India’s continuing struggle to become a superpower
Saurav Sen, Special Correspondent
December 19, 2004

India is poised for a massive upturn in economic and social growth. It is also poised for becoming a very advanced technology driven super power in a few years. But the process to achieve the superpower status is not easy especially when the club is made of some old five good people who will try to protect the club from new memberships. 

India faces the same glass-ceiling dilemma that many immigrants face when they migrate to another country. For example, the whole world is eager to have India as a hub for outsourced work so that services can be performed for a little price but when it comes to recognizing India as a legitimate major power, it is just not there.

India is growing fast especially in economic strength.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram said on Friday it was possible to raise average economic growth to 7-8 per cent in the next 12 years and the country was set to become an economic superpower. Analysts and research houses expect the economy to grow between 5.5-6.5 per cent in the current financial year ending March 2005, slower than the earlier estimate of 7.0-8.0 per cent due to erratic monsoon rains and high oil prices. "It is possible to raise GDP growth rates to 7-8 per cent in the next 10-12 years," Chidambaram told a business conference. Chidambaram also said that he did not expect inflation to go below seven per cent if global crude oil prices remained high. "If oil prices are 150-180 per cent higher than last year then how do you expect inflation to come below 7 per cent?" Chidambaram told reporters. "We will take more steps as and when necessary," he said, when asked whether the government would take more steps to curb inflation, which surged to 7.38 per cent in the week to Oct 23. 

But will India really become a super power one day?

That depends on how India projects herself in coming years. The way India projects herself; it is just not possible to become a super power right now. The most important thing for India right now should be to refuse any foreign aid from any country. The next step should be to have a military based on high technology that is capable to dominate the Middle East, South Asia and Southeast Asia. India has to reach out in these regions to help other countries when they are stuck with calamities or civil war. The range also must expand to the whole of Africa and Central/South America. 

India got to be able to build solid good relationship with China, Russia and above all Russia. India must start opposing Western powers and as a matter of fact all powers if India does not like go along with a proposal or resolution.

India must not give away an inch of Kashmir or any territory with any neighboring country.

India must accelerate the space exploration program. Space is a very prestigious frontier like nuclear technology. India must go to Mars soon – real soon with an unmanned mission. India must venture out in the space.

India must start building indigenous vehicles and if possible civilian aircrafts soon. Indian private sector is less capable of scientific innovations. Indian business communities are traders fro thousands of year with an outlook to make quick money and little appreciation for intellectual capability. India has done enough experimentation with mixed economy. It is time to follow the Chinese model and make things happen that will boost the image of the country. Let the private sector provide secondary goods and services – all they will able to do is to take advantage of low Rupee value compared to dollar.

It is time for India to come out and say to the world – I am strong in number of people, economic strength and military strength with indigenous high-tech infrastructure.
And then only the five old good boys will open their eyes and say welcome – you are really unstoppable.