DO YOU DEPEND ON THUMB IMPRESSIONS?
A few days ago I had written an article in which I had dissented from a statement made by Dr Kalam. I had anticipated some adverse comments from readers but I was hardly prepared for the kind of volleys that came my way. One reader –on the assumption that I was unnecessarily decrying India and unnecessarily glorifying the U.S—made out a list of ills of American society. This was supposedly in contrast to the kind of list of the ‘ achievements’ of India that frequently traverse the internet. As if on cue another reader wrote that the list of ills of US society shows that’ the grass was green on the other side’. I am afraid all these exchanges miss the main point . While I am the first to confirm that I do not hold a monopoly on wisdom and could be in grevious error all the time I am afraid I sense a serious touchiness that prevents us from looking a some disturbing facts.
In our human trait to simplify decision making we tend to rely on rules of thumb. This is but human but the more we think in depth the less we ought to rely on such rules .Thus the fact that all countries in the world have their own serious issues does not mean that the ‘grass is green on the other side’. It does not mean that all countries are equal ,that there is no difference between nations. Let me cite a parallel. Chimpanzees share human genetic makeup to the extent of 98 % !! What commonality!!Does that mean that there is hardly any difference between us and chimpanzees?
Thus while it is true that all nations are faced with serious issues we in India cannot rest content with that statement. There are qualities in other nations that we can beneficially emulate –this is a point I seek to make. There are also traits that we need to jettison if we are to lend substance to our claim—currently dubious—that we are on our way to becoming a superpower.
The recent visit of Obama is another case in point. He knew what to say in India whose middle class is breathlessly waiting to be patted in the back by white countries even if headed by a non- white!He knew that certain statements were bound to lead to chest thumping. Thus he spoke of India being a great and powerful nation and promised a seat in the Security Council. I ask how his visit would have been received if he had said, truthfully. as follows ‘Even as we all over the world appreciate the many strides that India has made ever since the 1990’s I am afraid leaders all over the world are asking why India languishes at the lower end of the Human Development Index. And also in the new Multi dimensional Index. Why is it that the only index in which India scores very high is the Corruption Index. Why are over 420 million Indians living on less that $1.20 a day? Why do Indians stash 1500 billion dollars in secret bank accounts in Swiss banks a record not matched by the rest f the world put together?Why are people in states in the Indian heartland living in a condition worse than sub Saharan nations? I seek to extend a helping hand to this great nation to live up to Gandhiji’s desire to wipe every tear from every eye. My request to leaders not only in India but all over the world is to read the statement of Gandhiji that I have in my study at the White House. This statement says that whenever you take a decision ask yourself if your decision will bring a smile to the eyes of the poorest man you have ever met.’
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