I do not minimise the difficulties that lie ahead on the long and arduous journey on which we have embarked. But as Victor Hugo once said, “no power on earth can stop an idea whose time has come”. I suggest to this august House that the emergence of India as a major economic power in the world happens to be one such idea. Let the whole world hear it loud and clear. India is now wide awake. We shall prevail. We shall overcome.
(This story appears in the 03 February, 2012 issue of Forbes India. To visit our Archives, click here.)
Hi It is quite strange that people are urged to re-visit their move from a socialist thinking to market-oriented and market-driven thought process, on the grounds that, it is the last 40 years of socialistic thinking and practices, that held India back from systematically implementing a successful economic story. With the few data
on Oct 11, 2013Perfect assessment. The subject matter deserves a sequel, not just a piece. Thanks for the article.
on Feb 3, 2012It is incorrect to say that Metis does not exist in India, it indeed does and its most visible manifestation can be found in the agricultural mandis, the grain mandis etc., where it has been thriving and surviving since ages. Metis in its most vibrant form can be seen in the Azadpur Mandi of Delhi in the early morning where scores of trucks come with loads of consignments. It has been an integral part of the Indian social construct and has defined the sociological and the political moorings. Were it not for the existence of Metis, the protest against organized retail that erupted like a volcano would not have been of that magnitude, and would not have got the political backing. Metis of India may militate against the social development, and it may be antithetical to the spirit of free market but it can be tempered to its requirements to facilitate it in guiding the economic progreess of the country.
on Feb 2, 2012Thank you for the comment. We cannot agree more in saying that India has a vibrant 'market oriented' Metis and that Indians have been "thriving and surviving since ages" because of a natural propensity to truck, barter and trade. The broad point we were trying to make in the article is that the policy making approach in India has been quite antithetical to this Metis. Rather than recognizing its existence and allowing it to flourish socialism made every attempt to stamp down upon it and the reform process too cast it aside. In short, we do Not think that the Metis of India militates against the social development or is antithetical to the spirit of free market, we believe the contrary to be true. India needs a policy framework which unleashes this very Metis, not one which tempers it. As for the protest against organized retail, I thought it was more a reflection of a short-sighted political game than a reflection of preference of the people of India. In some senses then those protests were a tragic display of âcompetition between socialist-collectivistâ parties all of whom are (to varying degrees) opposed to Indian free enterprise Metis.
on Feb 2, 2012