Of Ohio State, Columbus and Chennai

I’m living a countdown. With every night I come one day closer to leaving for college. The college isn’t a hundred or even thousand miles away, but ten thousand; a different country. Right now the full enormity hasn’t sunk in. It’s exciting, fun even with the shopping and all, but its also a bit confusing. I don’t have many qualms about traveling or moving on. I have changed more schools than most people change cell phones during their entire lives. I’m a Hindu but I love chili (ground beef) just as any Texan or bacon as any English. I guess my problem comes more from the fear or uncertainty after leaving the country than anything else.

This time next month I’ll be in my dorm at Ohio State. I would have met more than a hundred new people. The prospects exciting but there are so many nuances that keep on bothering me. I’ll be taking an AT&T connection with a hi-fi LG Smart-phone, which apparently won’t have wireless. To get a wireless in the US I need to take a separate data plan, despite the fact that I can use the free wireless network on campus. Another thing is the way prices keep changing from one day to another; they just won’t keep still!
The good things are well obvious. Cheap food at good ol’ MacDonald’s and excellent infrastructure (high speed internet, transport the works). The people are obviously the biggest cause of worry. What are mid western Americans like? The internet tells me that they have the best of both east and west coasters but seeing is believing, right?

Finally there is the fear of a patriot that my feelings towards this country might change. I am a modernist and I favor Globalism over nationalism and yet as a person there can be but one home. India has lots to grow, a long way to go and lot of work to get there. I want to be a part of this journey, granted as I am a privileged position by birth. Maybe the beginning of a strong overture to globalism will be amongst co operation between nations like the United States and India. The research, innovation in the states can help the poor of India. India with its technical skill, large market and innovation to serve the masses might be a valuable target for the US industries. To close at the last point, about innovation to serve the masses, it always has been India’s challenge to produce at high quantity and low cost. America can derive tremendous benefit should it chose to work with India on this.
As for me (includes other people who bother reading more than text books), I wonder if I can be the middle man. An Indian, I will be educated in the west to become a global human being. I become global not through the degree at Ohio state but by remembering all that I have seen and heard here (India) and all that I will learn there. I know the problems of the world, I have the know how to fix them. Let’s work!

Rulers of India and China.

A democracy is not ruled by the people. It is ruled by a Prime Minister or the strongest member of the ruling party. This definition might be expanded to include a few other senior and powerful members of government. A communist country is not ruled by the premier (North Korea does not count). It is ruled by a council consisting of the premier and other top brass of the party. India and China have very similar forms of government.
Think of it again, see the scenes at the Lok sabha(Lower House of India) when a bill is being passed; and you realize that it isn’t always true. The fact that the incumbent party in power does not always get its way, at least easily, is the only major difference between the system in India and China. Why then, is there a difference in what our government can deliver and theirs? Why a difference that has led us from being close competitors to underachievers in economy and international influence. Why is it that by 2073, we would be the third largest economy, and not the first like the Chinese?

There are many reasons and I’ll take one. To me the cause of the problem lies in the unwillingness of people to consider a career in politics. I could wager that no one from my graduating class or from the ones that were before or after me ever desired to really become a politician. A career in politics is something that is seen in a very poor light in India. Then too very few youth choose to become politicians. Those who do tend to come from an exclusive and not necessarily bright, class of people. The concept of dynastic succession is also very strong particularly in the Congress party. With so little fresh talent seeping in it is no surprise why we lag behind the Chinese in government delivery.

For all its ills the Communist party in China have got some things right. To control dissent, they have a very active system of recruiting new members for the communist party. This they do by establishing two feeder services. One exists in the cities. They recruit the crème de la crème of society. The middle class is involved but generally does not get too active in politics. The other feeder service exists in the rural hinterland of China. From here the brighter part of the population is taken in to get an education in Shanghai or Beijing. These people who understand the situation of the majority of Chinese people join their compatriots who represent the majority of the Chinese economy. The Party takes measures to ensure at least a handful of these chosen few get some exposure to the Council or domestic/ foreign politics.

It struck me as amazing when I realize that despite its communist status, the Chinese government takes a more pro active step to induct newer and quality members. There are incentives too, how else do you get a bunch of bright people to dedicate their lives to service. The biggest feature that makes the Communist party a better employer than those in India is its brand. For while corruption is rampant in the country, there is a great deal of prestige that surrounds the higher echelon of leaders. As long as the government provides a way to fast track the young up that high, the talent pool is secure. As the economy soars and the Chinese people see their nation re assert its age old position of dominance; the trust, faith and pride they have on those people in the Great Hall grows ever larger. More people flock to be a part of the venture and he cycle begins anew.