In response to "Can
In response to "Can India be a super power by 2050" ? from ExpressIndia
India has always been "unique" as we say in Hindi- Hat ke! Why this wish for comparison? India has never bothered in all its life for over millenia to "prove" its greatness. The world knew of its greatness. And today, that same land has for its betrayers, the children of its soil abusing it. For a land that led the world in the finest of workmanship and intellect, we now have a ghost of a nation residing in a "knowledgeable" intelligentia that is stripped of original and creative thinking- parroting the words of "English" thinking rather than "desi" thinking; and on the other hand we have a highly talented and hard working artisan/ farming group that commits suicide and leaves behind its traditional knowledge and ends up in urban slums. Here again the knowledge of "English" is considered key to economic development.
The greatest issue facing today is an identity crisis so deep rooted, that it has bred an environment of complaints and justifications rather than clear thinking. In spite of all the outsourcing and all the bakwaas about getting all the "foreign" moolah, the bottomline is Quality. We have so lost our pride and self esteem that whatever be our 'product"- call centers or textiles, the end product is shabby- it needs further make-overs and editing. A very small almost negligeable percentage of businesses are producing that quality but obviously at hightened rates. So, the so called economic advantage of offering competitive price for quality is lost right there. A very self-defeating attitude in a global economy.
While the brown sahibs would anihilate me for even sounding distantly "hindu", the fierce "saffron" power of blazing a trail of knowledge is needed. We need to pick ourselves up from this lethargy that has enveloped us and move- the way we did after the Tsunami. Give of oursleves- selflessly to build a nation that is in our hearts, in each cell nourished by its organically-grown, pesticide-free crops and setting a standard for the rest of the world rather than try to fit into a pre-set "standard" set by another nation, based on its backgrond and evolution. The "ISO" certification of Indian companies sickens me- What happened to good old ISI certification we had- why dont we earn money by certifying international companies with an ISI certification rather than bleeding ourselves? Why are not we creating bench-marks in any field but rather follow the flock in benchmarks and standards set by the rest of the world?
The potential is there- in each human to fashion a world to the preceptor's vision, its all about implementation now- are we ready to make a few sacrifices, like living through a short, difficult period to reduce the power of ill-thought out plans and political manoeuvers.
Some concrete steps- Eliminate pesticide use in the agricultural sector and return to organic farming practices. Support solar power- at a national policy basis to reduce dependency onfossil fuel imports. Improve public transportation and put a cap on individally owned vehicles to reduce congestion and pollution. Create- urban-rural networks to facilitate educational, social and economic interchanges that enhance the quality of life for both the urban and rural dweller. Encourage water harvesting and make water a local concern. Inculcate a deep sense of Dharma to do the best work possible in whatever we do- be it stitching shoes or brain surgery. Participate in democracy rather than watch it like a circus! Fight insurance companies tooth and nail and build a society based on trust rather than fear, for " fear and doubt are death and faith and trust- life". And when there is trust and faith, stress levels are reduced, creating a more harmonious society with a healthier and happier lifestyle.
If a small country like Bhutan can implement a "National Happiness Index" such that the world's economists are scurrying around to understand this new "standard" why cant India with all its wisdom, create an ecological standard- unparalleled in the world? For a moment- think of India's benchmark- the most earth-friendly nation with self-sustaining methods of agriculture and industry where the impact of humans on the planet is harmonious and leaves no strong imprints on the local ecology. Now can the rest of the world follow such a bench mark?
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