After the G20 Summit, a noted journalist Sanjay Baru wrote that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has claimed credit for turning what was traditionally a meeting of G20 heads of government into a large-scale public festival. He said ; Mr Modi argues that the world now looks to India to assume a leadership role. However, a recent Pew Research Institute survey tells a more nuanced story. While 68% of Indians believe their country’s global standing is on the rise, in other G20 nations (including the United States), only about one-third share this sentiment. Close to half say they have not noticed any meaningful change in India’s global influence.

This discrepancy may stem from the fact that global influence is not determined by governments alone but also by the broader interplay of people, civil society institutions, and other non-state actors. Official propaganda tends to inflate a nation’s self-image but often does little to foster substantial influence in international affairs.

                                  A look at India’s responses to key global developments illustrates this point. When the United States decided to withdraw from Afghanistan, India was largely on the sidelines. Only after finding itself in a difficult position did it begin to engage with the Taliban to salvage its interests. In the Ukraine conflict, India’s stance has been similarly unclear. During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Ukraine, he was first taken to a war museum to witness the civilian toll of the conflict—an uncomfortable contrast to earlier images of Modi embracing President Putin, whose missiles had tragically claimed children’s lives. The same ambivalence is reflected in India’s cautious approach to the Gaza crisis, as well as its strained relationships with neighboring countries. While India once publicly advocated for isolating Pakistan, that same nation is now set to host the Champions Trophy.

Mr Bhanu Pratap Mehta, a contributing editor with Indian Express in his forthright article – WE SHOULD DEEP SEEK, aptly described India’s relevance today in global politics.

He says “

 " But the truth is that if you look at global politics right now without the blinkers of our propaganda, India is actually sliding into irrelevance. As an unserious country that is a victim of its own myth making. We are so much in the grip of feel-good anecdote that we cannot measure the scale of our own irrelevance.

Service exports are supposedly India’s success story but its just 4% of global trade of services. Recently a media report highlighting india’s achievement stated that FDI has gone up to 1 trillion dollars since 2000 but overall, India’s share in global fdi is barely 2.5 % and is declining. The supposed opportunity of attracting investments moving out of China has also not materialised in the size that India had anticipated and made a noise. India gets barely 1.5% of international tourists’ arrivals. The entertainment industry is barely 5% of world market and is surely not a soft power, export power -house. India is politically important, but if you read the history of 50s and and 60s dispassionately, you will find our relevance has not increased”.

Comparisons to India’s role in the 1950s and 1960s provide important historical context. Despite dire economic conditions, India was heard and respected on the global stage. It took a strong stand against apartheid in South Africa, supported the rights of Palestinians, and played a pivotal role as a neutral mediator during the Korean War—helping to resolve the critical prisoner-of-war issue that stood in the way of a ceasefire. India also led the Non-Aligned Movement, championing neutrality during the Cold War and advocating decolonization.

Although its military and economic power were limited, India nonetheless wielded significant moral authority and was recognized as a newly independent country working to help other nations achieve independence.

On this auspicious occasion ; the 75th year of independence, we need to look at ourselves objectively as to how successful we have been as a society , as a nation and ask ourselves - have we been able to fulfill the dreams that our forefathers had envisioned on the eve of independence.

When we look around and compare ourselves with nations that got freedom along with us, we find that few of them have gone ahead but many of them are still struggling – politically, economically and socially, they have still not come to terms with the situation.

Snake Charmers to 3 Trillion Economy; A Remarkable Journey of 75 years

We were then, in 1947, known in the world as a country of snake charmers. The Government in 1947, had inherited a poor, deprived, and a largely illiterate India (almost 88% were illiterate) from Britishers. It hardly had any industry, a scarce road network and public transport system, inadequate medical infrastructure, millions of refugees and a society which had just witnessed genocide, for instance ;

We could then produce barely 1300 MW electricity, that could lit barely 9 lac homes and now we have 3,83 000MW that lits almost whole country. We then had 2 Steel plants and now we have 1150 plants that have made India the world’s second largest steel producer.

Now we have a huge industrial base, we have democratic institutions in place which ensure that governance does take place, we have made tremendous accomplishment in the space arena and in technology as well. Our educational institutions have produced some of the finest young men who are today occupying the top positions at World bank, IMF , and are CEOs of top ranking fortune 500 companies ; Gita Gopinath, Sundar Pichai, Satya Nadela, Leena Nair, Indira Nooyi, Arvind Krishna, Sanjay Mehrotra and many more.

We have also been at the forefront in the field of art and cinema too and our artistes have earned international fame and not to leave sports both our men and women are now delivering results and have earned laurels at the international level.

So, one can state, with confidence, that we have grown slowly but surely. Its been a remarkable journey and we must congratulate ourselves for these achievements because they did not come easily. We faced external invasions, numerous separatist movements, strikes by trade unions, famines and food shortages, but we kept moving relentlessly and kept India’s unity and integrity intact.

This is an ample proof that our forefathers laid a strong foundation and the generations to come have benefited from that. Often it is said; when one starts a new enterprise, it’s the future generations who enjoy its fruits.

Lets not take Freedom for Granted.

Notwithstanding the above, let’s not forget on this auspicious occasion, what Ronald Reagan had said;

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. The Freedom is not passed to our children in the bloodstream. It has to be fought for, protected, and handed on for them “.

This implies that Freedom, should not be taken for granted and every generation has to work to preserve that freedom and pass it on to the next generation to do the same.

In that sense are we doing enough?.

Read more ...

I had mentioned in my article a year ago during the mayhem caused by second wave that this pandemic is not going to go away without teaching the mankind the lessons that it ought to have learnt otherwise. Perhaps we all learn only when faced with a crisis. Now, many are acknowledging that it will have far reaching ramifications as perhaps the WWII had.

The covid menace has although receded from many parts of the world but the world is now facing two major crises situation; one the climate change. Two. The Economic crisis caused by Covid and the Russia-Ukraine war.

The impact of climate change has although nothing to do with Covid as it was something everyone was expecting sooner or later, but off course it’s quite possible that virus attacks may be the outcome of the climate change and we may have to face more such attacks. As the duration of high temperatures increase and the rainfall in many areas becoming scanty there will surely be an impact on food security, availability of water and so on which may result in migrations, health hazards , law and order problems and may be water wars ; internal as well as external , as described by Brahma Chellany in his Book titled - Water ; Asia's New Battle Ground.

All the political and business leaders gathering at Davos for the WORLD ECONONMIC FORUM meet are voicing similar concerns as their economies have come under repeated shocks ; one. Because of the pandemic that resulted into repeated lock downs and then the Ukraine –Russia war which disrupted the supply of grains and of oil thereby increasing the inflation and pushing up the cost of living. The world leaders are now talking about the Global recession.

When we examine these crises in detail we would realise that these were our own creations.

Consumerism driven growth model and our irresponsible behavior has led us all to this path.

Just to give an example,

Read more ...

By Mr Pankaj Bhatnagar

Recently an article in Times of India about IIT (M) Stüdy on Cauvery river Pollution provoked me to write this Article on water safety. IIT (M) has done a study for two years and collected samples from 22 spots along the upstream and downstream of Cauvery, and They found 11 pharmaceutically Active compounds (PhAc) and Heavy Metals Like zinc, manganese, lead Chromium, Nickel , copper, aluminium, mercury, arsenic and cadmium.

All above PhAc and heavy Metals are highly harmful and toxic for People, as well as for aquatic animals So what are we doing? What Government is doing? Are we drinking safe Water? What about aquatic population in these rivers?

There are many more questions come to our mind. The government has established Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and The water (Prevention and control of pollution) act was enacted in 1974 for the prevention

and control of water pollution and for maintaining or restoring of whole someness water in the country. This act was amended twice in 1988 and 2003. The CPCB in 2018 identified 351 polluted rivers in India. The Maharashtra has the highest number of Polluted river stretches (53), Assam (44), M.P. (22) Kerala (21) Gujrat (20) Odisha (19) and W.B & Karnataka (17) each. So it clearly shows that rising pollution of after 20 major river basins and is major Concern of govt. & population.

It is a major concern because37% of Agriculture land inIndiais irrigated by these rivers , apart From that several wildlife sanctuaries are located on the banks of These rivers The rivers of India provideLivelihood of millions of people’s And source of drinking water toMany big & small cities and its Population. Because of the importance of rivers in India , It isNecessary for us to knowthe reasons of their pollution and its Conséquences

There are several causes of Pollution but some most common Causes across the country are as Follows –

1. Chemical Effluents or Industrial waste.
2. Garbage dumping
3. Municipal sewage
4. Cremation & last rites

CPCB assessed the total volume of municipal waste water generation in the country at about 61,948 MLD as against the installed sewage treatment capacity of 23,277 MLD leaving a wide gap of more than 38,671 MLD. Similar observations were made by WHO in its reports on water pollution.

These major sources of Pollution mostly lead to following consequences –

1~Health & diseases

The carcinogenic compounds Like heavy, metals leads to Many Health related issues and some times Turn into severe health issues Like cancer, TB, Skin allergies and Digestive system problems.

2~ Impact on aquatic and landAnimals

These polluted rivers poses A big threat to aquatic animals Like fish, turtles etc and Also on land animals as many Wildlife Sanctuaries are situated On the banks of many Rivers.

3~ Impact on agriculture and land

The polluted water is used for Irrigation purpose and it’shazardous chemicals pollutes the agriculture produce which in turn againHave impact on human health. It has slow but grave impact on soil condition and its fertility.

Conclusion.

The rivers and Water bodies pollution is major Area of concern, though government Has taken many Decisions to reduce the Pollution to rivers but its high time

For State govt, and for we people To create awareness among citizens of India to change the rituals And habits which in turn pollute Our rivers, lakes and ponds.

Author ; Mr Pankaj Bhatnagar has an enormous experience behind him, having spent almost 40 years in the  Food and Agriculture Industry. He has served the industry for such a long period that he is well aware of its nitty gritties and the problems/challenges that Indian agriculture and the farmers face, consequently he is able to provide a Holistic view of the various aspects that have an impact on Indian agriculture and Food industry.

DISCLAIMER

Views expressed above are the author's own