The burgeoning Indian economy - a meteoric rise
India - 2020 - A Vision for the New Millennium
Authors: Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam and Y.S. Rajan
Viking Penguin India, New Delhi
Review: Rohan L. Jayetilleke
DEVELOPMENT: Former President of India Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam,
the Indian nuclear scientist, has a vision of a developed India based on
the country's giant strides taken in the fields of science, technology,
agriculture, nuclear energy and space.
In his work under review, he goes on to underline that all this
development will be meaningful only when all sections of Indian society
are taken care - of by means of education,medical facilities and the
quality of life provided to them.
Dr. Kalam's views in his work indicate that a nation is made great by
its people who in turn become important citizens of a great nation. Dr.
Kalam answers the question: 'What makes a country developed?" He
explains that the obvious indicators are the wealth of the nation, the
prosperity of the people and its standing in the international fora.
Wealth of a nation
There are many indicators regarding the wealth of a nation; the Gross
National Product (GNP), the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) the Balance of
Payments, foreign reserves, rate of economic growth, per capita income
etc.
He says that the growth of the economy and its sustainability are
dependent on the volume of trade, share in international trade both of
imports and exports. Dr. Kalam stresses that the prescription laid out
by Mahatma Gandhi is a simple criterion so that every action proposed
and contemplated should wipe the tears of the poor. Evolution of war As
regards the evolution of war weaponry, Dr. Kalam notes that India too is
open to various kinds of warfare tactics. During the 20th century upto
1990, the warfare was weapon-driven.
The weaponry consisted of guns, tanks, aircraft, ships, submarines,
nuclear weapons, and also reconnaissance spacecraft. Due to competitions
between super powers there came about the proliferation of conventional
nuclear and biological weapons. He further says, from 1990 onwards, the
world has graduated into economic warfare.
Economic dogmas
The driving force is wealth generation with certain economic dogmas.
Therefore the urgent issue that India needs to address collectively as a
nation is how to handle the tactics of economic and military dominance
in this form sneaking in through the back door.
Today, technology is the main force of economic development and India
has to indigenous technologies to sharpen the Indian competitive edge
and to generate national wealth in all segments of economy. Thus India
has to be armed with technology.
The major transformation of the Indian national economy is to make it
one of the largest economies in the world, where the Indians live above
the poverty line, their education and health are of high standard,
national security reasonably assured and the core competence in certain
major areas significantly enhanced. This process will lead to increased
production of quality goods, including exports, thus a dawn of
prosperity to all Indians.
This is possible by pooling the Indian talented scientists and
technologies and the abundant natural resources of India. Thus adequate
attention needs to be directed to develop special human resource cadre
in India.
Globalization
Commenting on globalization, his views are that globalization means
integration with the world economy in that bringing influence of
external forces to India. The competition needs to be in both internal
as well as with global players, that would be useful to make India
efficient and strong.
Globalization targets certain areas to maintain their dominance over
other nations and India has to be prepared to face such selective
targeted action by more powerful economic players in its long march to
realise its vision of becoming a developed nation status.
Thus India has to evolve its own economic policy and develop its
business and marketing strategies, as India has to play a multilateral
game to attract foreign investments, have joint ventures and be an
active international player. He concludes with the prophetic words." At
the same time we have to remember that those who aim high have to learn
to walk alone when required". |
