When I was a kid, my imagination
could only reach to create an invincible cricket team in order to see India
among the leading nations. I used to wonder- Had the Pakistan not been separated
from India, we would have been the most powerful cricket team. In my thoughts,
I used to make different permutations and combinations out of the top cricketers
of the two countries such as Sachin, Jadeja, Shrinath, Wasim Akram, Saqlain
Mushtaq, Waqar Yunus and the list went on. The most difficult part was to
decide upon not only a suitable but the best captain for this dream team and I
used to get confused between Wasim Akram and Mohd. Azharuddin in terms of their
suitability to this responsible post.
But when I grew up, I realized
it’s not only the cricket which can make India one of the leading nations,
there is lot more. Along with the development in various aspects, we need a
leader or team of leaders who really understands the dormant power lying within
the nation and can sketch a road map to exploit it in the interest of the
country thereby catalyzing these developments.
To my surprise, I had a dream few
days back where Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam was the President and Mr. Narendra Modi was
the Prime Minister of India. In the dream itself, I was so delighted. When I
woke up, I was thrilled. I kept wondering if it is really possible for India to
have such a fortune where it can see the duo as the charioteers of the nation.
Whatever the case may be, I figured out that my dream has really given me the
leaders I was looking for.
Presently, country is facing a
difficult situation where inflation is high, GDP growth has taken a dip, high
interest rates are deterring new entrepreneurs to come up, lack of influential
leaders, security has become a major concern and degree of patriotism is
reduced. We only catch a glimpse of patriotism when it is a cricket match
between India and Pakistan preferably. On the top of all this, our own people
are losing faith in India itself which is evident from the prevalent
catchphrase, “Aise hi hai, aisa hi
chalega.”
I remember when I was in
sophomore at IIT, I asked my exceptionally talented friend, to stay back in
India for his post graduation and do the research he wanted to do here itself.
But he said, “Praveen, I won’t stay here because nobody gives you credit of
your work here. Better I go abroad, showcase my skills there, at least people
will know me.” He may not be completely right in his argument but the point is that
this is the lack of faith of our own people in our own country. This faith has
to be restored. And for this we need leaders. Leaders who can explain that how
doing good for this country, will help each individual to evolve to his/her
best and the person will get all the things he/she deserves. This process of
faith restoring will have to be accompanied by a road-map to reward their
faiths.
Quite often we curse our country
for its shortcomings and praise countries like US. But that will not solve the
purpose. Somebody has to understand the untapped potential, prepare the
pragmatic solutions and most importantly implement them. And this task cannot
be done by somebody who is knowledgeable in any particular domain but we need
leaders who understand India as a whole, in almost all the fields be it science
and technology, agriculture, education, manufacturing, defence, services,
entertainment, fashion, spirituality etc.
Then, Why Dr. Kalam?
Apart from being a scientist and a
technocrat, he is a visionary. He is an architect, he is a planner. He has the
ability to see the country as a whole which everybody cannot do. He understands
how natural resources, human resources, science, our history, spirituality can
be put together to form a massive task force. He does not stick to top down
approach, yet he also favours bottom up approach where a thought/an idea can
come from anybody, even from a kid. He understands the hidden potential of the
country and power of youth which can bring any transformation.
His unparalleled contribution in ballistic
missile and nuclear science provided Indians a feeling of safer country. His
efforts in satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) put India among the leading nations
in space research. He is the man who exhibited his concern for rural areas and
developed a tablet PC named as "Kalam-Raju Tablet" for health care in rural areas.
In an incident, Dr. Kalam found
out that beryllium ore was being exported to Japan from our country and then
Japan after extracting the beryllium was selling the same to US. US was making
an important compound to be used in satellite launch vehicles (SLVs) but was ready
to give that compound to India at high price. Soon after the intervention of
Dr. Kalam, the export of beryllium ore was stopped. The point of citing this
incident is to illustrate how we are importing highly priced value added products
while low priced raw material for many of those products is being exported by
us only. And that’s the reason that India is always in a state of fiscal
deficit. One of the impacts of fiscal deficit has already been witnessed in the
form of rupee depreciation this year. This incident also tells how Dr. Kalam is
concerned about economic condition of our country. He is also an advocate of using
indigenous technology.
He understands the geographical strengths
and limitations of this country very well. He visits big cities, he visits
remote villages. He interacts with real people of India and thus he is pretty
close to present grass root condition of the country. He believes good
education is the basis of all positive changes in our country. He influences
students and people of all ages through his vast knowledge bank. Among many
other big names, Dr. Kalam was also nominated MTV Youth Icon of the Year for
year 2003 and 2006.
Back in 2006 summer, in United
States, I happened to work with a world class team during my internship. Team
consisted of two Americans, one Turkish, one Chinese and one Indian, me
actually. The most intelligent and diligent team member was the Chinese guy.
When I talked to him, I figured that patriotism is also a one of the major
driving forces for excellence. Such things can be explained to our countrymen
by philosophers such as Dr. Kalam because he has a fair understanding that sense
of patriotism and spirituality enables a person to perform his duties to his
best. And if, optimistically, everybody starts performing his job dutifully,
this place will never be less than any western nation.
Now, why Mr. Narendra
Modi?
If we have a road-map, what we
need next is an implementor and needless to say Mr. Narendra Modi is a true
implementor. A ruthless implementor and that is pretty much needed right now.
Being in Gujarat, I have closely witnessed the kind of
developments that have occurred in here in a short span of time.
When he was elected CM for the
first time, there were not good roads; electricity was not available to
everyone. But now the state has become power surplus, electric bulb glowing
even in remote villages. Well maintained roads, not only in city but connecting
interior locations too. Whenever, I go to Kutchh for any of my wind power projects,
I am amazed to see how my vehicle runs at a high speed on such wonderful roads
at those desolate places. SG highway at Ahmedabad, 10-12 years back, used to be
one of the most unused portions as there was no proper concrete road. But now,
things are way beyond imagination. SG highway is now an excellent 3x3 road
where you cannot stop yourself from speeding up. Not only that, region around SG
highway is so developed that it has become the most expensive place to acquire
a real estate property.
Being in energy field, I appreciate
that Gujarat has become the first state to launch solar power policy in 2009
while on the other hand it is among the leading states in the wind power.
Eventually, it has become the preferred destination of investors from the
country and abroad.
Since, I am also working in the
transport sector, I have again closely understood the kind of development
Gujarat has exhibited here in past few years. In Ahmedabad, apart from AMTS
(Ahmedbad Municipal Transport Service) buses, BRTS (Bus rapid transit system) buses are running
on dedicated corridors and connecting almost all the major locations in
Ahmedabad. Another MRT project, Metro rail is also on its way which will not
only run in Ahmedabad but will also connect Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar. I am a
part of this project hence I can totally appreciate the kind of vision for such
project of public welfare.
Now, highly educated people
are finding good opportunities in Gujarat too. They seem to have faith in
Gujarat and all because of Mr. Modi. Giant like Tata has moved to Gujarat followed
by other big automobile companies. There are plenty of things to discuss though
I have discussed only major things which affected the mass.
He is the leader who moves with
the time, embraces modern technologies for the development. He is in the
process of connecting villages through internet for education purpose. I
happened to interact with him during a MoU signing session in Ahmedabad. I was
overwhelmed by seeing his urge to IITians to bring in more ideas for the
development in 15 sectors which included almost everything i.e. energy, oil and
gas, education, transport, social welfare, youth development, healthcare,
agriculture, IT etc. He was eager to implement new things/ ideas for the development
of state as a whole.
And on the top of all this,
Gujarat is one of the safest states. Security is not such a major concern as it
is in other states. And this really requires tremendous effort to implement law and order
strictly.
I myself have witnessed how
warmly he welcomes a plan which in any manner could bring prosperity to his
state and happiness to his people. In another
example, he implemented a concept called G-Auto where all registered auto
rickshaw drivers will get insurance for themselves as well as for their kids.
And these auto drivers are really happy and feel secure, I myself enquired.
All these examples explain how Mr. Modi is successful as an implementor and the best part is
his ruthlessness. Being an implementor,
he also exhibits his risk taking capability. He is not a conservative leader. He
is not driven by prejudice but driven by results.
Leaders like Dr. Kalam and Mr. Modi
have everything to put India among the leading nations. They can restore the faith
of Indians. They can inspire people to do wonders.
In short, if such great
personalities will drive our nation, certainly someday we’ll be in a nation:
Where the mind is without fear,
And the head is held
high.
