India's New PM:God has not Given up on India

05-21-2004, 11:51 AM

I don't usually have to time read your posts, but occasionally, I do.
I couldn't come to the party due to an unexpected event.

I think I met Amartya Sen at one point, when I was in the Harvard
Economics Department as an administrative assistant. I'm not very
involved in thinking about Indian politics, but this was a heartening
post.

Nandarani

----- Original Message -----
From: vrnparker <vrnparker@...>
Date: Friday, May 21, 2004 11:36 am
Subject: [world-vedic] India's New PM:God has not Given up on India

> "Asked about his vision for India, he responded optimistically, "I
> don't know if Indians have faith in God, but God still has some
> faith in India. While civilisations across the world are wiped out
> over a period, our Indian civilisation, which is over 5,000 years,
> has stood the test of Time and is still vibrant. This is what
> gives
> me hope that God has not yet given up on India."
>
> http://us.rediff.com/news/2004/may/22spec2.htm?
> headline='I've~to~give~something~back:'~Dr~Singh
>
> It was in 1999 that I had the opportunity to meet Dr Manmohan
> Singh
> in Delhi on two occasions. This happened during the course of my
> work as a journalist; I used to contribute to the Tamil weekly
> Kunkumam.
>
> Once, I did an exclusive interview with him.
>
> The other time, I trailed him during his campaign for the 1999
> general election. He lost, but his personality was so
> unforgettable
> that the result seemed insignificant -- at least, I thought so.
>
> During the interview, I got a glimpse into his way of life, his
> philosophy and his idea of governance.
>
> Asked about his vision for India, he responded optimistically, "I
> don't know if Indians have faith in God, but God still has some
> faith in India. While civilisations across the world are wiped out
> over a period, our Indian civilisation, which is over 5,000 years,
> has stood the test of Time and is still vibrant. This is what
> gives
> me hope that God has not yet given up on India."
>
> He said the dictum of Bhagvad Gita -- 'Do one's duty without the
> expectations of results' -- has been his guiding light.
>
> "In fact, all our Indian scriptures, including our Guru Granth
> Sahib
> [the holy book of the Sikhs], emphasises this philosophy," he
> explained.
>
> When I asked him which areas he would emphasise on if he were to
> prepare the Union Budget, he said, "What is essential today is to
> revive the people's confidence in themselves, in the country and
> in
> the government."
>
> And how did he plan to do that?
>
> "Undoubtedly, my first job would be to reduce inflation. It is the
> duty of the finance minister to ensure that inflation doesn't hurt
> the common man, even as he implements plans that focus on
> improving
> the economy. Some people argue that high inflation is the price we
> pay for a robust economy. I don't agree with this. It is important
> to bring down the inflation."
>
> It was Minoo Masani's book Our India that first sparked his
> interest
> in economics.
>
> His father wanted him to study medicine; in fact, Dr Singh had
> already joined a medical college. But he soon realised his forte
> was
> economics and made the switch.
>
> Dr Singh said he felt indebted to society. "Since most of my
> education was funded by some scholarship or the other, I feel I
> have
> to give something back to society. Although I have had several
> offers from abroad, I feel my place is in India. In general, life
> has given me everything that is good. I am contented with my life.
> There is no sense of want in my life now."
>
> Other snippets from the interview:
>
> Amartya Sen was his senior in Cambridge.
>
> Besides economics, his interests include reading (politics,
> history,
> biographies, etc) and classical music (M S Subbulakshmi tops his
> list of favourite musicians).
>
> He appreciates the simplicity of South Indians and enjoys South
> Indian food. "It is tasty and has varieties too," he said.
>
> During his campaign trail, he came across as your next-door
> neighbour.
>
> Party workers sang and danced as he moved from house to house in
> South Delhi, the constituency he was contesting from. He actually
> looked lost as, with folded hands, he moved with the aggressive
> crowd.
>
> When there was confusion among party workers about the route they
> were to take, or any other aspect of the campaigning, he stood
> aside
> silently and watched them sort it out among themselves.
>
> He was not overbearing nor did he throw his weight around. In
> fact,
> he absolutely lacked the airs and fancies of a politician!
>
> He cooperated completely with the party workers.
>
> When the crowd got beyond control, when they literally held his
> hands and took him to some other direction -- another house or a
> gurdwara -- he obliged with a smile and without making a fuss.
>
> He was a total greenhorn in electioneering, but the public didn't
> seem to mind that.
>
> "He is one sane man in today's rotten politics," said one
> bystander.
>
> Another extolled his honesty and simplicity.
>
> A shopkeeper remembered him as the person who revived India's
> economy.
>
> If he had a drawback, politically speaking that is, it is the lack
> of a mass base. But I think it is his sense of humility that keeps
> him back from projecting himself as a leader of the masses.
>
> I hope his performance will speak for him in the future and give
> him
> the mass base that he needs.
>
>
>
>
>
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