There was a time when wars were distant spectacles – names in newspapers, maps in atlases, and stories carried by travellers. Today, wars have no such boundaries. They do not remain confined to deserts, seas, or skies where they begin. Instead, they travel – through oil tankers, stock markets, shipping routes, digital screens, and human anxieties – until they quietly enter kitchens, workplaces, and daily conversations in countries far removed from the battlefield.

The ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran is not merely a geopolitical confrontation; it is a reminder that in the age of interdependence, even a distant war can become an intimate experience. At the centre of this conflict lies a geography that is both strategic and fragile – the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow stretch of water, barely visible on a global map, carries nearly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. For energy-hungry nations like India, it is not just a route; it is a lifeline.

Tankers moving through this corridor feed industries, power vehicles, sustain agriculture, and energize households. When conflict threatens this artery, the consequences ripple outward like waves in a disturbed sea. The first and most immediate ripple is felt in the price of crude oil. Oil is not just another commodity; it is the invisible thread that binds modern economies. When tensions escalate in the Gulf, uncertainty grips global markets. Traders speculate, insurers raise premiums, shipping companies alter routes, and the price of crude begins its relentless climb.

For a country like India, which imports more than four-fifths of its oil requirements, this surge is not an abstract statistic – it is a direct economic burden. Every additional dollar spent on oil imports translates into billions added to the national import bill. This burden does not remain confined to government accounts. It descends gradually but steadily upon the ordinary citizen. Petrol and diesel prices rise, making transportation more expensive. The cost of moving goods-from vegetables to construction materials- increases. Public transport fares adjust upward. The price of essential commodities quietly creeps higher.

Inflation, often described in numbers and percentages, is in fact a........

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