‘Achche Din Aane Waale Hain’ said Dr Manmohan Singh on January 8, 2014 while addressing a gathering of non-resident Indians in Delhi. Actually he said it in English - "Yes we are facing bad days now but the good days will be coming in soon”. Mr. Narendra Modi, while speaking to the same audience next day, used the Hindi version. At that time even he did not know that this slogan is going to impact the outcome of coming parliamentary election in a big way and raise the hopes and aspirations of 125 crore Indians. He could not foresee that the same slogan would become the biggest handle to run him down and will be used derisively against him by his opponents and critics.
Achche Din – the eternal hope means to anticipate a future with a confident expectation of its fulfilment. But hope alone cannot make this anticipated future possible. Narendra Modi appeared to be a Messiah who would make this future possible. We all need to contribute to make this possible. Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s words seem prophetic when he said, “one man alone cannot bring this change”.
I am sure people realize the enormity of the task at hand. I can feel what must be going through the mind of Mr. Modi when in spite of working so hard, he has to face this criticism. I became Director of a management institute at around the same time Mr. Modi took over the rein of the country. The Institute was in doldrums, even the trustees of the Institute would not recommend this place to their friends for higher studies. After working on the infrastructure, the changes in the faculty, training of the faculty, changing the mindset of students who would not care less – I realize that it will take another 3-4 years for actual outcomes to show a significant difference and influence the ranking of the institution. And Mr. Modi is running a country with problems inherited since last 1000 years, let alone 68 years of mostly Congress government!!
We know that indifference and corruption is ruling the roost in our country. Indifference is destroying government offices and government supported infrastructure. Indian business is mired in mediocrity. Indifference is sucking away corporate profits. When we look within, we find that a set of habits and practices cultivated over a period of time has shaped the performance of individuals and organizations in independent India. We find that procedures and systems have developed in a way to sustain inefficiency and a casual way of looking at things. The public behavior of Indian people in modern India gives rise to a question - Do we have any system or any concept of public and community living?
How long can Indian people tolerate this terrible indifference? How long will it take for Indian companies to be elbowed out altogether by multinationals who use management principles which we have not yet even begun to grasp? How long will it take for all our systems to collapse?
What can India do to change the perception that 'Indians just don't care'?
Very true, and no miracles will help. Only very hard work by very many Indians....
ReplyDeleteThe same leeway is not given to non Modi-ites though... And by this argument we will have Modi for eternity before Achche din comes! all I know is my investments have plunged in the last one year and I look for that elusive FDI investmnent!. But kudos to Modi for the excellent PR and the supporters he has in people like you Satish!
ReplyDeleteThis is just the beginning.
DeleteSo very true sir, I fully agree with you!!!
ReplyDeleteCHANGE can begin with one lamp lit in a cave. The darkness of years then does not matter nor the dusty files. HOPE can be conveyed to the people in two ways, one being faith and the other understanding. Presently, we are indifferent because we do not have PRIDE. We speak about the glorious past and SANSKRIT but unable to address the HEALTH and SANITATION ( we have not understood these topics with clarity) and have no solutions for the present except inviting foreign investment ( will come with their own ideas and terms) and make it in INDIA so jobs and infrastructure is created. In the manner in which the IT Industry saved the country, a knowledge economy in ECOLOGY can also save the NATION swiftly and transform it for 500 years to come. We are the only people who have the solution to GHG ( GREEN HOUSE GAS ) which makes the use of any "FOSSIL FUEL" ( solid, liquid or gas ) very efficient also. ( I got 30% increased mileage between MUSCAT and DUBAI in 2009 in a HONDA ) The laws of ECOLOGY and ECONOMY are the same. Simply advanced possibilities in ECO TECHNOLOGY which can be retrofitted into existing processes can turn some materials and all energy leakages into profits, while cutting down pollution. By licencing solutions to other countries after demonstrating in our own, there will be a net inflow of money into INDIA. We can do this for sewage treatment plants also and show hoe to keep rivers self cleaning without the use of sophisticated machinery and energy. Will you give direction to my thrust which I spelled out in financial terms ? Government must encourage with policy, industry must encourage financially ( themselves ) and your good self helps me achieve raising money without interest against my own assets ( on my terms ) INDIA can shine. People will look at us in wonder and awe, this is possible in just a year.
ReplyDeleteFundamentals of WATER have to change, this can be done with change in attitude towards water and methods of treatment. The other is rain quality for which air quality has to change. This is the beginning of HOPE of change. This is where I would begin.
ReplyDeleteHOPE can also be based on something tangible, something already in our hand and tested. Now we need a new protocol, a new type of dynamic ACADEMICS , licencing and social business models ( for the community ) and advanced business models for industry ( such as annual licencing fee and E.M.I. ) Presently, we are being deceived by norms being twisted to the convenience of the toxic man-made chemical industry. Let me be clear here that our entry will not be disruptive for the same industry can adopt ecological technologies and prosper.
ReplyDelete