What a developing Nation does!

OPENING OUR DOORS

Comparisons are odious…but they are essential to imbibe the spirit to grow and mature.

Many people say ‘Oh look at China, how it has grown, why cannot our country grow?’ A person, who thinks that way, is an onlooker and not a doer! However, there are reasons to justify our present state.

Our country was established on the premise, rather belief, of socialism, where every person is equal. With this noble thought in mind, the Government set about governing and administering the country. In 1947, our purse was empty and no one was willing to help and if someone did want to help, it was with ulterior motives of keeping us in one power group or the other.

That made the then and successive governments to believe that self-made is better than being a dependent. However, that really was not achieved. We did end up depending upon alms from one country or the other to take India forward.

Here was a country on the doorstep of a bright future, but handicapped by a shortage of skilled manpower and the venture capital needed to provide them jobs which in turn would ensure development of the nation. So painfully and very slowly, our nation did take those hesitant steps and as the private sector was too small at that time, the Government stepped in and built the foundation for an expansive industrial base. This also forced the nation to ensure protection to her nascent factories. Others called this a licence raj or a control raj…but then, it was essential in the environment existing then.

It took all of four decades for the nation to mature and build the strength to face the competition and in the latter half of the 80’s and early 90’s, the people started opening their doors. And see where we have reached in just two decades. Today, the private sector and the international investment have grown so strong that we have started belittling the Government’s early efforts…which finally bore fruit. The Government’s venture capitalism did work as it encouraged the private sector to take comfort that the nation was on the path to development.

Today, we are the biggest unexploited market, so to say and every country worth its GDP is willing to pour in investments…in education & training, in job generation, in developing facilities/utilities and in securing our future! The present day Government is exploiting exactly that…to ensure that India gains! With many deals with Japan and Australia in the bag, now it is destination USA or rather for the USA it is Destination India.

There is always a give and take in such dealings and China used that to advantage…so is it that we are following China’s development model? No, that is not true…no strategy can work for all and we have to work out our own priorities and strategies…and I think, they are working quite well!

Chinam Kali Prasad

Captain