Greatness Just Ahead

Its exciting to be an Indian right now. Not just the poor for whom development is overdue. Not just for industry who keep the wheels turning. Not just for entrepreneurs who must be rewarded for their ingenuity.  And not just for the rest of us that have swung too often the way of apathy. 

I hear its especially exciting to be a politician right now! (fresh from the lips of PD Rai, Member of Parliament from Sikkim, on his and others' reaction to the PM's first address to the union)

Consider this:

• India is actually a rich country, arguably with enough natural resources and surplus to feed every mouth and fill every pocket in this land.
• There are some huge, and clearly apparent, holes in the system that once plugged will free up surplus for immediate use on developmental and humanitarian activity.
• Indians are by nature entrepreneurial, they've had to evolve so in order to survive. Just a few nudges and their potential will be unleashed.
• India is culturally rich and politically self aware, not a fickle or ideological nation state easily destabilized.
• And India finally has the benign dictator it has yearned for; one that is proven in his vision, capability, strength and integrity.

If you're a politician today, even one with just a speck of altruism in his heart, this is the opportunity of a lifetime, nay lifetimes. You are in a pivotal position to monumentally transform India, and your kids, grandkids and millions more will adore you for doing so. You are now able to switch from a perpetual state of politicking to a state of concerted problem solving. You now have a mission that is far greater than yourself and one that is actually achievable.  And you are led by someone who will move mountains to support you.

Indians have often opined--"India is a rich country with poor people." Irony marked by how a rich country of many can be usurped for a selfish few. Of how the possibilities of many are depressed by the poverty of a few (minds). A system rigged to use pretexts like caste to carve out vote banks and institutionalize graft.

Its now time to increase the size of the pie, with benefits for all and clean in its dispensation. Its time to rise above gamesmanship and brinkmanship. Many of India's politicians (and bureaucrats) seem to be waking to this wonderful and inspiring new reality. They know that millions of lives are in their hands, and looking up to them with hope. They know they have the opportunity to create greatness for the country and for themselves.

Time will tell the rest.

-vikram