Prof A N Sadhu
India has come to assume a very important place in the new world order. The world has witnessed quite a few outstanding changes beginning 1990’s. The disintegration of the Soviet Union, the setting up of WTO, the process of globalisation and the rise of some developing countries as economic and political powers on the worldscape, have significantly contributed to the emergence of a new global order, wherein new relationships have been established among the nations across the globe. India has undoubtedly created a niche in the emerging international arrangements both on economic as well as political front.
The Command model as an alternative to capitalist model did not last for more than 70 years and as a result, the global international equations of the bipolar world came under stress. The Unipolar World demanded different responses from the world nations. Why did Bipolar world not last for too long, is a lengthy debate and may not be discussed as part of this writeup but what is important to note is that Unipolar world is not as strong now as it was before the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The world scenario has changed after the world war second and in a greater measure since 1990. The G-15, The BRICS, The European Union and many other developments at the global scale brought about new economic and political balances to the fore. The emergence of China and India in Asia, contributed significantly to the changing world order.
Having realised that public sector did not deliver as expected, the winds of change had started blowing in 1980’s itself, but because of the political instability after 1984 the country’s efforts towards building a new economic domain received a serious setback. However, with Dr. Manmohan Singh assuming the charge of Finance Ministry in PV Narsimha Rao Government in early 1990’s the bold decision of breaking from the economic policy followed from 1951 and devising a New Economic Policy, yielded quick results and a new era of economic and political stability began. The country became a participant in the New Global Regime of globalisation, privatisation and liberalisation. The country did not look back and assertively carved out a respectable place for itself in the emerging global order. With occasional setbacks due to natural vagaries, the country maintained a smooth run on economic front. The coalition governments worked relatively with better understanding and accommodation and political stability did not suffer any major setback. The last seven years appreciably contributed towards building a better image in the world countries. There may be different views on methodology adopted but the result is undisputed. No country of the world can take India for granted particularly because of its role played in international bodies.
The country maintained a high economic growth rate since 2008, although it did not succeed in increasing the investment in industry and thus realised only a marginal increase in employment as also a limited success in keeping the inflation under control. From 2012, because of volatility in global markets, the country could not insulate itself from adverse effects. The new regime since 2014, can also not claim success on this front. The demonetisation, although launched with nobler intentions, did neither yield the desired results nor did it help in stalling the squeeze of small businesses and enterprises, which mostly were financed by free flow of cash in the economy. GST did come close to Government expectations in terms of revenue realisation but not without hiccups and it also did not succeed in integrating the national market for political reasons. Nevertheless the economy did move forward till last year when it received a severe drubbing because of the pandemic. It has definitely operated very harsh on common man because of price rise, unemployment and severe beating to small and marginal enterprises, although it did not dent the top business houses. The government did give reprieve to poor sections of the population but middle class remained under pressure. However on international comparison, the country managed the pandemic more efficiently and with the new budgetary provisions efforts are on foot to infuse oxygen in the economy for higher growth in the years ahead.
India is going to receive greater recognition once it joins the security council and makes its contributions in the forthcoming international meets on climate change, trade and financial relations and on peace initiatives which are high on international agenda. In fact our country has almost achieved the status of peace champion because of its persistent efforts to sensitise the global powers towards the need of stalling the expansion of radicalism as also joining the hands to check expansionist policies of some countries of the world. The country has very convincingly and successfully handled its border issues with the neighbouring countries sending a message, loud and clear, that the nation is capable of defending its borders against all odds. The defence systems have been comprehensively strengthened and technologically most advanced equipments have been procured to blunt any advances against our borders. The army and other paramilitary forces have been reinforced with the up to date mechanisms to combat any attempts aimed at violating our borders. The country has very competently handled the border disputes along LAC both militarily and diplomatically.
Internal stability is of utmost importance. The elements, both internal and external, inimical to national interests, are always at work and prowl on any opportunity to fish into the troubled waters. The ongoing farmers protest is a case under reference where some such elements did try to let their evil designs work towards creating internal strife in the country. The two immediate neighbours along with some other alien agencies do contrive to organise and intensify internal conflicts to weaken India’s emergence as a strong economic and political power internationally. The propaganda of intolerance of majoritarianism is ripe in the hostile countries to carry out an international campaign against the country. That the democracy in the country, on one hand and the secularism, on the other, are being diluted, is seriously debated in these countries. The political pandits, both internal and external, can analyse it with their expertise and let it be left to them. However the internal peace and harmony is very essential because it makes a significant impact on how the people elsewhere assess us and accept us. For a vibrant democracy it is of utmost importance that there is a strong opposition at different legislative levels and they are given due space in the policy debates of the country. That there are irresponsible people, anti-national elements supposedly on foreign payrolls and people from other ideologies, may not be disputed but everyone supporting a protest cannot be taken as belonging to these groups. Therefore brandishing the protestors as “Andolan Jeevis” is not warranted. Every critic of the Government is not anti-national. Healthy criticism contributes to the deepening of democratic processes and should be welcome. Good relationships with neighbouring countries is equally important.
The interference in our internal matters cannot be tolerated but the reasons for provocation of some world leaders and thinkers has to be taken note of and the recognised “Budhi Jeevis” should create the awareness around the globe that India is neither diluting its democracy nor the secularism. With the change in American Presidency, some fallout on Indo-American relations cannot be ignored. Some simmering among a few groups of intellectuals and political leaders do point towards their critical appraisal of Indian political thinking. Some intellectual investment is required to correct these distortions. The economic pressures in the world countries are unabated and our country has to be cautious to build safeguards against the same. The Union Budget presented recently, is a growth oriented budget and it should bring back the economy on rails and ensure sustainability of high growth rate so that Fiscal deficit comes down to manageable levels. The huge investment in infrastructure buildup should give spurt to industrial activity and increase the employment opportunities. The management of the pandemic has won India a good appraisal for the nation’s capability to fight such crises very competently and efficiently.
In the new world order great emphasis is placed on advanced technology .India fits in well in this regard. The country is very strategically placed in production of defence equipment, software revolution and space research. The new education policy is a timely reform in modelling our education system to cater to the needs of fast growing economy. These innovative initiatives will place the country in a comparable frame with the developed countries of the world. However, no government or its institutions should become victims of “self-righteous” syndrome. Change is a continuous process.
The United States of America, Russia and also the European countries will continue to play a dominant role in the New World Order but they cannot keep India away either on political or economic international networking. India will play an important role in the emerging world both on politico-economic front as also on technological front. The present political leadership has successfully attracted the world attention towards inherent strengths of Indian cultural heritage as also intellectual capability of the country’s youth. India will walk shoulder to shoulder with the developed countries in the new global regime. In fact one should be looking forward to a multipolar world of which India will be a dominant economic and political partner.
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