Imagining India

Imagining India, the book I've been reading for over 2 months now and finally complete. It is by far the best read I've had in recent times. I must say, Hats off to Nandan Nilekani for his effort. It is one book that can give you this feeling of severe optimism (if you want to see it), so much so that you might feel a case of overdose (even the severe pessimist). Yet, the finish of the book touches base with reality, and leaves you looking at the enormity of the opportunity that India faces entwined in the greatest challenge, any nation has ever faced hitherto. Nandan has described with great passion the abilities of us as people of this nation. The passion is like a fever that can spread.

This blog is not a raving review of the book. Neither am I competent enough for that, nor are words enough to describe the ideas covered in this book. Yet I write this for various reasons.

Last week, I met a person at a congregation while I was in Mumbai. Both of us, understanding we had quite some time to kill, struck up a conversation. The conversation started off with something related to the congregation and (75% of all impromptu conversation in India end up with politics. Also 65.45% of all statistics are made up on the fly) went on discuss about India, development, chanllenges (problems, its a matter of perception). The person I am referring to was from another southern state and he went on rampage on corruption and how things can never change in India. If not for the fact that I had known this person for only a few minutes, I would have fired him for all his non-belief and negativity (People who know me vaguely well would agree on that).

Let me tell you this story I read on the internet a while back. Hiware Bazar, a small dot on the map of India, 300Km east of Mumbai was virtual desert until a few years ago. This is no longer the case. The village is now green and farming is so profitable that 25% of the villagers are millionares (Ambani's watch out!). The village has a Panchayat system and in the last 25 years has used the government funds towards irrigation, education and healthcare. Micromanagement in other words has transformed the sahara to shangri la. The funda is simple, the local panchayat is strengthened and people are actually involved in decision making. The people here no longer care about who is at the helm, something that the government is taking note of. They wish to replicate the governance in other villages. The reason for change is Popat Rao Pawar, a cricketer who gave up his career and has been leading the turn around. He has become the Tendulkar as far as Hiware Bazar is concerned. Cheers to him!

From Hiware Bazar to Sonagachi, West Bengal. For the benefit of those unfamiliar with Sonagachi is the largest Red Light area in Kolkatta with over 10,000 sex workers. In the communist state, the mantris are missing (I cant help take a swipe at the farcical communists we have). Through an NGO, the sex workers have set up a school and training centre in a small village called Amlasole, home to over 300 tribals. After being driven out of the forests on the pretext of being supply agents of ammunition for the naxalites, the sex workers have literally rescued the village. They contribute over Rs.10,000 every month for this cause.

Next stop, Ayodhya - the land of Ram. Raj Sharan Sharma, a school drop out surfs the net for the latest technological developments in agriculture. From the Jai Shri Ram to click of a mouse, technology has been a great leveller here. Using information from the net, farmers have helped improve their agriculture and hence their profits. With the help of organic manure, hybrid seeds take home income for the farmers has grown from Rs.10,000 to a crore per annum over the last decade. The eight lane highway is being built alongside this village and this surely must lead to prosperity by taking their produce to the market.

Imagining India is about all this and much more, a must read for all. Change happening through innovation and ideas at grassroot levels, technology, passion and above all belief in the future of possibilities. It pains me when I hear all the disbelief around. Worse, the dagger of guilt swivels in my intestine when I read such stories of sacrifice happening all around. Change in India is like a snowball, it takes its time before becoming an avalanche. I do not deny that it will require enormous effort for transformation of India, yet optimism and belief killed no one....