Tuesday 19 August, 2008

INDIA-an SuperPower @ 2020 - Will it Happen?

At the eve of the 62nd independence day of the India I had a traumatic experience due to traveling.The punishment for not booking a ticket was an 15 hour travel instead of the usual 10 hours from Bangalore to Madurai.
Even though I am not a NASA scientist looking the other side of the country for the first time(SRK in SWADES) I was thinking how in the world will India become a superpower if the people do not have access to basic needs.
Dr.Kalam, was the first to put forth his dream that India will become a super power in the year 2020 and so everyone started talking about it .Then the Planning commission put forth a Vision Statement which starts in chapter 1 as "This document is neither a plan nor a projection of what India will be in 2020".
So where is the plan? If there is a plan,has it reached the general public? India will become a superpower only if the general public is motivated to work towards the vision. So how to make the common man listen? First feed him,fulfill his basic needs then tell him India is going to be big if he puts his mind to it.
I don't believe a bunch of social conscious bureaucrats,politicians and businessman sitting in AC conference rooms sipping coffee after a buffet lunch wont be able to achieve this vision without the help and support of the Common Indian who is starving to death.
But some still stay optimistic, and blindly believe that since 'India is growing' it will eventually become a super power in 2020 and will do marvelous things like hosting the Olympics.
India's present growth has lead to a fat belly(inflation). in the once thin,starving Indian which may lead to a unhealthy condition like obesity.The common Indian should gain muscle power in all areas for which the so called Inclusive growth is very much needed.
Just because India will be able to spend $45 billion does not mean it can host the Olympics nor it has become a economic superpower. Even if the Indian government can pull it off without bringing in real changes,I can guarantee that the ruling party will lose in the next Election because the common Indian is not interested in hosting sports events when his child is not getting proper food or education.

I keep wondering when those magic bullet trains zooming at 300kms/hr will come to India so that I can see my parents in Madurai everyday and still go to work in Bangalore.When that day comes I am sure the whole of India will be rejoicing on its Independence Day with much more spirit(not the drinks).
I am not saying we cannot, I am saying we definitely can but only if we all want to.
"Together We Can -achieve the Vision of India - an economic superpower"

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