INDIA
DEFENCE CONSULTANTS
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WHAT'S HOT?
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ANALYSIS OF
RECENT HAPPENINGS |
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INDIA’s ECONOMIC AND MILITARY POTENTIAL IS VAST. An IDC Philosophical Analysis
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New
Delhi, 16 February 2002 In
the 21st Century economic and military potential go together
and after the nuclear tests India has shown that we have it in us to
become a power to be reckoned with. Ray Cline Deputy Director of the CIA
had said in the 21st Century population and geography will
dictate progress of nations. See USA increasing its population and see
India now. Its geography is forcing other countries to ask India to help
police economic routes in the Indian Ocean. Hence
IDC does this piece on India’s potential which is unbounded because we
had some very interesting responses from some NRI’s and others who study
India from USA and Europe and their points of view are something we agree
with and we wish to share them on our site and scare China a bit! After
all that nation is zooming ahead economically and militarily. The world
wonders why India does not achieve its potential and IDC too has pondered
over it. Then we had Raja Menon writing in the Times of India and
castigating our fine Army and saying that the Army by mobilising along the
border has done so without strategy. He wants India to be like Stalin’s
Russia and kill the Trotsky’s and yet he wants to be free to have the
right to say things against his own Army –– who are like Alsatian dogs
and obey the Master without question. IDC
believes the Government, by mobilising its Armed Forces, used India’s
military potential to coerce Pakistan, but the further strategy is
lacking. That is why IDC keeps fighting and writing for a CDS with teeth,
to change the one million strong fine Army and guide our Political
masters, who have little idea of joint military strategy. They only now
understand mobilisation and are sending Hema Malini to entertain the
troops. Navy always did that in Mumbai and other ports, as the Naval ships
are always mobilised, fully fuelled and ammunitioned except for a few
missiles, all the time. See our CDS story 'old wine
in new bottles'. The
plain fact is there is and has been no 'Strategy' in India in any sphere.
There never has been since the Mughals even for the fight for
Independence. There have only been goals and some have been shifting
goals. Both Gen Sundarji and K Subrahmanyam have said so often and called
it the best kept secret of India. Hence India is happy to set goals and
hope for the best via Karma. The
only point IDC wishes to make is that in the last 100 years Nations with
technological prowess, education and good R & D spending, have seen
their GDP rise swiftly and India with its software and recent strides in
technology and improved literacy through opening up of the economy is well
poised for growth. This is just happening through the younger generation
while the elders are steeped in their culture. The
hampering issue has been that we have adopted western work attitudes in
our offices, courts etc., but at home our religious and cultural values of
Caste, Karma and Moksha and next life expectations, clash with those
attitudes and that is at the heart of the problem to achieve our
potential. See the pointless fighting over Valentine’s day! IDC
therefore analyses that when the ‘newer’ younger generation blossoms
and foreign trained Indians return to their homeland by choice, will India
achieve its potential, but rest assured it surely will The
points made are given below and the rest is on our site to tell you that
with a nearly $15 billion Defence budget projected this year ––
greater than Russia’s –– our Military potential is also set to rise:
1.
India remains one of the world's best kept secrets. People outside
this country do not know how far India has come or what India has to
offer. In fact, India remains clouded by negative perceptions. IDC agrees
fully and sees a change. The fac is that IDC is getting responses even
from the Chinese who are worried that India may attain its potential.
2.
India must do a better job improving its image and selling itself,
telling its story, showing the world what it is and what it has to offer.
And, it has to go way beyond IT (information technology).
3.
India's strengths are its large English speaking population, a
growing middle class of 180 million people, expanding purchasing power,
democratic governance, and technical sophistication. The world is still
unaware of all this, unless we begin shouting it from the rooftops,
loudly, clearly and frequently, and in a captivating way. Let us shout and
also tell that to our geriatric leaders.
4.
India is ranked last in a World Economic Forum study on global
competitiveness among 75 countries. India needs to change itself fast.
While other nations gallop, India strolls. Unfortunately, there is no time
to stroll.
5.
The power of private capitalism must always serve the interests of
the society. That will require government action, with the support of the
private sector, to retrain and re-deploy labour displaced by economic and
technological change. It will also require the provision of security to
unemployed workers in the unorganised sector.
6.
India must focus on changing its mindset. We are long on studies
and recommendations, but short on action to implement them. I believe it
is a mindset that stifles the will and inhibits realisation. We are too
inward-looking, too quick to resist new ideas from abroad. IDC says this
loudly –– our attitudes at work are dictated by our societal and
religious beliefs. A balance has to be struck.
7.
India has to break out of the cocoon of protectionism and
isolationism.
8.
As a nation we have a tremendous sense of the individual. But we
don't seem to have a sense of country, a sense of a common national
mission in which everyone shares responsibility. George Fernandes at the
Naval Band concert said he had never heard the National Anthem sung so
patriotically ever, as he had heard that day by the Navy audience. He said
India even sings its National Anthem in a drawl and IDC feels we need to
be more patriotic. IDC does not doubt if any one will disagree with the above observations –– they are, in fact, recommendations for action. The question is: what we can and should do to get things moving and moving fast? The above is a template for action and to inform our viewers in our small way as food for thought. |