Thoughts: This I-Day

Its been a long time...precisely 58 years; and perhaps the professionals born with New India will be retiring this year. They still say about India that she is young -with 33% youth population that has the calibre to act as a cheap resource for world. There is also a general conviction, a feeling, that we are destined to be a world power. Undoubtedly we are; but when?

I am pretty sceptical of this belief. Thats true, India is progressing; but the rate of progress is damn slow. The HDI index of UNDP ranks India at 108th rank among 143 countries. So does India lack in many other development fields.

May be its politics. India needs to make some hard decisions, but it seems the present political structure isn't going to change for the better. NDA or UPA -all governments now on will be ruled by a dozen political parties with narrow regional (and personal) interests; just like a chariot being pulled by twenty horses in twenty different directions.

I have a special aversion towards this left. There was a time when Marxism was supposed to be the most radical philosophy of social equality and well being. But time has proved them wrong. Communist countries world over have a stratification (Marx believed a perfect socialist nation doesn't have any poor and rich stratas) -not of poor and rich but of ruling class (corrupt bureaucrats) and the masses. Problem is while China has moved forward and USSR has collapsed, Indian communists still hold the old mindset. Marxian and Leninist philosophies are ancient holy texts for them -which they can't leave. To be radical, you need to change with time. If certain policies of national interest are against your ideology, you need to change yourself.

What the left fears, I think, is that their relevance as a party will end if privatisation and disinvestment succeed.

One thing that assures me is that India is in safe hands. Manmohan Singh is perhaps the most qualified person in India to lead India. I am not xenophobic and so believe, Mrs. Gandhi won't do any harm as long as she stays away from PM's chair. Now, I won't go to the next step, making a comparision of NDA & UPA. I find huge demerits in both political groups and this blog isn't a place for political thoughts.

India needs some strong, dedicated decisions on internal security; that which BJP was good at. The good work done by BJP on this front seems to have stopped altogether. We can't think of a new India if Bihar still votes for crooks. Yesterday, I had an argument with a friend on Bihar and other places facing similar situation. He reasoned that Bihar is Bihar because the masses are uneducated and lack public opinion. It has the most immature society with people divided into many a castes (wondered why many of these Biharis don't have a title -just 'Kumar'?). What I believe is, the best institution for social control is centre. Unfortunately, central rule is also manned by the D of Bihar.

Hey...why to speak of Bihar when my own state faces the same wrath...of poverty, low per capita income and under-development. Well, we have altogether different reasons -cyclones, floods and famines. All seem to find my Orissa their fave location. More about Orissa in the next blog....

India seems to lag behind the world in a number of areas -sports, tourism and energy resources to cite a few; behind all these, I find lack of political motivation the major reason. What about this -a 1027 million strong country produces 1 medal (not a gold) in Olympics! And people all the world over think Indians don't have the stamina!!

India is 'Truly Asia" with everything to search for in a vacation trip; but thats the vigorous campaigning of Malaysia. Hill stations, wildlife, sea beaches, continental fool, a rich heritage and exotic locations -what does India lack so as to be below Singapore and Malaysia in Tourism?

Well guys, time for the hard truth. We have a long way to go, with 25% poverty and a huge tribal population. It won't help our nation if the able mug hard for GRE and leave this country for research in US. I have a good chance to go abroad, but I am staying back...hoping that I could make some difference. What about you?