Though I reside thousands of miles away, like many NRIs, my thoughts are always emotionally within reach of India and its many issues. Since, I left the country in ’95, I keenly followed the developments in politics and sports.
I remember few important events that happened towards the beginning of my stay abroad including Diana Hayden’s Miss World pageant, two planes colliding mid-air near New Delhi, the demise of NTR, fans frustration on loosing World Cup semi final to Sri Lanka at Eden Gardens, renaming of many Indian cities, Leander Peas winning a Bronze medal in men’s tennis singles at the Atlanta Olympics, and weightlifting title won by Karanam Malleswari.
However, two measures that impacted my thinking were: Vajpayee’s 13 days Prime Ministership, consequent United Front experiment, the fall of two governments in a span of twenty months, and drama that lead to midterm polls; and Dr. Jayaprakash Narayan’s resigning his powerful position in the bureaucratic ranks to start an NGO to bring about much needed governance reforms. For my part, I was emotionally coupled with both; unstable Indian governmental modes as they were threatening to become a routine in Indian politics and the exit of the then young and dynamic bureaucrat Dr. JP. Such resignation to the coveted IAS was one of the first of its kind. Since then, I have high regards for Dr.JP’s contribution to the society and a disregard for our political failures.
As a child, I grew up admiring the commitment displayed by our national freedom fighters. I liked the sacrifices they committed. As a young adult, I regarded Congress Party with the old Congress which had a huge number of self-determined and self-disciplined leaders and workers. Over the years, my cultural and educational background, personality, and managerial skills influenced my viewpoint in a broader sense with lot more clarity.
To my knowledge, reforms such as ‘telecom policy’ introduced by Mr. Rajiv Gandhi, ‘economic liberalization’ undertaken by Mr.Manmohan Singh, and national highway development project by Mr. Vajpayee have shown excellent outcomes. All these initiatives and subsequent implementation were very well received by public without any resistance.
After resigning to his IAS position, Dr.JP initiated ‘Lok Satta Movement’. The movement initially started in AP, and later spread to rest of the nation. Lok Satta Movement was at the forefront for governance reforms like Right to Information Act, compulsory disclosure of information regarding wealth and criminal antecedents by contestants to political office, decriminalization of politics, judicial reforms, decentralization of power and empowerment of local governments; The movement has gained momentum due to Dr.JP’s tireless efforts and commitment for more than a decade. It is yet to gain full strength around the country.
Congress led governments ruled India for more than four decades after independence with a majority of its own or on the support extended by coalition partners, and the rest by Non-Congress alliances. For unknown reasons neither single party ruling nor coalitions have ever recognized the need to plan and initiate substantial reforms that are badly needed for a prosperous India; instead, the quality of polity remained substandard and the governance provided by the governments remained inefficient.
India doesn’t have the institutional capacity to build a global powerhouse that it deserves to be, owing mostly to the rigidities and disincentives that plague the society. Several ill defined inequalities seized the social system. Weak base of infrastructure and uunconcerned policy actions perpetuated poverty, ignorance, dishonesty, and mistrust. Corruption has become the leach on the society in the absence of instruments of accountability and incentives for good behavior and punishment for bad performance. When immoral and/or extralegal powers acquire control of the country and negatively impact its social fabric, the system either needs to be abandoned or reformed.
System cannot be reformed just by indulging in politics; playing politics with bandhs, harthals or hunger strikes. It only benefits individual politicians and the group or party they belong to at the expense of the society for most part. In a perfectly functioning society, reorganization stipulates equal share of representation which is not the case in India. Neither netas realized the significance of true leadership with broader vision nor did the citizens comprehend the need for ‘good governance’.
Without practicing modern political standards, Emperor Bharat ruled all of former India, which was much bigger than modern India! When the communications were poorly developed Aryabhatta treatised the "Aryabhatta-siddhanta"!! King Ashoka developed civil services before the world discovered it giving power to the people!!! Without guns or army, our freedom fighters had successfully fought and won India’s freedom!!!! Then, what stops us from making India the third largest economy in the world with opportunity for vertical mobility for all citizens? It happens when governance gets better, not merely acceptable growth in GDP. Political and judicial reforms coupled with instruments of accountability and decentralization of power confirming to the 21st century values and opportunities make it happen. Good governance ensures balanced high growth with transparency which automatically elevates the morale and determination of participating citizens to scale higher highs. The first rate citizens of India, who nurtured democracy since independence, have to make a deliberate choice to rid the country from third rate politics and governance!
True freedom is unshackling from corruption, opportunity to dream to be the best, and respecting others for what they are. As India is getting ready to celebrate its 64th Independence Day, let us identify that we are all Indians for a common goal to enjoy the fruits of freedom by strengthening our mother country.
Yes, we did over to acquire our ‘Independence’
Yes, we can do over again to rebuild a better society
Yes, we will do all over again to secure next generations’ future
Let us stand united and march forward until…..
Indian common man’s dreams become real!
Indian woman walks alone in daylight!!
Indian children obtain basic education/immunization!!!
Indians get the privilege of healthy living!!!!
Indian rule empowered with proper regulation!!!!!
Then only we can celebrate our true freedom!!!!!!
Last addition: Our contribution to be part of this ‘Incredible India’ can be in many forms including monetary, time, skills and desire to work in groups for a common cause.
I can be reached [email protected]
