She looked out of place among the 40 athletes and 11 officials marching under the Indian flag.

CNN: Olympics ceremony crasher identified, organizers say

Mr Cameron has offered the RAF's help to fit the Hawks with smoke pods so the colours of the Indian flag can be trailed behind.

BBC: Red Arrows 'future safe under David Cameron'

The compass was also invented in China, and records exist of how a great fleet was sent under the command of Admiral Zheng He in the early 15th century to show the Chinese imperial flag in the ports of the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf, a fleet said to be the largest seen in the world up to that time.

CNN: Building On A Golden Age

But his party officials have refused to let go of the man who has kept the party's flag flying high, in one of the only three Indian states where the left has a strong presence.

BBC: Veteran Indian Marxist taken ill