Outstanding statesman of the American Jewish stock, Henry Kissinger, had predicted that the 21st Century will be Asia’s, just as the previous was America’s and the 19th Century was Europe’s. Not many believed him 20 years ago, at the start of this century. Today, situations are evolving in a way that this prediction is coming true. The hyper-activity on the Asian continent is best exemplified in the huge growth of China and Japan remaining on a strong economic footing and India recording a steady growth in recent years. Put together, Asia is where things are happening though Americans and Europeans still have an edge, either alone or through an alliance as was seen during the Iraq War, led by the ‘Coalition of the Willing’ with strong backing from the UK under Tony Blair. But, thereafter, political instability caught up with the UK and the Americans too are taking hits, starting with the World Trade Tower bombing by Al Qaeda and the events that followed.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi crooned at his Independence Day speech from the ramparts of Red Fort this time that India “will rise to be the third top global economy in five years from now.” This is more possible not because India has a great leadership but because France and Germany are no longer growing at the desired pace. With a manpower strength of 1.4 billion, India can work wonders while the population of both Germany and France are ageing. India and China have a huge demographic dividend to power the economy, backed also by technological advances. India is more fortunate in these respects than China, whose population control measures started working to the red nation’s disadvantage. This is the time for India to fully utilize its youth potential. A prerequisite for harnessing this strength is the right vision and commitment on the part of the government. Rather than youths lining up for jobs, they should first and more prominently be reoriented to start units, small or big, with government encouragement. An effort in this direction had been conceived by Rajiv Gandhi as prime minister, extending youths small loans without guarantees. Even if half such initiatives fail, the other half would make up for the loss to the national exchequer. Most people would hesitate to start a unit – which can eventually give jobs to many – because getting the licences is a herculean task. One has to grease the palms of bureaucrats and politicians, together forming a black hole, which burns the energy and resources of potential entrepreneurs. The Prime Minister must, first and foremost, be mindful of such dampeners if India has to emerge as the world’s third top super power in a short span of time.
