becomes clear when one visits the country, as this author has done thrice in the past one year – twice at the invitation of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS) and once as part of a study tour organised by the Chinese Consulate in Mumbai.