It was an Indian who invented ZERO. Post that historic event however, we have as a nation moved forward, albeit slowly and gingerly. Its true that we have developed our own capabilities in several fields and today aspire to be a superpower. After all, we are a nation of 1.2 billion with an economy ranked in top ten of the world. We are a credible nuclear power and have the capability to send satellites into space at will. We are capable of defending ourselves and have enough food security. We have a vast pool of engineers and scientists, some of the best educational institites, and our life expectancy continues to rise and infant and maternal mortality rates continue to fall. There are of course other examples and statistics as evidence of progress.
Our achievements as a nation are not small by any standards. However, our challenges are still immense. Our literacy rates, primary school enrolment rates continue to be low while dropout rates are high. Our growing youth population (50% of total population) is our strength provided we can empower them with knowledge and skills, and employ them. Our healthcare record remain woefull inspite of the efforts of the government. Our lack of original enteprise is evident in the insignificant number of patents filed every year as compared to the US, European Union or China. While our IT power is well-established, we are yet to create a Google or Facebook or Amazon. No wonder, some people still refer to Infosys as a chop-shop.
We were once a powerful and respected knowledge society; most of the new generation in India may be find this incredulous inspite of their history lessons. Somewhere, we lost our way. We forgot the strength of our cultural and spiritual heritage. We were plundered by other nations, and as we overcame the tribulations, we lost our desire and energy to create an identity and bumbled around as a confused nation. Others would argue, our pre-occupation with rebuilding the nation post-independence lowered our expectations. Consequently, we are today, perhaps a nation caught somewhere in between, wallowing in mediocrity, lacking a cohesive vision.
In the year 2000, the Planning Commission, realising this, and encouraged by contemporary intellectuals, formulated a vision for the nation, referred to as the Vision2020. It is a surprisingly visionary and comprehensive document and makes for an interesting read.
The vision centres around food for all, health for all and jobs for all and is no idle statement. It recognises the need for greater focus on SME for employment, reducing government, enabling education and skills, health and other aspects through leverage of technology, information, internet and mobile communications. The vision document urges for a rekindling of spirit, energy and enterprise, especially in the youth while recognising the role of government and other sectors to enable them through meaningful learning and vocational skills, coupled with good health and hygiene.
Its difficult to disagree with the Vision2020, in any manner. It points to the crying need for awakening across the country, a re-igniting of our desire to create enterprise, and to build a knowledge-nation respected by the world. It urges us to reduce our dependence and our proclivity to imitate others.
Perhaps, its time to be On Your Own - dream, create and do.
N.B. Please take some time out to read the Vision2020. (http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/pl_vsn2020.pdf).
Our achievements as a nation are not small by any standards. However, our challenges are still immense. Our literacy rates, primary school enrolment rates continue to be low while dropout rates are high. Our growing youth population (50% of total population) is our strength provided we can empower them with knowledge and skills, and employ them. Our healthcare record remain woefull inspite of the efforts of the government. Our lack of original enteprise is evident in the insignificant number of patents filed every year as compared to the US, European Union or China. While our IT power is well-established, we are yet to create a Google or Facebook or Amazon. No wonder, some people still refer to Infosys as a chop-shop.
We were once a powerful and respected knowledge society; most of the new generation in India may be find this incredulous inspite of their history lessons. Somewhere, we lost our way. We forgot the strength of our cultural and spiritual heritage. We were plundered by other nations, and as we overcame the tribulations, we lost our desire and energy to create an identity and bumbled around as a confused nation. Others would argue, our pre-occupation with rebuilding the nation post-independence lowered our expectations. Consequently, we are today, perhaps a nation caught somewhere in between, wallowing in mediocrity, lacking a cohesive vision.
In the year 2000, the Planning Commission, realising this, and encouraged by contemporary intellectuals, formulated a vision for the nation, referred to as the Vision2020. It is a surprisingly visionary and comprehensive document and makes for an interesting read.
The vision centres around food for all, health for all and jobs for all and is no idle statement. It recognises the need for greater focus on SME for employment, reducing government, enabling education and skills, health and other aspects through leverage of technology, information, internet and mobile communications. The vision document urges for a rekindling of spirit, energy and enterprise, especially in the youth while recognising the role of government and other sectors to enable them through meaningful learning and vocational skills, coupled with good health and hygiene.
Its difficult to disagree with the Vision2020, in any manner. It points to the crying need for awakening across the country, a re-igniting of our desire to create enterprise, and to build a knowledge-nation respected by the world. It urges us to reduce our dependence and our proclivity to imitate others.
Perhaps, its time to be On Your Own - dream, create and do.
N.B. Please take some time out to read the Vision2020. (http://planningcommission.nic.in/reports/genrep/pl_vsn2020.pdf).
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