India’s potential has been hit hard by bad governance and corruption. The young need to get active to march India towards being a global power
India completed 60 years of being a republic. An English language national daily front-paged a sketch showing a wrinkled old hand with a walking stick in its Republic Day edition to make the point that India has grown old. Wrong! Nation-states have much longer lifespan than individual human beings. So a nation crossing 60 only indicates that it is growing out of its teen years and entering the youth. With more than 52 per cent of India’s one billion plus population below the age of 25, India is truly young and forward-looking — something that causes unconcealed envy among countries like Japan, the US and Britain, which have ranks of older people headed for a life on pension.
When you see India in relation to the rest of the world, you realise how much of a happening place it really is. Much of the developed world was brought to its knees when the Lehman Brothers bank collapsed, leading to a cascading effect on global economy impacting the late 2008 and the whole of 2009. The US is still trying to recover. India did feel a few tremors — outsourcing of jobs from the US dipped, placements on the IIT/IIM campuses declined, and banks developed cold feet on giving credit. But the country’s economy largely remained intact and soon regained its footing. The year 2010 has brought in a whiff of fresh breeze. The economy is back to almost 8 per cent growth rate; global investment has begun to flow back into the country, and India is increasingly being heard in the world community with newfound awe and respect.
When foreign investors and leaders look at India they are amazed at what they see. A deep-rooted democracy in a region that is largely dominated by authoritarian regimes or military establishments; well-trained and equipped armed forces that are apolitical; well-established rule of law and enduring public institutions; half the population below the age of 25; swelling ranks of engineers, doctors, mangers and skilled professionals; strong IT and financial sector with global reach; 350 million-strong middle class that is growing; robust corporate sector and industrial base; A pluralistic civil society and strong cultural mores; a large landmass with natural resources, all of which are all the requisites of becoming a true global player.
But there is a flipside to this rosy picture. Nearly 40 per cent of people still living in varying degrees of poverty; almost 50 per cent of citizens being illiterate or semi-literate; bad governance and endemic corruption eating into the country’s huge growth potential; clogged judicial system; dynastic politics undermining true democracy; shocking neglect of public health care, primary education, agriculture and rural economy; huge bungling in tackling basic needs like water, electricity and roads; crumbling urban infrastructure amidst politician-builder-mafia nexus; and domestic tensions brought on by communal conflicts and insurgencies.
The hope for changing this picture for the better and realising the country’s true potential lies with the youth. Today’s young people are a lot smarter, well-informed and ambitious than their parents in many ways; they can cut across caste, community and religious lines to connect with one another; and they believe more in action than glib talk on nation-building. What is needed today is the willingness to rise above consumerist attractions, get involved in tangible action for the betterment of society, to question old mindsets, and above all, to embrace new thinking, innovation and creativity to take the country to the global stage.
Holding candle marches to protest terrorism or to seek justice for a young victim of sexual abuse does have its symbolic value. If, however, the youth involvement stops without any action, India will remain hobbled by geriatric politicians.
