Truths are not instant; they need to be filtered out of facts
For a while, there is disquiet in the air. The passing of the apparently innocuous Citizenship Amendment Bill in both the houses of the Parliament, triggered highly organized protests and propaganda. A number of State Assemblies ruled by opposition parties passed resolutions to oppose the Act, feigning ignorance about the fact that it was neither their right, nor business to do so. The people who breathe by upholding the Constitution and secularism, vehemently fanned confusion and anarchy about a law duly passed by the Parliament and challenged it in the Supreme Court. The organized violence in Delhi, effectively timed with the arrival of the US President in the city, showed the scant regard many people have for their country. Whoever indulged in the violence, shamed not the ruling party, but the entire country!
Indian per capita GDP was a miserable USD 300 in 1991 and this fact threw up the bitter truth about the inefficiency and incompetence in the way India was being governed. Then, India saw rampant scams in almost everything, making a situation where no purchases could be made for our defence forces. The outrage of national sensibilities in 2014 brought about a much needed change. The new government took some bold steps in the form of demonetization, GST and in their deals with Pakistan-supported terrorism. Some relief came to the poor in the form of cooking gas and direct transfer of subsidies. Though unemployment remained a problem, the government returned to power with a larger majority in 2019. It was time to see India taking off, but the exact opposite of that has happened. The truth of why it has happened is not yet out, but the fact is that it has happened and there are no signs of it receding.
India will be called a prosperous country when its per capita GDP becomes USD 5,000 (in 2020, the per capita GDP of China is USD 9,000 and that of the United States is USD 22,000). There are only two ways for this to happen. First, we must efficiently harness our enormous natural resources, specially petroleum gas and oil, modernize our coal mines and start making the six nuclear reactors pending on paper for so long. As the second step, we must embrace technology in agriculture, create efficient supply chains, percolate modern scientific thought into society and live in social harmony. There is absolutely no public discourse on any of these problems. Watch the Parliament proceedings, news channels or read magazines, there is a cacophony of trivial arguments, banal criticism and the entire purpose of our politics is for the elected leaders to remain in power and the defeated leaders to return to power. All we hear is loan waivers, free rides, and more reservations. No one is talking about how to increase the income of the nation.
So, what is the truth that we can see from these facts?
India is a country that has never been able to take its own integrity for granted. There have been traitors and internal saboteurs colluding with the invaders and aggressors, working against their own masters and people. Modern India is no different. It is not only ringed by potential foes, but there are also enemies infested in our society and system. Let any government take any good action and there are protests. Leaders shamelessly chew their own statements and assertions made at earlier instances for the heck of opposition. The four modernizations: modern agriculture, modern industry, modern defence, and modern science and technology, must be decoupled from electoral politics.
Corruption continues. The non-performing assets of our banks keep staring at the people whose money the banks handle. As though this were not enough, the recent crisis of a well-known private sector bank has brought out the maleficence of the top leadership of the bank. While salaried employees first pay income tax and then GST every day on whatever they buy, privileged people, hardly pay proper tax and it has been accepted as normal. The GST system has holes and businesspeople know well how to use them. Political parties are made of the people. Bereft of the people’s support, the party can do nothing. Corruption hits these very people and if not checked, the party will eventually be voted out without any doubt. The calculus is simple: to save India, you must move against the corrupt, and if you do not move against them today, you might not have the chance to tomorrow.
India was invaded and ruled by a handful of foreigners with the collusion of inside forces, who embraced them out of hatred for their own rulers. This attitude persists. National security is fundamental. India must be capable of fending for itself in the rough and tumble of geopolitics. It must stay close enough to the United States without becoming too close. It must plug the USD 50 billion trade deficit with China without quarrel and in a businesslike manner. Also, it must stand firm against Pakistan without fighting it. Although the tone may differ if there is a change in leadership, the substance should not.
Finally, India’s demographics is its biggest truth. We cannot even attempt to re-engineer India’s pluralistic democracy. More than half of Indians live like second-rate citizens because they are poor. They belong to every religion. We have a very young population, and our youth needs good jobs. How will jobs be created without investment, business sentiment and harmony?
Our per capita GDP is at a respectable USD 2,000 level right now. Let us take pride in this and not be cynical. Let all our political parties focus on the creation of wealth, jobs and social harmony. Change is always feared by the masses. The intensity of change can be self-defeating. As our Prime Minister rightly said after the victory in the 2019 election, winning everyone’s trust is important. India has changed for the good. It should never regress into scams and vote-bank politics. But this is a work-in-progress – a little ugly, a little messy, and even chaotic at times.
India will surely become prosperous by actively working towards the goal of becoming a USD 5-trillion economy by 2024 and by keeping the four modernizations: modern agriculture, modern industry, modern defence, and modern science and technology running smoothly with adequate funding and without interruption. Also, we need to ensure that people pay taxes and economic offenders do not escape the law. Corruption is the biggest bane of our times. Each time ordinary people watch people with ill-gotten wealth living like celebrities, their faith in the system takes a blow, and this is the truth behind all the chaos.
MORE FROM THE BLOG
Take the Bull by the Horns
I am a mechanical engineer who worked for 15 years at the Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL) in Hyderabad. There, I developed the Trishul and Akash missile airframes and Titanium Airbottles…
Mythology: Imagination or Coded Secrets?
Myths often reflect the creativity and storytelling traditions of cultures. They can be seen as symbolic narratives that explain natural phenomena, human behaviour and societal values. These stories often incorporate fantastical elements and characters…
Whose Truth and By what Facts do I Live?
I exist. My family, friends, and people I wouldn’t say I like all exist. I face situations both comfortably and disquietly. I feel happy and sad, relaxed and anxious. Like a flowing river, the stream of thought in my mind sometimes flows smoothly…
Unfortunately the sad realities of today’s India well enumerated. Nothing short of a mindset change is required by the Population like Japan. People must take real pride in being Indian but the personal greed overtakes and people wont think twice by putting their self gain over everything else.
A spiritual mind set will definitely assist. Hon Prime minister, in my view has succeeded to a significant extent in this direction. Present Corona situation is going to put the whole world behind in achieving prosperity goals
Let us hope for the best and let us work even harder to make up
Dear Arunsir. Like your books, your blog makes us think! To think and to assess a subject fairly. And most importantly, to think on positive aspect too – Optimism is the faith that lead to achievement. Just sharing my thoughts – Modern agriculture, modern industry, modern defence, and modern science and technology needs to be backed up with traditional and moral values of truth, tolerance, forgiveness, non-violence and faith to make a balanced progress of individual and Nation.
Arunji, very well captured the four modernisations of Agriculture, Industry, Defence and Science & Technology. Political leadership with values and non corrupt practices can get sustainable investments to create jobs and bring social harmony which should lead to increase in national income.
GST is a good legislation. earlier traders were collecting sales tax but were not remitting. Now if tax collected has to be paid, it gets recredited at one point of sale or the other. Everyone has to register. Sometimes even tax authorities help the traders to deceive govt. As long as one has thieves in the house, even Lord Siva cannot catch them.
We should not create a class of lazy by giving freebies. Just provide free education, medicine to all. It would generate workers. Keep people healthy. Send every youth to compulsory army training for two years from tenth class. Educate them intermediate there. You can see a sea change in next generation. Put a course to enter public life after intermediate. Based on their qualification allow them to contest in elections of various stage. One should be a corporator before contesting as MLA. Likewise. One should be MLA before contesting as MP.
Everyone worried that car sales came down. Why? How many people go on buying a car every day? There should be some idea how the sales go up – exploit export. There are several underdeveloped and slowly developing countries. Access their requirements, manufacture and export. Develop human resources. Channelize their supply. No opposition leader suggests that such and such should be done or improved like this? Just they oppose for opposition sake.
Dear Prof. Tiwari, Your blog illuminates the path to the truth in this day and age where opinions are rubbed as truths by the bombarding media every day.
Dear Prof. Tiwari, your thought provoking piece made me re-think of several issues which have been addressed here. I agree with you absolutely that technology in agriculture should be promoted. Perhaps, we can learn some advanced scientific techniques of agriculture from Israel. Israel managed to turn desert into a flourishing land of honey and milk. The government need to provide better subsidies for the farmers but with the condition that farming daily wage labourers especially women are paid a minimum of Rs700- per day. Kerala is already giving Rs700/- Pete day to daily wage labourers currently. Most daily wage labourers in the farming category are paid Rs.250/- per day across the country which points to feminization of poverty.
I am not in favour of blocking roads and women gathering in one place after taking monetary benefits and food items for sitting in Dharna. Regarding the GST, I feel, BJP should hire a group of excellent economists to sort out the mess. The current corona virus will definitely compel India to stop the import of Chinese goods. Let us join hands to fight COVID-19 unitedly. People who are quarantined managed to run away and have been going around infecting thousands of people and it’s ridiculous.
Thank you for filtering out the relevant truths for us, Dr Tiwari.
Indeed, the way to move forward is through modern agriculture, modern industry, modern defence, and modern science and technology. These need adequate funding, and Corruption in any form must be stopped from eating away at their potential benefits.
Equally important, and something that you point out, is Internal Security. We need to modernise this area urgently — backed by adequate funding, and training for our forces and organisations, which obviously needs a highly-committed Executive arm of the government.
If left untackled, forces inimical to our country can thwart all economic and scientific progress, and developmental efforts. Unfortunately, this happens in the garb of democracy and human rights; they have succeeded in creating the enemy within!
Finally, our youth who will form the workforce — apart from education and skills — need good nutrition at all stages. This needs interventions too. Otherwise, the demographic advantage we currently have, will be squandered away.
Leaders at all levels, across sectors, and both in public service as well as private organisations, need to begin thinking of the country.
You have presented the prevailing state of affairs of our nation the way you perceive. But perceptions differ as far as the causes and effects are concerned. United we stand, divided we fall holds true always. Betrayal, greed and petty mindedness enslaved us for almost 200 years. Independence we gained but India’s diversity has become a source of schism of the virulent kind. Sadly, fanatics resort to whatever pays off be it extremism or moderation. The three pillars of democracy falling apart indicate to the rest of the world that India is just not evolving as a democracy.
You are spot on Prof. Tiwari that for India to achieve the increase in standard of living (per Capita GDP) for its people, it must harness the energy resources of the country. Energy production is directly related to a nation’s standard of living.
It is sad however that corruption has stood in the way of significant progress for India. I’m optimistic that India now has a leader that will take the courageous steps to fight corruption head on today as you say, since there may not be a chance to do so tomorrow. I see an analogy in your leadership (Modi) to our leadership here in the U.S. (Trump). Some of your readership may not agree nor understand that comment, but time will tell. Revelation of the true facts ultimately will help root out corruption and save our respective nations. But it takes time.
I fully agree that the time is ripe for strengthening US-India relations as you mention here and also discussed in your blog and comments of February 2020 – “India above everything, God above everyone”. A strong US-India tie is in essence the best opportunity for India to achieve near term high economic growth. I believe our respective leaders believe a stronger alliance for both nations is our mutual best interests – not just economically, but also for each country’s national security.
So, although the near term data may not provide much optimism, I truly believe India has the right leadership, in Modi, to lead the great country of India towards its goal of a $5 trillion economy in the near future. The great people of India deserve a better future and India has the resources to make it happen. With their great will and God’s will, it will certainly happen!
Very nice article Arun. I am generally in sync with your thoughts and directions for our great nation. Your friends have expressed very well-meaning and excellent views. I feel humbled by that.
As you have expressed we have to have honesty at the core of all conduct. Transparency has to increase. Many institutions including banks would fail in the absence of that. I hope things get in place as the electorate becomes more aware and knowledgeable.
Coronavirus has opened a vast opportunity for India. China has messed up big time. Slaughtering and eating wild animals has created this virus. Supply chains depend so much on China, Powerful countries would force them to enact stricter laws and implementations. If India puts it’s act together, it could become a significant alternative to China. Consider the employment it would generate and the strategic advantage it would entail. My best wishes.
Thanks Sri Arun Tiwariji for the blog on this important but challenging topic.
So true that we have never been able to to take integrity for granted. This may well have been true across the nations. Also possibly the proportion of such individuals in our nation could have been much lesser than other civilizations (and so we are still surviving as one of the oldest running civilizations). However, all it takes is one Jaichand to instill great losses washing away the integrity and sincerity of millions others.
And such Jaichands in the form of anti-national student leaders, politically motivated NGOs, Urban Naxals, soft-on-terrorism human rights activities and more are hindering development and slowing us down all the time.
On corruption, it seems to have penetrated too deep cutting across party lines. And something truly revolutionary (unlike politically motivated IAC movement) either in terms of people’s movement or policy changes at the scale larger than that of Swachh Bharat Abhiyan may be required.
A very intriguing article written by Prof Tiwari Sir. The caption is what got me to actually think a lot more about the series of events that have been happening around, starting with the protests over CAA to the latest pandemic of corona. Facts does not necessarily demonstrate the truth. This is ironical as it is believed that truth always needs to be substantiated with facts. It is a fact that protests are going on over issues concerning certain governmental decisions. Everyone has a right to have a perspective on decision making policies but to believe that every perspective is the truth will make any government crippled to take decisions. Time to understand core fundamental values not only with regards to upholding integrity and nationalism but to also to see how as a citizen we are setting an example for the future generations. Self-absorption and consumption have taken over from basic elementary common sense. It’s about time that this great country shows that its resilience cannot be taken as weakness and demonstrate its capability by ensuring that the road map or the effort being put in front as a vision for this country, is not robbed away by certain section of people with their ulterior motives.
Dear Sir, Thank you for sharing a thought provoking blog once again.
There is no doubt that India is growing faster than ever. We are now in a position to lead the world economy.
The recent threat of COVID-19 to world could be seen as an opportunity for Indian healrhcare industry to deliver the products like sanitizers, mask and required medicine across countries. It’s the time establish the business relationship with countries.
Our cultural and value system is being recognised by world like saying ‘Namastye’ to greet someone rather than shaking hands and become a transporter of infections.
The worst part which is observed by me is that the selfish and dishonesty in people have increased. Increase in cost of sanitizer and mask by shopkeepers for common poor people to protect from infection is shown their insensitivity towards fellow citizens. This might be an effects of materialistic behaviour of previous government to make money by doing scams in every deals.
Hope the current governance by our PM could improve things in long run. The time has come for the India to become world leader by delivering. Welcome..!! Regards,
Tiwari Bhaisab, Wonderful article depicting the current political game and dramas played by the opposition as rightly said opposing every decision made by the government just for the sake of apposition.
NRC and CAA bill passed in both House of Parliament by elected representatives of voters. Opposing the bill now shows the frustration of opposition. Everybody knows that anti NRC resolutions can not be passed by respective state assemblies and has no legal standing but still every non BJP government is adapting the resolution, only to satisfy their vote bank.
The opposition tactics to please the vote bank even at the cost of internal security and credibility of the sovereign country as the history is witness, how the enemies of the country benefited from the enmities within.
The opposition did not leave any stone unturned in taking advantage of the visit of US president to defame the country. The act of J&K leaders trying to change the demography of Jammu Kashmir by illegal encroachment of land is highly deplorable. Shaming India and the democratically elected popular government is the only agenda of the opposition. Then again the so-called secular anti India media funded by foreign powers is equally responsible. Dream of 5 trillion economy is not difficult with support from the citizens. For getting this is to educate the masses and expose the hidden agenda of opposition.
Again yours is a well written article. Thank you and with best wishes.
Sir, I really enjoyed reading your blog and I understand that the parliament needs to discuss the real issues that are important but its not possible till we have a destructive opposition. In all honesty, there is hardly any leader frm the opposition who is sensible enough to prioritise the nation’s interests ahead of their own! As far as corruption goes, I think a start has been made but it will take a long time fr the effects to show up although we are seeing some of it already in the sense tht middlemen have been eliminated n benefits r directly transferred to the consumer! The CAA, I believe is just the start but the population control bill is the need of the hour n I hope that steps r taken to make it official cause without such measures we will always be a developing nation.
Tiwari sir….this article has so accurately chronicled the situation as it stands in the country today. Like mentioned in the article, Indian Economy is a work-in-progress – a little ugly, a little messy, and even chaotic at times.
The way people just oppose things for the sake of opposing without any verified reason is not only disturbing, but calls for some serious re-thinking at grass root levels. At the root of all is education. It brings to mind the passage from the book Transcendence (which you so dedicatedly co-authored with your Guru APJ Abdul Kalam), that when Kalam saab proposed his vision for India 2020 to His Holiness Pramukh Swami Maharaj, Swami had suggested to him that besides his five major areas of thrust, include a sixth one….Faith in God…Spiritual Elevation of man. Swami said that It is only when the individual starts Believing in himself and develops a Faith in God, that his true progress starts, and with that he starts valuing what he is blessed with. And a nation will only truly prosper when each individual progresses.
It is only when one counts one’s Blessings that one develops Empathy and Understanding, which are the foundation of a Grateful Heart. This might even sound a bit preachy and philosophical, but as things stand, this is the only way out of a system which is grappling with corruption and greed. The industrialized world has created conveniences, but has also fanned the flames of an unbridled desire for “more”.
Time and time again, I can’t help but going back to one of your previous articles, where you so pointedly mentioned that we need to revisit our roots, where people once lived as a community, as one large family. They existed totally in harmony with Nature and there was a general equity all round as they believed that every resource is a Blessing of Nature and God.
Most importantly, they had Love in their hearts…a heart which believed Sharing is Caring. It is this very sentiment which needs re-kindling in a people, who are getting increasingly mechanized.
Thanks once gain Tiwari sir for such a thought provoking article.
Jai Swaminarayan 🙂
Dear Sir, Thanks again for the wonderful thought probing article.
As Urdu poet Krishna Bihari Noor says “ सच घटे या बढ़े तो सच ना रहे, झूठ की कोई इन्तेहा ही नहीं. जड़ दो चांदी में चाहे सोने में, आईना झूठ बोलता ही नहीं” The Truth is a path away from all fixes. And away from all chases. It is for the one who is Serious. It is for the one who is Sincere. Misinformation is not like a plumbing problem you fix. It is a social condition, like crime, that you must constantly monitor and adjust to.
Corruption is a subject of intense debate, discussion, and guesswork in India. Even as estimates have been made about the extent of corruption in India, the real magnitude might be far bigger than all the reports have suggested so far.
India is more of a continent than a country, its states more varied in language, culture and ethnicity than the nations of Europe. Its economy is best-managed one state at a time, by a democratic leader close to local conditions, not by an authoritarian regime at the Centre. There is still reason to believe in India’s economic prospects, but hope won’t come from prime ministers in Delhi, it will come from dynamic chief ministers in state capitals.
The current situation in India is quite hopeful. The country has a lot of talented people. The universities are improving. Government spending is going up because of the nation’s economic strength. Some reforms are needed, and that’s progressing, gradually, but surely!
Sir, India Awakening. Young ones do not not keep quiet without clear answers. Despite their faith in the system has taken many blows they are seeking leadership who can take up development where no one will be left behind. India can’t be immune to the chaos world is going through. It is a fact experienced by many that India’s pluralistic fabric is breaking. Large number of fellow-Indians living like second-rated citizens because economic or religious context. While we need jobs, we have no answers. Future of skills are not known existing skills will be redundant in time to come. Your optimism is contagious. There is a light at the end of tunnel. Your perceptions are different and it provide different meaning to where we are today as a Nation. Looking forward to what is next from your end. Best regard.
Very critically analysed blog sir, distilling naked truth from nicely stitched painful facts. I really support four modernisations you have suggested which are the need of the hour. Corruption is a systematic component existing in the Indian ecosystem from many decades. In my view, it will never die as long as people do not follow ethics and realise the truth. We are becoming more of managing disaster than preparedness and sound implementation. I am very happy that the government is taking all possible steps to avert corruption. I am sure people will definitely make difference for a better India.
This is India’s moment for global leadership. As the world slips into a global recession due to the coronavirus, India needs to use its role as a global leader in the pharmaceutical industry for the greater good. Generic drugs from India, for example, account for 20 percent of global exports in terms of volume, making the country the largest provider of generic medicines globally. What is needed now in China, Europe, and the United States are the tools required to fight the coronavirus, including test kits, face masks, sanitary wipes, protective equipment, and most importantly a vaccine to counter the coronavirus. This is a war against a virus. On December 29, 1940, the U.S. president Franklin Roosevelt said that the United States had to become the great arsenal of democracy, to provide weapons to the democracies to fight Nazi Germany. Prime Minister Modi should seek to make India’s pharmaceutical industry an arsenal for human health, to counter the global coronavirus pandemic. The next six months will be a testing time for the global economy. By using its expertise in the field of pharmaceuticals, India can do well by doing good.
Professor Tiwari. In your last sentences you mention one of the bigger problems India still faces and something that it has been attacking for many decades – corruption. With corruption truth evaporates in favor of vested interests in which concern is for personal gain and not society growth. But the overarching great news is that India has improved, not at the rate of the highly centralized and controlled economy of China, but through a messy but sometimes beautiful democracy. It is India’s system of democratic hope for the planet that I believe will become one of its great contributions to the world. A government and society must be about helping those that need it the most while raising the wealth of all members of the community. This is only done through the efficient use of human capital and natural resources; which India has in abundance. Time to get rid of those last vestiges of corruption and the country’s engines of growth will move even faster. I feel very good about its future and that this last barrier to progress will be eliminated. And much of this change is the result of people like you that are those rare beacons of honest truth the society needs. Please keep being its conscious.
Sir, this is very well written article on current economic and social situation. It is rightly pointed out that corruption is eating like termite in the system. Although current government has taken some bold initiative to remove corruption from the system. But people have become habitual of corruption. Now it’s not about change in the system but about change in habits once that will happen then only our country could be corruption free.
We need to have some bold move to narrow our trade deficit. There need to be some policy change in import/export criteria once this would be achieved then only India would seen as economic superpower in the world.
The article written by you is not just truth, but unvarnished truth. The analysis of what ails our country is sharp and insightful. The Opposition heaps garbage,knowing fully well the source of the garbage. Their baselessness is getting exposed by their own hollow rhetoric. The case of the fallen and unresurrectible private sector bank, which enjoyed patronage then and disintegrated now, cannot be showcased as recent history and can by no stretch of imagination be attributed to recent origins. It has left us with a deep and steadily eroding sense of trust deficit. The stark truth is for all to see.
In this dismal and depressing circumstances, added by the corona, which is only an external manifestation and reflection of the unethical and immoral viruses within us, prime of which is corruption and greed, the four fold modernism framework comes like a breath of fresh air. Yes it seemed like Kalam ji was speaking to us. Hope people take note of your positive mantra for growth and development.
Truth is a rare commodity now a days. It remains buried under heaps and heaps of lies and distortion. Only those, who have patience, can reach to the bottom of heaps to find the truth. There is nothing to be opposed in CAA. It is restoring the justice to those who were betrayed by both India and Pakistan leaderships at the time of partition of the country.
It looks that the opposition, leftists, pseudo intellectuals and drawing room socialists and nationalists, all are jealous of Modi’s popularity and achievements of his government. They cannot imagine how a person of humble origin could reach to such heights. India faces the challenge not from external enemies but from scores of internal enemies, who don’t miss even a slightest opportunity to attack Modi and his government. If we can deal with internal enemies effectively, a strong message will also go out to external enemies.
Corruption has become a part of our DNA. It is going to be difficult to get rid of it from our lives, unless someone comes up with an appropriate CRISPER technology.
Salvation of India lies in harnessing technologies for all spheres of development. The national development agenda has to be above party politics.
I felt as if I am reading Dr APJ Abdul Kalam today. “The four modernizations: modern agriculture, modern industry, modern defence, and modern science and technology, must be decoupled from electoral politics.” Thanks for making us do some critical thinking
It is indeed a long time that we heard any great news in any of the four areas. We are talking about loan waivers in agriculture, sale of public sector industry, import of fighter aircrafts and helicopters and shortage of Paracetamol because of Chinese shut down due to Corona virus.
The article is very insightful, and clearly explained all possible domains for the problem our nation is facing. With focus on the four modernizations: modern agriculture, modern industry, modern defence, and modern science and technology and a clear sense of direction we can surely achieve what we dream of, a USD 5-trillion economy by 2024.
Created confusion is always dangerous. A Life is a blessing in disguise.. indeed our democracy too. We need to learn lesson from our invadors… who used our innate weakness to suppress all. It is the time to overwhelmigly collaborate with every Indian to deliver our goal of 5 trillion dollar economy… We are enabled.. let us do it… We are capable… Nothing should stop us… I am sure.. we will do it!!
Three salutes to your optimism: “India will surely become prosperous by actively working towards the goal of becoming a USD 5-trillion economy by 2024 and by keeping the four modernizations: modern agriculture, modern industry, modern defence, and modern science and technology running smoothly with adequate funding and without interruption.” I share your blue sky approach to life.
“Housing for All by 2022” aimed for urban areas announced by the Prime Minister is the best way forward for the economy. Coupled with reforms for easing up the urban land market for housing, clearing adequate urban land available for affordable housing it can be a game changer. If the houses constructed under the mission are registered in the name of the female head of the family, society also be better of its ills.
A Very intense and hard-hitting blog. It needs a lot of digesting. All the problems facing India are hi-lited factually and in a very effective manner. There is a simmering of such worries for some time and you have perhaps collected all of them in one place.
What is the possible solution ? We need self-less individuals like Dr. Kalam and yourself to create an awareness and also gather some intellectuals who are free from any political affiliations and who has bright ideas and practical solutions to offer, to come up with a blueprint which can be presented to The Hon Prime Minister.
Unfortunately, in democracy, you need to be in power to act and rule the Country and to grab and continue the power certain transgressions are required. The ruling party has to get involved in such “not so moral” ways to ensure the sustenance of power at least in Delhi, if not in states.
I am still of the opinion that the present BJP Government does not lack the will to govern well but may not have solutions. The world is also going thru an economic turmoil and India can’t be immune to its effect fully.
We have our enemies right here among us and again that rises out of human greed and jealousy. Heard recently that a clever scheme was worked out to defraud GST regime of crores of Rupees. I am ashamed of my professional collogues who may be guiding their clients in such unscrupulous schemes. There should be criminal actions taken on them.
Let us all contribute in whichever small way we can to stop the nonsense and make a difference. May God bless India.
A very difficult subject to put together but you have arranged it in a way that clarity is really possible. I hope people will read and will become not just optimistic but involved.
I heard Mahatma Gandhi wanted to only ask for freedom once 90 % of Indian population will become aware of what it means by Freedom.
So unless everyone is involved, it is going to be difficult to get this machine going.
When Walmart, Amazon is coming in, it means they are seeing money clearly so we have potential to create wealth.
Capitalist society make people run and create large GDP. Corruption there is provided legal cover and once tax is paid, it is used for development.
Balancing increase in GDP but same time not making manipulated market will be challenge.
But points you have mentioned should be focused so greater good will come out of efforts that have been put in by current administration…
A very beautiful writing Sir. A connoisseur never takes instant coffee; they always go for filtered one. Truth must be extracted from facts and it is not only laborious but cumbersome process. The electronic media is thriving because it saves people of the trouble of reading a newspaper or writing a letter. So, most of our lives are based on instant information, which is mostly manufactured for a purpose. But at the end, ugly and unpleasant truth prevails.
People were cribbing about 5% GDP growth of Indian economy, calling it names. Enter the truth of Corona Virus and whichever economy will register 5% growth in 2020 will be a great performer. There is quiet a lot of bogus economy based on multiplication of money. Let it collapse in favour of the real work that happens in agriculture fields and factories.
Sir well compiled blog. The way you have covered the positives and the negatives are really helpful to understand the current scenario. As you mentioned about the GST loopholes the way common man knows about it the governing body also knows about it they could have fixed it but it’s not the case that’s the cash cow for them as well. The only way to achieve faster growth is to make the bill processing and payments time bound the same money will start circulating and all the problems will be solved.
Our economic growth is slowing down and our banking institutions are failing. In this backdrop, any talk of $ 5 trillion economy seems to be a over optimistic target. Very few people take this target seriously.
I think there is need for focusing on social harmony and peace. Economic development goals can be better achieved if there is peace and stability in the country.
Namaste Sir, Thank you for the article. Indeed Sir, the Anti-CAA protests suddenly pulled the invisibility cloak off the enemies of the state who had so far been parasitically feeding upon the system and the society while remaining hidden from the public glare.
Though it looks increasingly difficult to decouple the four modernizations from politics, that is the direction that India needs to be taken by the leaders of the nation.
We have many hydras that are always raising their heads to attack the vision of a prosperous India that is to soon materialize. The swipes of demonetization, GST, the laws to put tax offenders and internal saboteurs in place, etc are not sufficient and we feel one Heracles is not sufficient to slay all the monsters that are right now standing in the way of India’s great destiny. A conscious awakening among the public seems to be the need fo the hour.
We have a strong willed prime minister in charge and there is a great trust among the public that corruption will not get a free run. However the issues that you have pointed out are the main reasons why India has not taken off in the way it should have. An anarchist approach by the opposition has not helped the nation’s cause and there is need for a change in the approach of the opposition to continue to retain its functional credibility that seems to be hurtling downwards in a freefall. A constructive opposition is needed for a nation’s growth.
The picture is not all dark for India and we see clouds of hope. Filtered from facts, Truths need to be observed , understood and spread to combat the dissemination of falsehood that is taking place instantaneously amongst the public through various media platforms.
Thank you Sir for again writing this insightful article. Like you stated, India’s goal is to reach 5 trillion dollar economy by 2024. It sounds challenging, but, can be achievable if every effort is made by each state rather than just the central government. India needs a growth rate of 12% if it has to achieve that goal, which is now only at 6.7%. Tax payers in the country are a minor 1.46 crore in a country of 130 crore population. As you correctly pointed out, the modernization is the key to reaching our goal. To unlock our full potential, we must also invest in Infrastructure and we have some big investors and projects directed for the same. Most of the arguments and debates are always aimed at pointing fingers at each other with no core conclusion. The CAA act was taken in a different direction than what it’s original intent was. The country is currently in an intolerant state and only time will tell how we will come out of it and emerge prosperous despite all it’s flaws.
Prof Tiwari, This article is accurate in its contents and timely in its application, true to India but again the Sub-Continent isn’t an island, what is true to India is applicable in verity to all peoples and governments they elect into office in all LMICountries.
A famous writer in the 19th Century was inspired to write and I quote:
“The greatest want of the world is the want of men—men who will not be bought or sold, men who in their inmost souls are true and honest, men who do not fear to call sin by its right name, men whose conscience is as true to duty as the needle to the pole, men who will stand for the right though the heavens fall.” E G White, Education, pg 57 this is the foundation of any integrity worthy its name, in the past, today and in the future.
For us to live the development agenda, wholistic development where no one will be left behind, leaders are needed, who will subscribe to the need quoted above, corruption exists because our society has people who are and remain untouchable even when facts about evil transactions are made public, they are simply untouchables, these have people under them who learn their ways and corruption gets ingrained. Tax evaders are a serious obstacle to any meaning National building efforts, sadly to this belong the wealthier in our societies, leaving the civil servants, petty business people and peasants the burden of supporting national development projects, this also explains the slow pace with which such projects are executed. Like you correctly explained : “There have been traitors and internal saboteurs colluding with the invaders and aggressors, working against their own masters and people. Modern India is no different. It is not only ringed by potential foes, but there are also enemies infested in our society and system. Let any government take any good action and there are protests. Leaders shamelessly chew their own statements and assertions made at earlier instances for the heck of opposition”. This is where effort need to be enlisted, not for a day, but persistently.
The four modernizations you alluded to, are the reason why super powers remain super powers, we adopt or perish, who can survive the changing landscape in the world today without modernised agriculture, industry, defence, and science and technology? these don’t need politics to flourish, though I see difficulties in electoral politics, surviving without them, lessons learnt can catapult our sleeping potential in a shorter time than any of us imagined could take for our development and grown GDPs, this will impact every citizen and eventually none will have been left behind!
I am not being pessimistic here but if we go through the mood of the nation survey, less than 42% people believe that India can become a $5 trillion economy by 2025. a majority of us are either not hopeful or doubtful to witness the target being achieved. If we come to talk about the state of the economy a whopping 60-65% educated and vigilant people believe that either it is growing slowly or not growing at all.
But aptly said by you – corruption should be controlled. One way out of many can be by increasing direct contact between government and the governed. Dr. Kalam as once gave an example of the Delhi metro and online reservation system being a good governance and said that all lower courts should make judgements available online.
PS: I pay tax, and all my salaried colleagues too. The reason some of them state is that at the end of the day only we’ll (salaried group)be the ones whose collars will be held by the government if proper tax not paid.
Everyday there are television debates asking the very same questions unyielding sensible conclusion. Also, today almost every literate being in our country has become a cynic of 5 trillion dollar economy goal or any other government initiative. I think you are correct about appreciating what we have today and work for our better tomorrow.
It is only by being optimistic we can achieve what is desired to be a self reliant, progressive nation.
Let us all join hands to get rid of all the evils that exist in our society
Let us be brave.
Let us march unhindered by diversions
Let us follow ” Where is the mind is without fear……………………”
Thank you, sir, for conversing on what matters.
The present scenario is undoubtedly not conducive for winning most people’s trust. The government’s demonetization, GST and other initiatives which indicated a will to root out corruption became devices of plunder by the rich, powerful and corrupt. No wonder the CAA and NRP are perceived as instruments of further fleecing the poor and powerless. It would surely promote corruption-our bureaucratic setup and police with its colonial roots have not changed much and is quite capable of oppressing the populace on the whims of their new masters.
A way out is to go back to the 2014 plan of economic development, creating meaningful jobs and curbing corruption. The process started with demonetization need to be utilized for reducing corruption, thereby benefitting the second-rate poor citizens of the country. Systematic and sustained strengthening of the institutions is needed to decouple modernizations with the electoral processes. A reasoned conversation shift may be the first step towards such change.
Why this simple truth that salaried employees first pay income tax and then GST every day on whatever they buy, privileged people, hardly pay proper tax and it has been accepted as normal is not discussed. Our Prime Minister said, ““In the last five years, over 1.5 crore cars were sold in India – that too expensive ones. Over three crore Indians went abroad for business or tourism. But in a country of 130 crore people, only 1.5 crore people pay income tax. Those persons declaring an annual income of Rs 50 lakh is just three lakhs. We have so many professionals – big doctors, lawyers, chartered accountants, etc. But only 2,200 professionals declare their annual income of over Rs 1 crore. Just 2,200 professionals! There would be more like this in the Supreme Court itself.” So, either make rich people pay income tax, or take way this burden of paying tax off the salaried class. Please do not filter this truth with some clever argument.
A thought provoking Blog that offers solution to achieve 5 trillion economy. Undoubtedly, innovations are needed in agriculture, science and technology and other fields. Critical would be diffusion of developed know-how to stakeholders for which ecosystem is developed and needs to be fully utilized. Passionate and devoted people can do wonders.
As usual, an incisive, insightful article, Arunji.
In a time of crisis, I agree with this fresh air of optimism. Though I also feel that India taking a lead in welcoming persecuted people from neighbouring land is a sign of global leadership. When one removes the politics from the policy, even Manmohan Singh asked for it in 2001. Unfortunately, everything in India gets a political black tar on it – and then we barely see through the windscreen while driving forward.
Sir, Mahatma Gandhiji said, “Truth is by nature self-evident. As soon as you remove the cobwebs of ignorance that surround it, it shines clear.” Your blog comes like fresh air. India has been ruled based on lies and myths. Now, people, especially young ones, are asking questions and will not keep quiet without clear answers.
Poverty of farmers, unemployment of urban youth, and the way people get away with money taken from the banks are three truth staring at us. I like this line most: “The calculus is simple: to save India, you must move against the corrupt, and if you do not move against them today, you might not have the chance tomorrow.”
$ 5 trillion economy. Just a joke…not even a slogan anymore. BTW farmers’ income is to be doubles by 2022. I am a farmer myself…now that the year is nearer, can somebody please tell me the date when it will double…on 1st of 2022 or end or in middle.
Parliament passes an act which goes against the constitution. SC is hopefully looking at it from all possible angles and will take its own sweet time to judge its legality. This has been a pattern.
CAA, NRP…all attempts to confuse. Central govt has absolute authority to decide whom to give citizenship and whom to refuse. As per press report 200 poor Hindu families are sitting at Wagah border. Now do they have legal right to get citizenship? Is it now available for asking< Can all Hindus from Pakistan and Bangladesh legally claim Indian citizenship.
Sir, I accept and behold the optimism on the blog. There were so many mismatches on the Government’s intentions and happenings around us. How can we progress towards a developed India in the new century? Can anyone answer this difficult question? I don’t know any political parties could answer these questions. Other questions like do we have the right choice? or have the right intellectuals in our governing system to do things without any bias,.These are the queries currently floating on the minds of the common electorate in our country. It is my feeling indeed and thinks also others have the same. There is a Question Hour in our Parliament. I am eager to see who is confident to attend these questions? If somebody is answering rightly please come forward and lead our nation. This is my policy on making developed India. Now our nation is ruling by majoritarianism, communalism, illiteracy, poverty, rural-urban divide, unemployment, overpopulation, opportunism etc….These issues cannot be wiped out in a single moment is true but we can plan with our allocations in a concerted manner. we, the people of India hope a better tomorrow to turn the coin rightly. Indians don’t wish to be seen as riotous people in the world scenario. Thank you. God bless.