India’s race against the dragon.
Hamish McRae reports from London that President G.W. Bush
of the U.S.A. starts his
visit to India on 1st March, which
will result in warming of relationships between the two of
the world’s greatest democracies.
It reminds one of the historic visit of President Richard
Nixon to China in 1972 following which, relations between
the two giants improved tremendously.
On the other hand, Presidential visits to India are rare
events. Till now only a handful of serving Presidents have
visited India. The visit is very important for it
recognizes India’s growing economic prospects. While China
continues to grow at the rate of about 9 percent,
environmental and social costs are going to retard the rate
of growth shortly. A shortage of working hands in China is
a distinct possibility in another decade because of the one
child norm being followed there strictly.
India too is expected to face such issues. But there is
still
time for India, may be a gap of a generation, by
which time those
issues will catch up. India being a
democratic country, the solution of such issues will never
be drastic. They can be solved through the policy of
consensus and public opinion in India.
The most important question is whether China or India will
dominate the world economy in the coming decades? The
answer is both the giants will surge ahead to take up the
reins unless of course a catastrophe occurs. Both are
evenly matched now. India being a democratic
country will
help drive home the point that
democracy does not
necessarily impede progress.
India’s
progress therefore will be more gratifying for the
champions of democracy.
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