Bharat- The Compassionate World Leader
Sriram Charana Aravinda Dasa Adhikari ISKCON temple- Salem, Tamilnadu, Bharat
In the last eight years, the nation has not just changed, but a new chapter of remarkable growth and fast paced developments is also being written. The famous “Indian Juggernaut” which was stuttering along, has definitely gained pace.
To bring in momentum to a mammoth country as diverse and wide spread as Bharat, needs precision point focus and determination, “The Sankalpa”. To understand the significance of “The Sankalpa”, that Bharat should move on faster than the current pace, we should revive our lost memory. The temptation of viewing an entire phase of history from the point of reference is sometimes irresistible. Our foregone era of Bharat, pre- 2014. Despite being spring boarded to a great leap after 1991, the Indian Juggernaut was losing momentum. Bharat was on the cusp of indecisiveness and apathy to Nava Bharat testified by spirit of change.
What’s that “spirit of change”? The so called change that was required, was the delivery system, where the benefit of the government initiatives reach the man standing at the last mile, who was not even identified by the population census a few years ago. Bharat being such a vast and humungous country, has its own advantages and disadvantages. The human capital is indeed a blessing but identifying them appropriately will always be a challenge. It is a well-documented fact that many of such remote places where those “ prajas” were not even a part of our system as they were never quantified. Today, its for certain, that 135 crore Bharatvasis see a glaring beam of hope from gloom and distress. What is certain is that, the progress was invariably associated with the “Spirit of change” and that too should be delivered with minimum disruption.
The Bharatiya tradition and the dharma emphasize that the prajas (they are also called Naras) are governed by an representative of Lord Indra who is the King of Svarga loka and the King of all demigods. The “ Indra of the Naras” or the “king of the Naras” as he is termed as “Narendra” was the need of the hour and he was expected to be a charioteer who could steer through even during some greatest upheavals we had in the recent times. These darkest times the humanity has ever faced, when the world was hit by the corona pandemic, which led to death, destruction, and disruption of economic activities.
Emerging from the pandemic stronger, more resilient and agile, India proved that stable and “The sankalpa” is the necessary ingredient to overcome a crisis. Post the pandemic, not just financially and politically, Bharat has also reaffirmed its emergence as a global superpower by supplying vital medicines and vaccines to countries around the world. In fact, Bharat took the developed nations by complete surprise by developing not one, but two Corona virus vaccines, carried out the world’s fastest and largest vaccination programme in a record time, and exported 40 crore vaccine doses to 100 countries around the world. Bharat was truly a major relief provider at the time of global despair.
Even the bitterest critics of Bharat will concede that Bharat has changed unrecognizably – and arguably for the better in the last 9 years or so from 2014. At one level, the change is perceptible; the national highways are near-world class, the railway stations are a far cry from the decrepit past, more and more Bharatiyas are flying to their destinations, technology has made banking effortless, corruption is significantly down (at least at the top), power cuts are a novelty and many, many more Indians are paying taxes without harassment. And dare we say, “Miles to go before we sleep, Miles to go before we all sleep”.
Digitization Drive
One of the most celebrated aspects of the Nava-Bharat would be the digitization of the economy. It began with the Aadhar. This was followed by the Jan Dhan Accounts, and finally cheap internet connections for hundreds of millions of Bharatiyas. Bharat’s share in the global digital transactions is 40 per cent—the highest in the world. There is no surprise that QR codes are available even with gol-gappa vendors or vegetable vendors or to the roadside saloons or how can we forget that the Pujaris in many temple have started flashing QR code for their dakshina, due, for their most benevolent activity. This was unimaginable a few years back.
The opportunity and the kind of impact these digitization drives brings in, is quite unimaginable and cannot be quantified. It reduces the turnaround time for economic activity, acts as a quick multiplier of the economy, brings in huge amount unorganized sector under the ambit of the economic activity. Many notable economists have always opined that Bharat has a huge unorganized sector of economic activity, the home maids to the vegetable vendor to the roadside tyre puncture repairer to the local plumber or the electrician and many more. The list goes on. Did anyone think how this economic multiplier could bring in a sea change in this diverse sub-continent called Bharat.
Moreover, the most important byproduct of this digitization drive is the transparency and reduced illegal activities. Mind you, everything revolves around money. If that medium is controlled, then unscrupulous people have a tough time. But how can we underestimate the power of fertile brain of those unscrupulous people in the God’s creation. But definitely, doing Business, standardization of government machinery and the introduction of web-based services are some hallmarks of this nava bharat.
How can we camouflage the UPI craze that is sweeping the globe? The scale and the speed that UPI carries is unimaginable. As many as 143 Bhartiya banks are live on UPI platform. It has crossed 3 billion transactions and has over a 300 million active users. Nowhere in the world, neither there is any such facility available nor such a number of transactions have ever happened on one single platform. UPI has put Bharat far ahead in the world and today we are more than delighted to transfer money with QR scan code and various methods, but most of the countries are still using the traditional methods.
Institutional Reforms
Since 2014, Bharat has witnessed an exponential enhancement in its economic resilience, intellectual capital and infrastructure spending, powered by dynamic young population that is catalyzing the ‘great growth story’ through its path- breaking policy reforms and regulatory measures. Since 2014, Bharat has witnessed numerous developments that reflect the country’s current image of a strong nation with an independent standing.
What we have achieved is Stability, continuity, and willpower. Since 2014, Bharat has undergone most needed structural and institutional reforms. The benefits are here to be seen; since 2014-15, India has received nearly $450 billion in FDI. Some structural changes such as the goods and services tax (GST) and the insolvency and bankruptcy code (IBC) — have streamlined the economy, increased transparency and attracted foreign investment.
And certainly we are tipped to be among the Big 3 by 2030: This will be a landmark achievement for a country that has to send its aeroplane loaded with gold to Britain for pledging and to safeguard from an imminent bankruptcy in 1991. From investing in technology and energy transition, to spotting emerging megatrends like global off-shoring and digitalization, Bharat is channeling its resources in a way that will fuel unprecedented economic growth, doubling the national GDP to surpass $7.5 trillion by 2031. For sure, this will not be a day dream. If these huge digitization drive and economic multiplier of having unorganized sector under our ambit, I dare say, it’s possible.
The great Infrastructure navigation
The most celebrated infrastructure push where programs to build infrastructure and to connect the entire nation is picking up pace. Modernization of Railways was in dire need and its effect on the entire economy is greatly undervalued. The plan to build 83,677 km of roads is underway. The Sagarmala Programme, on the other hand, focuses on connectivity by sea. The projects are for port modernization, new port development, port connectivity enhancement, port-linked industrialization and coastal community development and sea based economic routes.
Bharat’s exceptional natural beauty and cleanliness was very unique. In days of yore, most of the consumables or items which played an integral part of every day’s life were all of decomposing nature. The mother earth used to take back what it gave to its sons. But with the advent of this modern day plastics and complex chemical compounds, our mother earth is left to a sorry state of affairs. Garbages and landfills are mounting. Places became very unclean. Public places like Stations and bus depots were in a royal mess. Today, with the Swatch Bharat Abhiyan, we have at least solved half a problem of living and maintaining a clean place, inspite of not knowing how to get rid of those harmful chemical, non- decomposing compounds which we carry all around the place. One of the current day’s flagrant experience, is the clean railway stations which we encounter post 2014. Clean Bharat is healthy Bharat and clean and healthy Bharat means the Juggernaut will get maximum productivity to move on.
Leadership and Political Will
Sankalpa to think big is also a great virtue. For a country like Bharat achieving scale is not a difficult task. But strategizing and implementing and making it big, was the real concern. Some of the other areas which needs special mention of this Sankalpa is renewable energy, mass opening of bank accounts, or the attempted universalization of health insurance, proper sanitation, tap water supply and the list is convincingly long.
What about the change in political culture and ushered in a responsive and more pro-active government, which are the soul of good governance. Post 2014, one sea change that is the inclusive development, in which the needs and aspirations of all sections of society are taken care of. But it is the welfare of the poorest of the poor and making them a part of this great Juggernaut is indeed a feather on the cap of the leadership.
Marx famously argued, “Men make their own history but they do not make it as they please…but under circumstances existing already, given and transmitted from the past.” The past of this glorious nation has been made messy by the so called “democracy” and the same democracy has been used as an enabler. Today, there are very few countries who could boast as a vibrant democracy as comparable to Bharat. Will all its pull and push, democracy has been effectively handled.
And who can forget the turmoil during 2014 when the messiness of this democratic process had created an under-current of thought that the country needed strongman (even military) rule—a view apparently shared by the majority of those surveyed in opinion polls dating back to 2014 and also more recently around 2017.
But India is too diverse to be susceptible to one-man or even one-party rule. If the contest is viewed in the framework of the Aryavarta heartland vs the periphery (the tribal and partly Christian north-east, Sikh-majority Punjab, Muslim- majority Kashmir, and eventually the Dravidian south with its different history, ethnicity and traditions, not to mention the languages), it is hard to see diversity being stamped out by an all-encompassing, North Indian brand or south Indian style. The federal impulse remains. Governance has to be by consent.
Still, there is no one template. If one focuses on countries in transition, for every East Asian example to suggest a progressive democratization of society, you can cite two Latin American ones to point the other way, accompanied in many cases with militarization. The countries of Central Europe and Central Asia, freed from the Soviet yoke, have good and bad stories to tell, economically and politically. At one stage democratic rule seemed to be progressing in Africa, along with improved economic performance, but the trend has become less clear. All outcomes are therefore possible.
In the end, Bharat might well carve out its own unique future possibly by continuing to muddle along as an endless exercise in imperfection, both economic and increasingly political; a country where (as the economist Joan Robinson observed) every assertion is as valid as its opposite. In other words, contestation will remain the norm.
Another testimony to the great strategic thought process the major contributor towards development and peace initiatives across the globe. Supporting neighbors, being the voice of the global south initiative and propagating initiatives like the international solar alliance, Bharat is demonstrating its ability to become a compassionate world leader.
Finally, there is the danger of losing sight of the social adjustment problems that accompany economic growth and progress. As our leadership know too well, the crown of Bharat is also made up of thorns.
Bharat’s Real Export for the Future
This is the way approach how the current government dispensation is working 24×7 to build a Nava -Bharat, where everyone has his own room to grow and work for the prosperity and integrity of the nation.
Bharat has many more things to give to the world. Those invaluable jewels that Bharat possess are something the whole world is looking for. Economic development, Technological advancement, Infrastructure and other modern facilities are all enablers and have very little impact in substantiality. Bharat’s greatest asset is its culture, dharma and its spiritual values which are intertwined with the society.
Bharat, the real vishwa-guru can indeed export its unique gift to the whole world- her spiritual culture. As long as we continue to beg for Western technology and resources, no nation would respect her. Bharat’s culture is based on this age-old Vedic system. That is its real culture of Bharat, and who can deny the fact that there is great demand for this all over the world. Spread our original Indian culture for the benefit of the suffering world and be rest assured to claim the title as Bharat – the greatest spiritual ambassador to the world.
We have to acknowledge the fact that today Bharat is using its advantage on various global forums, the richness and diversity of our great culture. Global recognition of yoga and Ayurveda is the outcome of these efforts. Both yoga and Ayurveda could be the real pill for the modern day problems of societal, physical, mental and environmental. We don’t need to export students to study medicine and other technology to all over the world, make the young minds, the envoy who could pull scores of westerners who are seriously enquiring the solution. Can anyone deny the true fact that Bhartiya dharma and culture is widespread across the globe with many westerners, Africans, Australians, Europeans building temples, living a family life, dancing in the street and showing to our own countrymen how blissful this could be? Unfortunately, we have not enough to showcase our treasure to our own brothers and sisters of this glorious nation. Bharat is the proverbial land that has mesmerized poets and mystified prophets for centuries. I believe that as an economic global superpower, Bharat will be a picture of harmony and assurance. To paraphrase Martin Luther King Jr: “To other countries, I may go as a tourist. But to India, I come as a pilgrim.” In the modern context, one should come to Bharat as a devotee to its hallowed opportunities.
We are indeed the global leader and we are also blessed to have even more capable leader to lead us. As Lord Krishna says in Sri Bhagavad Gita –
यद्यदाचरति श्रेष्ठस्तत्तदेवेिरो जनः ।
स यत्प्रमाणं कु रुिे लोकस्तदनुवितिे ॥ ३-२१॥
yad yad äcarati sresthas -tat tad evetaro janah
sa yat pramanam kurute- lokas tad anuvartate
Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues.
Finally to conclude, Bharat is not what the headlines say or what traditions have taught us. Bharat is a dynamic, vibrant and ever changing… the streets evolving much faster than its reflections in the media can portray. But we need to get out of our mental and physical cocoons and tall glass building offices and, on the streets, to quietly experience its beautiful offerings. The great “Indian Juggernaut” has picked up pace in all the western parameters but needs lot of streamlining to instill Bharatiya culture and traditions which will sustain this great “ Indian Juggernaut”.
Bharat the only place in this earth who can lead this entire world because of its rich tradition and culture. And this same culture preaches “Universal brotherhood” in the real sense. Compassion is the natural outcome. Compassionate towards neighbors, compassionate towards struggling economies in spite of being the adversaries, bringing many nations under one unified platform for utilizing their strengths. This is the same Bharat which was written by the great travelers who came and got amazed how much this nation can give to others.
World leader doesn’t mean economic or military or any technological prowess. It’s all encompassing the whole world with strategic and visionary zeal which will transform humanity in general.
Sriram Charana Aravinda dasa Adhikari
- ISKCON Spiritual leader and a great motivational authority through speeches, books and articles.
- Pioneered the World’s first and the only self- sufficient temple complex at ISKCON Salem, Tamilnadu- where traditional temple economics is put to practice.
- Member of Bhavya Bharat Foundation – a think tank group formulating models, for developing India.
- Born in the holy place of Srivilliputtur, Tamilnadu, India, did engineering graduation and also IIM post-graduation.
- Served as a senior International Banker for various MNC banks, travelled more than 70 countries across the globe and later became a monk.
- Head of ISKCON Srilanka and executive board member of many temples.
