The Chinese Communist Party is
celebrating the centenary
of its foundation. The word ‘Communist’
stands out like a grotesque phantom because China is a capitalist empire today
and has nothing to do with communism. It has emerged as the only viable rival
to the United States of America as a global superpower. It has gone one step
too many ahead of Uncle Sam in oppressing large sections of people like in
Tibet and Hong Kong. In spite of all that, India can learn some lessons from
China.
The use of
science and technology for the maximum benefit of its people is the first
lesson that India should learn from China. Take just one example: the high-speed
railways. China started construction of high-speed railway only in 2007. In
about a decade it developed 37,900 km of high-speed rails, more than two-thirds
of the entire world’s share in that transport medium. The country also has
bullet trains that run at the speed of 600 km/hour.
Eradication
of poverty is another matter that deserves India’s attention. After 1978, 80
crore people were raised up from miserable poverty in China. By 2020, poverty was
eradicated totally. 30 lakh party workers were involved in the process of eliminating
poverty. India’s RSS can perhaps think of putting away their lathis and taking
up some real developmental works for sabka vikaas.
India can
learn a lot more. We are still obsessed with our millions of gods and their wellbeing.
We are ready to spend crores of rupees on constructing a temple while millions
of our people are grappling with wretched living conditions in the time of a
global pandemic. We are more interested in imposing our own food habits, dress
habits, conventions about who should love whom and hate whom, while our
counterparts in China are interested in exploring the outer spaces and the
heavenly bodies there. China keeps creating marvels like stunning bridges and
flyovers and tourist centres. India keeps lynching hapless people on streets,
rewriting textbooks, and driving a trident into the little breathing space between
religious communities.
I know this
sounds like some moral science lesson. So let me wind up. I am impelled to
offer one more lesson before I do scoot from this preaching. China is open to
changes, open to new lessons. It has dumped a lot of sacred conventions that
Maoism and Marxist-Leninism had put on hallowed pedestals. India can learn a
bit of that openness to changing reality. India should let go the ghosts of the
past. India should say a loud YES to the ever-shifting new reality. Rama and
Krishna had their days. Let them take rest now. We should focus on that little
child who walks down its slum lane in search of human dignity that may take the
shape of bread sometimes.
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteWhile there could be debate about 'total eradication of poverty', no doubt there have been immense strides made in China and overall your point is well made indeed! YAM xx
Even i don't accept Jinping's claim on poverty eradication. But in contrast to India, China is taking giant strides because their focus is on useful and helpful things.
DeleteYes, there are some things that India can learn from China.
ReplyDeleteA lot, in spite of the perversions of that country.
Delete