“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom.” - Jawaharlal Nehru
Nehru himself would be ashamed to see his “free India” ruled by his own family for a majority of years and possibly even the years to come. If that wasn’t enough, just to see his dynasty, not using his own name, but rather that of a man, whose only dream was to empower every Indian to rule himself, would send Nehru back to the dead. But unlike Nehru, we have lived with the quotidian lies and false promises, and have become immune to the pain of seeing our values being floundered and our patience been mistaken for innocence. So I stand up today and differ from the contented and biased editorials, to assess ourselves critically on our 63rd birthday.
On our 63rd birthday, the Commonwealth Games preparations have exposed how the Indian bureaucracy is still corrupt, unproductive and a drain on the economy. The Games were supposed to be a symbol of national pride, but have become source of disgust and embarrassment. They are a perfect example of what is wrong in the present system, where the intermediaries eat away most of the benefits of the beneficiaries. Today, being an average and lazy engineer in the government department is better than being a hardworking and disciplined gold medalist for your country.
On our 63rd birthday, our black economy is growing at double the rate that our economy is growing. The government has no idea how to curtail the inexorable rise in prices. The Finance Minister is perennially pointing to our persistent fiscal deficit. There is more than what meets the eye. In a Planning Commission Report dated June 2010, it has been reported that of every 1 rupee the government spends on the PDS, only 27 paise reaches the poor! (Source: http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/peoreport/peo/peo_tpds.pdf)
The government has not shown any inclination in removing the corruption and rot inherent within the Public Distribution System (PDS). Today, it is a well known fact that politicians along with bureaucrats have formed a tight nexus with illegal hoarders and speculators. Such things are never written in newspapers and never said in the policy review meetings of the RBI.
Manmohan Singh has shown us all in the last 6 years how economists are good yet hypocritical planners and pathetic yet popular implementers.
On our 63rd birthday, the rich urban India is a minority amongst the majority poor rural India. The average urban voter is disillusioned with the polity, for he feels that there is no point in voting. So much so, that there were serious discussions on “None of the above” option to be given as a choice. Urban India feels realizes that it is not within their control to stop the uneducated and criminal politicians from coming to power. Populist measures are used to appeal to the rural majority and the government is able to manipulate them in such a way that they feel that the government is acting on their behalf.
Like many other people of my age, I feel like a minority within another minority. The minority of being a ‘General’ citizen of the country is the quiescence of the social trends existing in the country. Students are being taught the benefits of violence, strikes and political appeasement rather than merit. There maybe a time a few generations down the line, that children born to general category mothers in general category wards in general category hospitals will blame God for not being born in a govt. approved caste.
On our 63rd birthday, we will today hear from our Prime Minister after weeks of silence, even as the country has witnessed major problems from honour killings, derailment of trains, growing protests in Kashmir, exponential increase in the spread of the violent Naxalites and the permanent menace of inflation. Many of us had forgotten that we even have a Prime Minister.
Manmohan Singh has shown us all in the last 6 years how economists are good yet hypocritical planners and pathetic yet popular implementers. Probably it is because they all believe that in the long run; all conditions (or equilibriums) adjust on their own to the policy planned (or ideal state). Classic textbook stuff will teach you that in the long run, market players adjust to the changes. Unfortunately today, my fellow country countrymen are the ‘market players’. The ‘adjustment’ is in reality an inurnment. The changes are often shocking, malfeasant and pervasive. I think probably Manmohan Singh forgot to read Keynes best critique at his time in Cambridge, or like we say in college “It was out of syllabus”. Keynes said and I shall repeat with great enthusiasm,” In the long run my dear, we are all dead!!”
So those of you, who are hoping to see the violence in Kashmir cease, forget it. The renegade Naxalites cornered up and taken care off, don’t expect it. The complacent, corrupt and inefficient bureaucracy cleaned up, get a life. And the inflation coming down “in the next six months”, don’t fall for it. All in all, we are here in for a long journey, driven by a group of people who are only keen to get off at the next stop available and ask for a refill from the passengers. My advice to fellow passengers: fasten your seatbelt, wear your helmets and be sure to carry a parachute large enough for you and your family, because you never know how low the road might stoop or how high you will drop from.
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