During an informal chat with leading minds from across the globe attending the annual “World Business Dialogue”, organised by Cologne University, more than a few references were made to the much-widely-touted London School of Economics (LSE) report, “India is not a superpower, and will not become one in the foreseeable future.”
To a great extent, the LSE study report is rational, therefore incontrovertible, especially when it comes from an academically and intellectually strong group of scholars. I would, therefore, agree with their findings generally, but with three serious caveats.
NEW LEADERS
First, from my modest experience spanning some 30 years, I am in no doubt that almost any nation and its people can progress to great heights when they are led by example of a disciplined and goal-oriented leader, willing to see the whole country as their constituency.
On the other hand, almost any people, however competent, or well-meaning, can be a failure under a vague, distracted, corrupt and immoral, self-seeking leader.
It all boils down to quality of leadership, which gives the people hope, vision and consummate behaviour with which to sculpt themselves and their institutions after.
It is amply clear that we are already attracting a new crop of educated, young people into politics and public service. I am confident that these new leaders will hopefully change our governance culture for the better.
QUESTIONING MISGOVERNANCE
Secondly, it is my belief that people of our nation are gradually beginning to hold accountable those who cling to political offices and question — thankfully, within the bounds of law — on how they are governed.
The recent Economic Survey statistics show that the ratio of Public Expenditure to National Income in India is one of the highest among developing countries. But it is also a fact that a significant proportion of the population hardly derives any benefit from public expenditure.
It is not astounding therefore, that public officers — elected officials and civil servants who are taken up by the, “get rich quickly” syndrome, are some of the wealthiest people in the country. This is being watched with resentment and impatience by the people — thanks to the feisty Fourth Estate.
Just last week, it was reported that Bahujan Samaj Party president Mayawati's assets doubled during her chief ministership of Uttar Pradesh to Rs 111 crore. This cannot continue to happen.
Sooner than later, people will muster the courage to ask questions and demand answers.
THE REAL INDIA
Thirdly, the handicap that scholars abroad have — they may, themselves, be unaware of this — is the difficulty in understanding the “Real India”. This real India is what accounts for much of its failures in the past centuries and its success story in the recent decades.
I am convinced that there exists an unseen “spirituality” in the country and its people. It only needs to be charged and turned on for dramatic changes, in the political, economic and social fields. What is now going on in the country is peripheral and cannot be the basis for long-term conclusions, like the LSE scholars seem to be driving at.
True, it was a Manmohan Singh who aroused the potential of India in the economic field, but the international community is watching the readiness with which the people caught this on, and played their parts effectively and well.
The economic boom during the past few years is created by people who have realised their strength, their needs, and are ready to play their respective part to guarantee the results.
A Narayana Murthy, or a Premji, or an Ambani, or a Mittal are not rare avatars, but very commonplace. They are, therefore, neither unusual nor one-off. Most of the billion-plus Indians are made of similar stuff. The future of the country is, therefore, assured. The LSE scholars have done a linear projection of the present and assumed that the systemic weaknesses will be there to stay. This is where they have gone woefully wrong.
The report also misses the empowerment in Indian society, in matters of education, health and nourishment, living conditions, gender equality, inclusiveness, etc. The incorrigible fundamentalists and traditionalists will cease to exist, sooner than any one can imagine.
I am convinced that India won't be a “Super Power” in the sense the term is understood now. India will give a new definition to the term, and be a peaceful and progressive model for the rest of the countries.
(The author is a former Europe Director, CII, and lives in Cologne, Germany.)