India: A Showstopper On The World Ramp

Dreams are easy to sow, and even easier to revel in. India leading the world or playing a significant role in the current century is a heady drink from the spring of hope, at the fountain of the world. It is an oft heard phrase that India and China are set to be the super powers of the world in the near future and this would change the rule of trade game for many countries.

How can India contribute to the global scenario when she herself is going through some transition within as far as political equations are concerned?

When dreams are about India leading the world, there are some very important areas the country could be looking into, to march ahead with hope and promise. Some areas have been India’s innate strengths already, and some could be the strong points of the country that’s looking hopeful at the threshold of the world stage.

Well, for starters, here are a few things that all the countries in the world engage in despite problems they might be fighting within its vicinity.

Education
It was about a year ago when US State Secretary John Kerry said India and US together could lead the world in education. Now, India’s role in education per se would not be clear without the understanding of the great Indian middle class, which strives hard for the sake of education of their family members – mostly children. The median age of India’s population is 28 years and skill development is something India has been consistently working on. With institution-level collaboration, India can actually lead the world in better dissemination of education and innovative methods of teaching.

Science research
You sure have heard the success of Mangalyaan, which was the cheapest trip to the orbit of Mars by any country. India did it in about a year, and well within the budget of a Hollywood production. Now, jokes apart, to understand India’s emphasis on science and space technology, would be to comprehend with the age old wisdom seated in the Indian psyche. Most of the professors, who learnt in India, have gone about occupying cushy positions in renowned universities abroad. It is time India closed the loop to establish the intellectual potential and help the world understand its importance.

IT industry
Now, a popular joke is every second Indian, is an IT professional. Or, wait. Did you say second one? We thought ‘every’ Indian was an IT professional! When the jocular argument ends, it’s time to look at the reality. India and Indian professionals almost singlehandedly fixed the Y2k bug (remember? The millennium scare?) while working on most deathly shifts in various locations worldwide. Silicon Valley knows the reality that India cannot be ignored when it comes to the ‘e’ world. After all, we got our first email from an Indian Sabeer Bhatia. Right? India is still treading the path like a lone unchallenged tusker.

Entrepreneurship
One of the most endearing things about India is the presence of human resources, in most educated, skilled and ready-to-employ form. People speak more in English, the global language and can be one of the easiest employable workforces. Leveraging on this can turn India into a force to reckon with.

eCommerce
The emerging eCommerce sector has a lot to gain from India that has the most Internet-accessing generation. Average urban Indian being a youth before his 30s, working to earn a handsome salary, and is most comfortable shopping on the Internet makes him a hot property of tomorrow’s eCommerce debuts. India, with most young people connected to the net, can give a serious run to markets like US and China as far as eConsumerism is concerned.

Innovative agricultural practices
The age old wisdom in agriculture has somehow come to a standstill in the last few years when India took chemical fertilizers and poisoned the womb of her earth. Now, with things changing for better, Indians are returning to agriculture with aplomb and how! Innovative agricultural practices coupled with some knowledge passed through generations is making India a land of innovative agricultural practices. It is indeed a strong point India could compete with rest of the countries in the world. Abundant availability of human resources and a political will to check the migration by rural Indians into urban pockets can help the world satiate its hunger for fresh and healthy food.