India - Remember who thou were and when thou art restored to thy Glory!!!

Today as India grows a year older in her independence and takes a step forward to brave the future, there are a billion hopes pinned on what the crystal ball reads of this great nation. Well the answer aint defined, but yes it aint that hazy too. India began its sojourn to reinforce itself on the world podium just 61 years back. The journey hasn’t been rosy in any regard. There have been moments of pain and anguish, bloodshed and violence, broken homes and communal divides. The nation also had its bit when it came to the current account deficit crisis. But all said and done, this very young beauty has still kept the light shining. India doesn’t believe in taking giant strides and in keeping in line with its great diversity, it can’ leap that far with the drop of a hat. Slowly and steadily, however, India has begun to leave its foot print on the sands of time.

A millennium ago, to be precise in the first millennium there wasn’t any economy as large as India, contributing close to 30% of the world’s economy. And as late as the 18th century, India was still the largest economy contributing 25% of the world’s GDP (more than 8 times of its nearest competitor, the United Kingdom). Today as per IMF, India’s contribution stands at 4.6 % in 2007 (revised from 6.4 % in PPP terms) while China is at 10.8% and the States at 21.4%. However, none has been able to match the contribution India enjoyed. 200 years of colonial rule brought down its contribution. India didn’t retaliate as much to ward off the British, just as it always has been passive. A lover of non-violence and a believer in ‘Live and let Live’ or else how can you expect a country with all major religions, a million castes and communities coexisting. The diversity is much greater than the entire Europe put together. In India, at the change of every district, some times kilometers away, the language, the custom, the way of life changes, however, the Indian ethos of warmth still remains intrinsic to the very being of an Indian soul.

In just 16 years of opening her self to the world, India now stands as a power that is forging ahead in every sphere. A trillion dollar economy and still counting, second fastest growth rate, 4th largest economy (in terms of PPP), burgeoning middle class, ever increasing foreign reserves….the list may go on. Even the more recent report by Grant Thornton in the wake of a global slow down hails India as the optimistic economy to look forward. (On carrying out a survey of 7800 privately held firms in 34 nations, India tops the chart with the highest optimism-pessimism balance of 95 %, while Japan is at the bottom with -49%. The optimism-pessimism balance represents the proportion of firms reporting that they are optimistic minus those saying they are pessimistic. Not sure how its exactly calculated). Add to this, India is home to the fourth largest billionaire population as per Forbes. The NSE is the world’s second fastest growing bourse in terms of listed firms highlighting the spirit of entrepreneurism. Also India has toppled US to become the world’s no.2 cell phone market after China with 29 crore subscribers. Another feather in its cap is India never had a 1929, averted the South east Asian crisis and is not responsible for a Sub Prime mess.

But is this sustainable?..Do we have it in us to become the SuperPower in 2025 as foretold?...What’s stopping us?..Who is stopping us? Well the answer lies within. Needless to say that India lacks the infrastructure, which has become a cliché. It would be apt to describe it in Jeff Immelt’s (CEO, GE) words, “The entire rung of Indian ministers should leave all their portfolios and concentrate on Infrastructure development. Then there would be no stopping of India”. But the problem that would stall our growth could be much larger. The problem stems from the very foundations India has been built on. The communal divide. As we usher into a new era, we still have our brethren fighting in the name of God. The classic example of Godhra and now off late Kashmir, can rip off the country on what it is deemed to achieve. Internal fighting was not enough, that we have terrorists showing up their face and instilling fear. And when all this dust settles, the average Indian has to cope up with the corrupt politicians cashing into increase their vote bank by the classic strategy of implementing reservations. What would reservation, terrorism and communal divide lead us to? A fragmented nation, who doesn’t want to commit itself to its tryst with a glorious destiny.

All in all, the issues highlighted are though grave but that isn’t the essence of the common man. India still fosters the love and warmth of a family, cherishes the joy of being together and accepts the next door neighbour of another race with a warm smile. When it contributed 30% to the world economy it didn’t ail the world with wars, deaths and hunger nor does it now, as against US that thrives on it. O my India your destiny to return to the top, is in the making, but thou remember that happiness is what a man strives for, so don’t devoid the world of it when thou becomes a Super Power !!!