China India Story - Institution Vs Individuals

China and India are two distinct lands. Because of the border proximity, it is always felt comfortable of comparison. The economists have already given the impetus to dig into these contradictions. The visit of Chinese President has brought this comparisons and discussion to the fore. But in my opinion, there is a vast basic difference. China works on Institutional basis while India as individual approaches.

China always gives different view from what it does. One side, they have accepted USA as a single power, on other when Chinese President is in India, gives different impression. Chinese President HU in a keynote address at Vigyan Bhawan, stressed on the need for a more equitable and fairer political and economic order.

More equitable and fairer both are ambiguous words for Chinese. Till the time they accept democracy, how can they talk and preach about fairer political order. Similarly equitable is again not justified. Chinese have opened the market. They are ready to unlearn their whole history to learn the modern life style of Americans, they preach others differently.

“We should promote multi-polarity in the world and democracy in international relations and work to make the economic order fairer,” said Mr Hu. Mr President must ensure democracy and freedom to Chinese. When President goes to USA and meets Bill Gates, talks about Windows and English, he must maintain the integrity with his talk and nation policies.

He emphasized that both China and India face “rare opportunities in a world moving towards multi-polarity and growing economic globalization.” China has accepted all the preconditions of USA to get nuclear deal through. While in the same situation, China’s President can not divert Indian attention and preach multi-polarity. It is not India business but let it be Chinese one if they wish to.

China must learn to differentiate between enemy and friend. China is committing the same mistake what USA committed to arm Muslims to combat Russia long back. Today, China can take a lesson or two from history before they unlearn their own historical events. Chinese President HU does the mistake to weigh Pakistan on the similar yardstick like India.

“China does not seek any selfish gains in South Asia and stands ready to play a constructive role in promoting peace and development in the subcontinent,” Hu said. The way China is learning English and unlearning Chinese, I do not find long when Chinese will speak English, chat English and unlearn Chinese. The sources of wisdom lies in English and Chinese understand this very well. In the pretext of Olympics, China is ensuring that many Chinese get used to English. Call centers, BPOs and other outsourcing jobs will ensure extinction of Chinese in few decades time.

When the Chinese visualize things they would like to learn from India, most notably in recent years in software, they are quick to send delegation after delegation to Nasscom’s doors to figure it out. China has Institutional support for this purpose. India has not even individual. All high level executives here are busy to save their chair or finish their tenure. India hardly reciprocates with any alacrity. This is the biggest loss to India and Indians.

Narayana Murthy of Infosys has felt the need of assimilation of Chinese for their growth. Infosys has trained around 200 Chinese last year and has planned to train many more in the days to come. Murthy may be moving with passions to win the order from Chinese establishments, but India as a nation is not the responsibility of anyone. Most of the people just like to take credit for the good things and runaway from negatives.

Indian Intelligentsia has prominently spread wrong fears. The evaluations have been not worth mentioning. Just few years back, there was so much writing about the fear of Chinese products. But what happened at last. All the markets in the country is flooded with Chinese products and even crackers and colours of Chinese make are coming to India, but Indian market is able to accommodate properly. Chinese are equally struggling to survive in the open and competitive market.

China works on Institutional basis, while Indian growth is mostly individual. If Nooyi becomes CEO, our dailies cover as big Indian achievements. If L N Mittal buy Arcelor, it is Indian victory. How far this individual growth or success be transferred to nation growth? Government must streamline its act. RA Mashelkar briefed Prime Minister about the abysmal state of scientific and research work in India. India is still busy with reservation and sealing. Indian intelligentsia is unable to come out of the vicious circle. Government rests with glory of past.

There is absolutely no point comparing Chinese growth with India. Chinese growth is voluminous. Recently, all the news papers are covering extensively about the Chinese growth. The data are available. Chinese are way ahead.

Chinese will falter only if something drastically wrong happens. There is a possibility of such occurrences in near future in the changed language and networking world. When Nepalese can turn down the governance, there is no reason in my mind, Chinese will not do it. China may face such problem anytime. But then these are Chinese problems and India has nothing to dream about.

There is no point even talking about Chinese growth. India has to deal firmly with its own problems. India has to set its own path. Opportunities are available and they have to be grabbed. India must work on Institutional basis. All the government babus should de-link glory with growth. They should get themselves away from glory to understand the path of growth.