Some Hardtalk for Indians

Hi Ravi,
You can look at the cup as half empty or half full. In 1947, India was coming out of 1000 years of imperial rule with a totally devastated economy that could not even produce a hairpin, millions used to die in famines every year, the country was divided along caste, communal, linguistic lines and it had gone through the holocaust of partition. Most people beleived that India would not last very long as one country. As compared to that look where we are today, when we can at least dream of being a superpower. We have managed to get our act together as a people, established democracy, secularism, a vibrant economy, civil society, strong national defence, a technological base that the world is getting envious about etc. Do we have problems ? Absolutely. But we are on the right track. We are restoring our honor and pride as a people based on our actions and the rest of the world is beginning to recognize us and respect us. Not bad for a half-century record.

As time goes by, those problems that you mentioned will get resolved because Indians are focused on economic growth. The economy will continue to grow and poverty will decline further and further. Besides our continuing strength in IT, we will develop other aspects of our economy, particulary on the infrastructure side such as roads, telephone, electricity etc. Already we have the national superhighway system being built that will connect the entire country along the same lines as the US system. There will be more to come because the people will demand them as a means to grow the economy. A spin-off of economic growth will be that social issues will get addressed such as discrimination, racism and communalism. Today a Punjabi marrying a Tamilian is a routine matter, tomorrow a hindu marrying a muslim will become routine. The reason is that an inclusive society leads to more economic progress and everyone wants economic progress. Even the foreign policy being pursued such as our warm-up with Pakistan is based on economic self-interest, since India wants to import gas from Central Asia and export products/services to that area via Pakistan. As far as taste is concerned, look at our rich cultural output (not counting Bollywood). Make no mistake, India`s best years are coming !!

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maybe you can join arundhati roy and lie in front of a construction crane

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Shour grapshe on thish board ;)

And here is real life experience:

Last July - I called my friend in Bangalore and the line connection was particularly bad. My friend said it happens every rainy season. Rain disrupts the land phone system in what we call ``IT Hub``. I had to call him back on his cell phone which was better than the land phone.

Read the article by Friedman in nytimes today.
http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/21/opinion/21FRIE.html?hp

``While India has the hardware of democracy — free elections — it still lacks a lot of the software — decent, responsive, transparent local government. While China has none of the hardware of democracy, in the form of free elections, its institutions have been better at building infrastructure and services for China`s people and foreign investors.``

The guy has a point. The word ``superpower`` is being thrown around all over the place by stupid je@ks that pass as journalists in Indian media. What superpower? First get the power lines working.

As far as ``IT hub`` or whatever - we are still waiting to see an international airport (of international standard - not the dump they have in Bombay/Delhi) to come up in Bangalore. It is already six years and counting.

For reference - it seems even pakis have better airports in Lahore and Islambad.

Superpower , my a!$$!

A thougtful article from Thomas L. Friedman

http://www.nytimes.com/2004/03/21/opinion/21FRIE.html

Ravi

As Amit has said in Post # 1, visualize India in 1947 and Now. There is a sea change.

But it is good to be self-critical, that keeps the complacency away and an urge to improve.

You are right in Myth # 2. In general, the West continues to produce better human beings than the East. They are more compassionate and more tolerant than us. Our compassions & tolerances are confined and limited to family or groups.

I liked your simple fluid flowing expression style.

(Even Pakistan has greatly improved since 1947 in the social sectors - the area in which it has regressed is the cultural tolerance. But the society is in a perpetual ``Questioning Mode`` - in conflict and turmoil - still trying to get its basics right - that releases a lot of energy & is creative in some ways)

Its good to finally see some introspection from the Indian side. I think this is the first time, in years, that I have seen an article that lays out such issues for India.

Introspection is something that leads to improvement. I think, it is introspection (to the point of cynicism) that has allowed Pakistan to compete with India, despite being tiny in comparisons based on size, and despite being decades behind India, when both started off in 47.

The intelligent Indians will internalize the points presented here. The over-confident ones will be offended by them.

Great article, and a well needed one. Though there has been some improvment since 1947, there has been regression as well. Good to keep the eye on the ball.

Arjun:

Myth #6 is in the standard speech of every politician.

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Good job, Ravi. OPen discussion is very important, especially when a lot of silly things are being said (``India is an IT superpower``).

Have you followed Tom Friedman`s articles in the New York Times? He has combined appropriate consideration for what Bangalore represents with a lot of concern about the poor state of infra-structure and governance.

I have seen the light!! I have seen the light!!
Oh, thank the Lord, I have seen the light!!!

Ravikanth, some of the myths you are talking about seem to have been created by you. If we are letting our imagination go wild then I have got some more myths for you:

1) India is the richest country.

2) Indira Gandhi is the daughter of Mahatma Gandhi.

3) Indians are actually martians.

Who in his right mind would think that India has unlimited natural resources? The Indians you interact with must be absolute dunceheads.