India the future of the world

I have been quite irregular in posting here, something i think i cannot help with. But, it's pointless to complain to myself and dish out an answer!

What brought me back here is a line i came across lately: "India is the most important country for the future of the world" by a British historian E P Thompson. I wondered what made the gentleman comment like this about India. Was he enamored with sages, the big fat Indian wedding (December happens to be a garden of weddings in Delhi), cows and bulls on the streets, children half clad or full obliging you with cues to your own childhood and reassurances of you being chosen child. I can go on writing superlative attractions of India that can sweep any foreigner off his feet.

No, there has to be something substantial. something that he saw in India that will come to the world's rescue when auto destroy mode is activated (remember Batman's fancy bike-cum-car). Well, I don't have the privilege to ask Mr. Thompson but i may well try to surmise what must have been in his mind. I can think of a few things which India uniquely has to offer to the world which are vital for world's future considering the mess the world is in:


Spiritual Quotient to citizens of the world:

No, don't confuse it with the myriad religious rituals, philosophers and bewildering number of Gods. I feel India can hold the light illuminating the non-material reality of the world, establishing its importance for man. It's therapeutic value, liberating nature. India can, perhaps, help leave the world mad race towards material affluence without time for looking within. When pedestrians in the USA are killed by some rogue disgruntled killer, in a society with all its material advancement but spiritual indigence it appears as a call for India to lead.

Celebration of diversity: 

World is turning xenophobic, Islamophobic, and the words add on. History is replete with intolerance towards cultural, racial, religious differences. It spawned World Wars in part, genocides, great exodus. This history is certain to repeat itself in present and future. India with her history of tolerance and celebration of diversity right from ancient times of Ashoka is definately important to for a peaceful world. It is important to note here that Mauryan kingdom protected the AJVIKAS (atheists) equally as the Hindus and The Buddhists. Indian example may one day be emulated in Europe and Americas who claim to be modern materially but infantile socially.

Democracy:

Which is arguably new to India. But Indian model of democracy despite legion of cynics has its robustness. It can show that democracy can offer solutions rather than being problem itself. From the time of Raj Narain defeating Indira to J P movement to Anna and AAP, and hundreds of selfless cadres of Third Sector organizations entrenching democratic values in newer ways and making it work, the Indian model of democracy keeps on throwing up self correction mechanisms. More importantly it has shown if democracy can survive  and thrive in sea of illiteracy since 1952 it can surely in the literate and scientific West.

Non-violence

As espoused by Gandhiji has already inspired many across the world. Notable among them being Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King. The leaders of tomorrow, whenever they vow to fight injustice, non-violent lessons of the same will guide them and Rajghat will be a pilgrimage.

These are only a few that come to my mind. My ignorance of my own homeland knows no bounds. As and when I get to know of my motherland, I will surely discover and flag more such things which India has to offer a world fighting to stay afloat. 

India's Tryst with Food Security

Food security for India meaning the citizens of India have adequate quantity of food to put in their hungry tummies at least twice a day. Is it also about quality? Well, yes, it has to be, lest a stale, inedible morsel makes body's defense non-functional or wears away its vitality.

Providing food to the masses has been the top priority of kingdoms and empires of the history. In India we have had concept of  'Ram Rajya' where every citizen in state was secure materially and nutritionally. India is the land of Gods. we have even Gods exclusively assigned the mandate of providing food to hungry. Kingdoms around the world which failed to fulfill this need had to go down in history as victims of revolution. One can cite Russia or France of the eighteenth and twentieth centuries or more recently autocratic regime of Mr. Ben Ali in Tunisia in North Africa, mother country of Arab Spring. So if you are a king, queen or president, provide food to people you must.

India is home to many poor souls, unfortunately. They are poor to a degree that they cannot have two square meals a day. They have rights though. There are many of them, Right to be equally treated, right to worship the God you like, Right to live. But how to live with an empty stomach? Should they eat their rights? The poor was left alone in the search for answers, until now.

The government claims to find an answer by enriching the poor with another right, Right to food. This one, seriously, is substantial provided implemented well. So what's this right? If you are poor (there's a raging debate as to what proves that you are poor, but let's just leave that for now) you are entitled to get 5 kg of food grains per kg per person in family for a month at throwaway prices of Rs 3, 2, Re 1. if you are pregnant too you should be above 18 yrs of age and mother only one or a first time pregnant to get additional benefits of monthly cash payments and hot cooked meals (don't imagine anything close to KFC or MacDonald meals, but it's no less for them!). Children between 6 to 14 years of age have been given benefits under this right. IF YOU DON'T GET FOOD YOU GET THE MONEY. So, it gets really revolutionary here.

Alright, so it looks pretty sure for the poor that they will finally have assured square meals a day. but , the picture is not rosy for them yet. What about the hungry bureaucrats of Food Corporation of India, hungry transport guy who ferries the grains to fair price shops, beneficiaries who are so hungry that they usurp the timid ignorant other's share and the rapacious fair price shop dealers?

Government believes that they can be taken care of by the reforms in the Public Distribution System that are underway. What's the basis of this claim? Well, 'AADHAR' is the basis ! Mr. Nandan Nilekani hopes to do a good job by eliminating bogus beneficiaries, ghost beneficiaries, reducing leakages through end- to end computerization. So people will be able to track their food grains as we track our parcels. Besides, village Panchayats and women led Self Help Groups are being involved in opening fair price shops to give sense of ownership to the beneficiaries. The poor pray with their hungry tummies that these steps succeed for they are promising.

There are certain loopholes also ailing the current design of right. For instance, the quality part of food security seems to be compromised as no pulses are being provided for making up protein requirements. Other micro nutrients such as Vitamins minerals are being ignored by only providing cereals. Further the business of targeting the poor for providing benefits has proven counterproductive as many are excluded erroneously. Covering the entire population rather than 67% of citizens as envisaged presently will be better strategy. It has been seen that a benefit meant only for poor turned out to be poor benefit.

So much for feeding the destitute, but definitely it's a worthwhile goal. After all, how can India remain secure and stable when more than 50% of population who is young is also hungry? When more than 40% children can't even attain their height, what heights in life can they attain? What heights can such an India attain? The talk of lack of funds for implementing this right on ground is valid. Futility of subsidies when leakages are rampant is also rational. Skyrocketing Fiscal Deficit is a nightmare surely. But, this abysmal condition cannot be wished away by rational arguments. We have to make steps like this work. We have to arrange the moneys for the sake of a bright future of our malnourished children, our hungry citizens our India in the making.