Caught on Television: We have democracy, and you?
Indian Television Reporter(TV guy): Hello. Can you speak English.
A man on the street - somewhere in China (China guy): Yes, Some English.
TV guy: I am from India, visiting the country for a news report.
China guy: ok
TV guy: What do you think of India, as a neighbour.
China guy: good.
TV guy: There is democracy in India, but you do not enjoy that kind of a system here.
China guy: Hmmm... no not like that. {perhaps reluctant to speak about this topic}
TV guy: You have a different kind of administration here {continues to probe}
China guy: We have a different system, and it works.
TV guy: So, what do you think of the fact that Indians enjoy a democratic system, and you have a very different one here. {the final nail}
China guy: You have democracy, but you cannot even build a airport in your IT City...ughh... Bangalore i think. We have something which works for us.
TV guy: Thankyou. {that was it. got a dose of reality}
***
This is a rough transcript of this tv report caught on CNN-IBN. It demonstrates a China vs India approach to development very well, in simple words, spoken by a ordinary man on the street.
As Deng Xiaoping uttered his famous statement: "It does not matter if the cat is white or black. If it can catch a mouse, it is a good cat."
So, When will we get our act together? Not anytime soon with Gimmicks, Caste and Vote Bank Politics. Is anyone even planning for the future?
Can we even hope to conduct Olympic Games? Think about sending a man to the space? China is indeed doing all of these and much more.
Earlier Post: China's Growth - Time to Wake Up and Learn
More: China will be ready. Will India be?
posted by Apun Ka Desh @ 5:07 AM
15 comments
15 Comments:
Not sure about this one. China believes in a state ordered system - we can see the effect in good infrastructure. But the cons are incredible:
1. Babus decide what to build and where to spend money - and they are one of the most inefficient people to make such decisions. For example, the futuristic maglev train is in serious trouble
2. They have had an incredible amount of internal disturbances that were eventually broken by force, and these have kept on increasing year by year
3. The judicial system is a joke, but once it gets independent, the power of the communist party will get seriously eroded
4. The good point about the Indian system is because of a lot of discussion, you rarely end up with a sizeable chunk of peole who are vehemently dissatisfied
5. China's health system is barely able to care for the problems of pollution its unhindered development is causing. Right now, there are serious worries about the health level of athletes who will take part in the games.
6. For the Olympics, the Govt decided to cut a clean swath, they removed old neighborhoods without any issue, do you think that any city in India can be that dictatorial ? You cannot just uproot people without due process.
B'lore doesn't have an airport?
Well the thing is china might have progressed but the big question is how long can it sustain its growth? India on the other hand is an democracy and it takes time for a democracy to grow but when it develops fully then see. China might benefit in the short run because of its nearly dictatorial government it might not be able to sustain or might into various problems. Let India progress at its own pace...i know there are infinite barriers to it but time will overcome them all :)
Hi Buddy,
Well I should say you got very nice way to present the things which are much more concerned to us. Keep posting. China is doing well in terms of infrastructure I do agree with it. But can you see the difference? We are democratic states and they are communist. And bloody hell UPA is so much under pressure from CPI M that even if Mr.Singh wants to do some thing he cant. CPI M is major blocking problem in India's growth as far as I can see. YOU right there are problem with voting bank and corrupt politicians but we got major problem with this communist because they just can’t allow you to progress. China only started doing well in 1998 when communist change their policy as communist and move towards more socialist way.
One more thing, as you had added me I will receprocate with same. Thanks for addingnow i should go back on my blog and add you:)
Before blaming babus..let us talk about root cause of the problems here.
1. How many eduated people cast their vote in general elections in India?
2. Education- People must know whom to elect
3. Corruption- Bring strict rules
4. Media - Limit press freedom. Follow Singapore style. Indian media is worst media, if you pay money/bottles they will write as per your wish.
Hi Buddy,
Well I should say you got very nice way to present the things which are much more concerned to us. Keep posting. China is doing well in terms of infrastructure I do agree with it. But can you see the difference? We are democratic states and they are communist. And bloody hell UPA is so much under pressure from CPI M that even if Mr.Singh wants to do some thing he cant. CPI M is major blocking problem in India's growth as far as I can see. YOU right there are problem with voting bank and corrupt politicians but we got major problem with this communist because they just can’t allow you to progress. China only started doing well in 1998 when communist change their policy as communist and move towards more socialist way.
One more thing, as you had added me I will receprocate with same. Thanks for addingnow i should go back on my blog and add you:)
Hi Buddy,
Well I should say you got very nice way to present the things which are much more concerned to us. Keep posting. China is doing well in terms of infrastructure I do agree with it. But can you see the difference? We are democratic states and they are communist. And bloody hell UPA is so much under pressure from CPI M that even if Mr.Singh wants to do some thing he cant. CPI M is major blocking problem in India's growth as far as I can see. YOU right there are problem with voting bank and corrupt politicians but we got major problem with this communist because they just can’t allow you to progress. China only started doing well in 1998 when communist change their policy as communist and move towards more socialist way.
One more thing, as you had added me I will receprocate with same. Thanks for addingnow i should go back on my blog and add you:)
China's near dictatorial system works as far as infrastructure (an many such things) are concerned. The sad part is that it works because people dont have any rights.
Lets look at the process of building a dam or a road or a rail line. For any of these to take place, people need to be displaced. In China, the officials need to order eviction and people will move out (or be forcibly removed) and so we see faster development. But is the faster development worth is, especially from the point of view of the unfortunate few who got displaced?
Would you like to live in a country where you have a voice? Or in a country where you have to blindly obey the dictats?
Ashish > thanks for your inputs...my comments...
1. "Babu's decide what to build and where, and how to spend money".
They do so in India too. The difference being most of the money is simply siphoned off by the corrupt, and contracts awarded by nepotism, favorotism and what not.
2. "Internal Disturbances."
They have contained them well. We have internal disturbances created by Politicians who will go to any length to keep power. Punjab, North East problems were by most experts - created by govt. of the day. And then they got out of hand.
3. "Judicial System is a joke"
In India at the current rate, it is estimated that it would take 300 or so years to deal with the Pending Court Cases, assuming new ones are not filed. So, what kind of judicial system do we have?
4. "...you rarely end up with a sizeable chunk of peole who are vehemently dissatisfied"
Well, if one is dissatisfied, he can call a Bandh. So much for the law and order, and ways to express dissatisfaction.
5. "China's health system "
By ALL accounts China's health and education system is far better than Indias. And yes, they are likely to topple USA for the top spot in the forthcoming Olympics too.
6. "they removed old neighborhoods"
Agree - this is nasty way of doing things. But what better we got? We have politicians happily allowing Bangaldeshi migrant to settle in West Bengal for votes... so where are we headed?
Sharique>
Bangalore does have an airport. The airport referred here is the new one coming up - and guess what - the idea and need for this new airport was identified not now, but almost 20 years ago !!! It did not take off, because of constant bickering among Politicians about Urban vs Rural development.. just a political game.
After all aren't all forms of systems (democracy,communism, socialism, this-that) only meant to allow for development and peaceful existence?
We have lot of very nice theories in place - like reservations, anyone can contest elections etc.- but what have we got:
- total lack of meritrocracy. No nation in history has progressed where merit is not rewarded.
- goondas getting into Parliament. As per a recent news report in Outlook as many as 20% (one fifth!) of our revered MPs have criminal antecedents.
Sajith M> You have a good question in:
"Would you like to live in a country where you have a voice? Or in a country where you have to blindly obey the dictats? "
Agree.. we do want to live in a free society for sure. May be you and i enjoy this freedom in some fashion.
But, what does a poor man do with a freedom which deprives him of basic education, healthcare, employment and chance of a better life? Instead what is handed to him is a serie of gimmicks like : Garibi Hatao (aur mujhe jitao?), reservations in higher education (without primary education what will he do with higher education?), and corrupt inefficient and even dangerous healthcare (as per a report more than 50% of all injections used in india are fake).
Hi Buddy
hope you keeping well, just came to check any updates, will bounce back laters..
India has the advantage of democracy, vibrant stock market, good banking system and English vis-a-vis china. Benevolent dictatorship can be more effective than democracy and we may lose out there. Remains to be seen how long China can stay away from democracy.
The question is right - 'When will we get our act together?' But who will answer? A society under conflict can not think in a posiive manner.
The question is right - 'When will we get our act together?' But who will answer? A society under conflict can not think in a posiive manner.
The question is right - 'When will we get our act together?' But who will answer? A society under conflict can not think in a posiive manner.
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