Barackface

Tuesday, March 03, 2015

Modi's 100 Smart Cities And Superpowerdom

English: Map of the British Indian Empire from Imperial Gazetteer of India (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Narendra Modi talked relentlessly of building 100 smart cities across India as he crisscrossed the country on the campaign trail. That is a great concept, and might be India's ticket to going back to being the leading country on the planet, like it once was. For most of human history India and China have been the two richest countries on earth.

India is not going anywhere unless it can grow up double digit rates for the next 30-40 years. That is the key thing. But economic growth is not enough. India's vast energy needs have to be met through innovations in clean energy. If you can't see the sky, does not matter that you have a lot of money in the bank.

But the only way India can become the leading country is if it takes its democracy to a whole new level. India has to celebrate diversity better than any other country. India has to celebrate free speech better than any other country. That is a precondition to India creating the trillion dollar industries of tomorrow.

Those 100 smart cities have to think along the lines of clean energy, organic farming, diversity and free speech. Those 100 smart cities have to become microcosms of the India of tomorrow.

Sunday, March 01, 2015

Land Acquisition: मोदी माँग रहे है तो दे दो

उतना trust तो earn किया है मोदी ने ------ मोदी माँग रहे है तो दे दो ----- सारे दुनिया में भारत का नाम रौशन किया। भारत को fastest growing economy on the planet बना दिया। बहुत बड़ा काम किया। अब कह रहे हैं double digit growth rate तक पहुँचने के लिए land acquisition चाहिए। चाहिए तो चाहिए, माँग रहे है तो दे दो।

Ayodhya: I Like The Idea Of Both Temple And Mosque

Apparently this is not a new idea. It was suggested during the time of Rajiv Gandhi before the demolition of the Babri Mosque, but was not entertained. Maybe enough water has flown down the Ganga and emotions have quietened down.

This is about India's global aspirations. This is about India wanting to be a global superpower. Forget weapons. This is about soft power. This is about diversity and democracy and diplomacy, three Ds as Modi might say.

India needs to send a message that Muslims and Hindus can live side by side, can co-exist, can thrive together. If Hindus and Muslims can not live happily together, India can kiss its global aspirations good bye.

This is not about history. This is about today. What do you want today?

If India can resolve this, it can hope to play a decisive role in Mideast peace, a lot of which also seems to be about ridiculous real estate.

My only suggestion is, that 100 meter wall, how about making it out of glass? Like in the Apple stores?

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