A Super Power in Making: India

Well, I always get surprised to read the news of India becoming a superpower, though I cannot deny the exceptional growth rate of India in last few years, India might be progressing , but possibility of it becoming a Super power is highly unlikely amidst prevailing conditions. Though I must be one of the happiest men to see India Emerging as a World power but I am not very optimistic of seeing it as one in my lifetime. I do not get shocks now to see the serial blasts which rocked Mumbai again today. As I know the flawed system which we have today cannot guarantee safety by any means! I was merely 11 years old when Mumbai was rocked by serial blasts in the year 1993 and after that it has been occurring in almost every big and small town so often as if it is a necessary part of Indian lives similar to Festivals like Diwali and holi . Isn’t it a question mark on capability of Intelligence and security? There was a terrorist attack in America on 11^th of September 2001 and Americans are fortunate enough not to have again seen such aghast attacks till today. It is not only the fortune of America rather it’s their  capability , it’s their  hard work which has resulted in such a secure environment all over United states, this is the sign of  a super power. India doesn’t get a one in scale of ten while America comfortably can claim for a ten while we want to measure the security and intelligence capability.

The problem isn’t the lack of intelligence; it is neither the lack of capability. The whole system is flawed. You can easily drive on Indian roads without having a permit to drive, you can drive an unregistered vehicle paying few bucks to authority, and can we expect a secure society in these conditions?? If a traffic constable on a busy road let you go even if you do not possess a driving license after taking some money, the accumulated amount for the day will be shared through the hierarchy and the system runs unopposed in a smooth manner. If you go to a police station to lodge a complaint, it is almost certain that you would be asked to give some bribe, I am writing this with my own experience. And I will not blame only the police , the guy who asks money for registering an FIR might have got that Job after paying several thousands to some higher authority. Hence he is liable to recover his investment. The chain doesn’t stop here. It goes up and up and upto the highest possible authority by some means. India is a country where a murder convict can go out on parole and party in night clubs, it is a country where dreaded criminals with political patronage run gangs from inside the cell.

The list is long, if you go to a government owned bank to make a simple demand draft, you cannot have it done unless you pay few bucks to the authority there. We are also responsible for nurturing such culture as we tend to get our works done as quickly as possible no matter for that if norms have to be flaunted. The system has become so outdated that the smooth passage of banned materials like explosives, drugs throughout the country is as smooth as urinating at the side of a busy road. If you have money, you can do the craziest things which rule book doesn’t allow otherwise. Of course the rule would be very stringent if you are a commoner and if you do not possess money to bribe the authority.

I remember an incident which occurred recently at IGI airport, New Delhi, one of my friends was coming from Nepal and showed his passport as a proof of identity. He was detained there for more than hour only because the surname of his and his father was not the same. I agree with the precautions taken at the airports but I do not understand how people like David Headely can smoothly move from one place to other and a simple University student can be detained without any suspected activities?   

India is a country with more than a billion people, there are thousands of incidents happening unreported and unnoticed every day , there can be a thousands of scams running which siphons millions of rupees of common people , there can be a certain  Koli  killing innocent children and authority doesn’t smell a rat. There are companies which lure young talents in name of providing secure jobs and making them work as bounded laborers, there are organizations which fake people with false promises of providing jobs and degree and make them highly dependent to fulfill their vested interests . But the authority is adamant to take notice of such immoral activities as money is spilled everywhere to get all possible and impossible works done.

One of The most prestigious institutions, the CBI has become merely a shield for the central government , probably a bargaining plot so as to remain in power, are we safe then? If any incident happens, suddenly a hue and cry gets vocal, the media starts covering as breaking news and a CBI enquiry is demanded and after few days people forget everything and life moves on. I feel entire country’s media is busy projecting the prince of Congress party, I feel if they get a chance, they will try to cover everything he does, may be  his breakfast, his lunch, his dinner or even his  nature's call.

Media has got to show every bit of Sas aur bahu, they would also be interested to cover the marriage and Honeymoon of mahendra Singh Dhoni as all these covering might up their TRP but they will never be concentrating on the basic challenges India faces as a nation. Coming to the Mumbai blast again , media headlines will keep flashing about the deads and injured, about few lacs compensation given to the victims and will forget it after few days. Again people will start living their normal life, this has become a normal routine, can we expect India becoming a Super power with so many challenges to address and we lacking any answer?