62 years of IndependenceThe Future is Bright

Dr. Mrinal Chatterjee Professor

Indian Institute of Mass CommunicationDhenkanal 759 001, Orissa, Indiamrinalchatterjee@ymail.com

Greetings and Best wishes on 63rd year of our Independence

On this day we pay homage to all those persons who fought for the independence.

They sacrificed their lives.

As a result we are enjoying being citizens of a free, sovereign nation.

It is a time for reflection.It is a time to look at the present.It is also time to plan for the future.

… and the future is bright.

- ‘Bright’ you said? You must be joking!

No, I am not.

The condition of ‘India that is Bharat’ can be summed is in just one line: tera India mahan, mera Bharat pareshan. (Your India is great, but my bharat is in trouble)s- Seen scrawled at the back of a truck.

Contrasting Pictures

Contrasting pictures

• Abject Poverty• 200 million people earn less

than Rs 12 per day.• Number of poor people

growing. Farmers are committing suicide.

• Highest number of illiterate persons

• No 4 in Forbes billionaire list.

• Consistent 8.5% economic growth for the last 6 years

• India will be the second fastest growing economy in the world after China*

• Highest number of tech-qualified persons

*Goldman Sachs, the American financial services major

Contrasting pictures

• Appalling basic health services

• 30 crore illiterate; largest in the world

• Emerging as global pharma-hub and medical destination

• Indian firms have two-thirds of the global market in offshore IT services. Indian IT industry is worth $50b. Exports $32b. Growing at 35%

Contrasting pictures

• Widespread hunger• Perennial shortage of

electricity• 126 in HDI list

• Slimming centers mushrooming

• India’s merchandise exports grew by a quarter last year

• People are happier than many Western countries: survey

However, there are signs of

change.…for the better.

Signs of change: Rising GDP growth

% average annual GDP growth

1900 – 1950 1.0 1950 – 1980 3.5 1980 – 2002 6.0 2002 – 2007 8.0

Sources: 1900-1990: Angus Maddison (1995), Monitoring the World Economy, 1990-2000:Census of India (2001), 2000-2005 Finance Ministry

Signs of change: Falling population growth

% average annual growth

1901 – 1950 1.0 1951 – 1980 2.2 1981 – 1990 2.1 1991 – 2000 1.8

2001 – 2010 1.5

Sources: 1900-1990: Angus Maddison (1995), Monitoring the World Economy, 1990-2000:Census of India (2001)

Signs of change: Increasing literacy rate

%

1950 17

1990 52

2000 65

2010 (proj) 80

Source: Census of India (2001)

Signs of change: Rising middle class

% Million

1980 8 65

2000 22 220

2010 (proj) 32 368

Source: The Consuming Class, National Council of Applied Economic Research, 2002

Signs of change: Declining poverty

1980 46%

2000 26%

2010 (proj) 16%

1% of the people have been crossing poverty line each year for 20 years. Equals ~ 200 million.

Signs of change: Improvements are marked in

– Wealth creation: knowledge is the key now– Connectivity– Democratisation of knowledge– Democracy, governance, public participation,

transparency and accountability– Infrastructure

Signs of change: Recent Improvements • Increase in spending on social Sector

• Right to Education Bill passed

• Right to Information Act in place

India’s advantage

• A young workforce – The average age is just 24.9. Even China(32.7) is

graying. Young mind is more adaptable to change and new technology. India has the largest youth base of 60 crores below 25.

• Pluralism – Pluralism emerges from the very nature of our

country; it is a choice made inevitable by India’s geography, reaffirmed by its history and reflected in its ethnography.

• Democracy – A political regime that encourages diversity.

India’s advantage continues…

• Indian analytical mind – Indians are inherently and genetically lateral thinkers

and more analytical. That stands them in good stead in tomorrow’s technology- that relies heavily on analysis and logic.

• Adaptability – Indians can adapt to change very quickly. In fact that

is the reason three waves- agrarian, smokestack and knowledge economy are sustaining simultaneously. They can assimilate and indianize things very quickly.

More advantages

• Relative backwardness. – That is an advantage, because India can straight

adopt third wave technology without investing in second wave technology like the western countries did.

• Emerging Knowledge society.– Knowledge is becoming central- from running the

economy to wealth creation to governance. India with its young trained and skilled manpower will take the lead in the world.

Budget 2009

• The main theme of the Budget clearly is boosting growth and employment, with an Aam Aadmi focus

• Priorities have been re-affirmed for agriculture, rural

infrastructure and labour-intensive export-oriented industries and social sector expenditure like NREGA. Such contra-cyclical small-ticket targeted government expenditure attempts to address the issue of a equitable distribution of income and balanced growth.

• RASHESH SHAH, The Economic Times, 13 Jul 2009, http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Features/Investors-Guide/India-growth-story-to-remain-on-sound-footing/articleshow/4770814.cms

However, there are obstacles.

What are the obstacles?

• Mediocrity. The typical ‘chalta hai’ attitude is a bane. Excellence should be sought and rewarded.

• Inequality. 100,000 have assets of more than US $1 million. 20 crores earn less than $1 a day. Inequality fuels social tension. 

• Illiteracy. Education should be the first priority. • Poor Infrastructure. Infrastructure is the

framework of development.

More obstacles

• Myopic Political mindset. Slower we react to the new need and change, more chances of failure arises.

• Intolerance. Tolerance of diversity is vital for a knowledge society.

• Corruption. It is eating into the vitals of the country.

We can overcome the obstacles.

We are what we think. All that we are, arises with our thoughts. With our thoughts, we make the world.

- Buddha.

What media can do?

• Media has the power to propel people to overcome the obstacles, and develop as a nation.We, the media persons have the power to act as a catalyst in the process of growth.

Let us recognise, understand and use our power.

Rishi Aurobindo prophesied what is penned beautifully in a song: ‘Bharat abar biswasabhai srestha asan labe’(India will once again be the best in the world). In the new environment, when knowledge is central - India will emerge as a strong nation. It is not a wishful thinking, but an achievable reality.

the future belongs to India.

Jai Hind.