This blog explores the contemporary political and cultural trends from a distinct perspective
The Mess Created
Published on September 27, 2010 By Bahu Virupaksha In Current Events

It is often said that India and China are rivals both in terms of economic power and soft power. While India has shown an impressive growth rate of 8.2 % per annum, its political class is under the delusion that it can rival China in organizational ability and projection of image. If China can host the Olympics and make a spectacular spectacle before the wohle world, India can host the Commonweath Games and earn some brownie points. Unlike Chinma, India does not have a political system that can deliver any large term goals. The entire political system, particularly the Congress Party, is mired in crime and corruption and India unlike China is rightly termed a "soft power" one incapbale of bringing to conclusion any goal in a concerted and efficient manner.

The Olympic games in China were so well handled that nearly 3 months before the games were to begin all the venues and facilities were ready and the world was just awe struck at the majetic and impressive display of soft power the China put on. Now contrast this with India. The Indian way of doing things is to create a multiplicity of offices and agencies to do the same job and the power and responsibility is both diluted and this permits largescale fraud and kickbacks. Suresh Kalmadi a politician from the ruling Congress Party was put in charge of the Common Weath Games and a huge sum of money nearly 880 million US $ was put at his disposal. Unfortunately this man let his political masters down very badly and of course, he will not be punished because all his masters are in on the take.

The games village and othehjr veues have an unfihished look about them and they are certainly not of the standard expected of a country hoping to claim the 21st century as its own. Apart from corruption the absolute lack of any kind of class was evident the other day when one Bhanot who glories in the title Secretary General of the Comman Wealth Games gave a most banal press statement in which instead of showing remorse for the shoddy job doen he only justified it. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh cannot avoid taking the responsibility because the mess in th organisation of the CWG was known all along and he showed a deplorable lack of leadership and his Sports Minister was only busy strutting on the stage instead of ensuring the job was done.

The bulidings in which the atheletes would stay are in such a shabby state that many teams are now pulling out of the games, Austrlia, New Zealand and Canada have all expressed serious concern over the seculrity situation in New Delhi.

It would have been better if the Government of India had chosen some othe city as the venue for the games at least there would have been less political intervention from the Copngress Party. India is now shamed before the whole world and any talk of being a rival to great China is just that, cheap talk. India cannot compete with China, and should redefine its priorities.

 


Comments
on Sep 27, 2010

You're giving China too much credit. The local governments are corrupt and really don't want the equally corrupt Central Government to know of their dealings. They would either have to be large enough to "share" the spoils or be thrown under the bus to illustrate how the "corrupt" Central Government is trying to clean up "corruption".

The Central Government has little concern for matters than 1) don't involve money, or 2) don't show China in a bad light. Roads are constantly being paved or "repaired" because corrupt officials skim the top and use substandard materials. This goes under the radar because nobody at the very top understands quality control. They pay the money and get the finished product, which just happens to need repairs two years later, but that is far removed from Beijing, as long as intake is greater than expenditures.

Everything is smoke and mirrors, that includes the 2008 Olympics. The intention was to impress (though I have heard that some CG was used, not sure if it was true or not), in your case, and many others, it seems to have worked. The Chinese are very proud (rightfully) and don't respond to embarrassment well, especially from the outside of which they are very cautious of. They (IMO) have a huge self-confidence issue, and will go to great lengths to mask it. It is becoming less so in recent years, mainly due to the one child program. These children are spoiled to no end, with no siblings to compete with and still a generation of large groups of close relatives. I'm not sure if this will be good or bad, only time will tell. One thing is certain, the deeply rooted caring for the elderly parents will run into problems. It was much easier with large numbers of children. Now the single child will have to decide whether to take care of his or her parents or their spouses. Retirement homes are few and far between currently. The Chinese government doesn't waste a yuan on social programs, unless it is for the glory of China.

India still has it's large family base. One can see it when family travels, it looks like a small tour group. While I'm sure India suffers from some similar problems as China, envy shouldn't be one of them.

on Sep 27, 2010

I agree with Nitro - and will add another thought.

The world saw the Peking Duck swimming on the water.  It did not see the feet paddling.  You see the feet paddling in India.  Do not confuse the gliding duck with the feet.

If you were Chinese, this blog would never have been written.  They would not allow you to.  Be glad that while India does not strive to be a world super power, it is well on its way to becoming an economic one.  And while you see that Peking Duck gliding across the water, remember the 120km traffic jam outside Beijing because central planning has never worked.  And can't.  No one is god, and no people are god like.

on Sep 27, 2010

remember the 120km traffic jam outside Beijing because central planning has never worked. And can't. No one is god, and no people are god like.

That was something. On a related note: It just took my brother in law over 2 hours to visit my wife (who is back in China teaching) in the same city, and it's not even Beijing (Wuhan). It's a daily occurrence. They even have crazy rules like you can only cross the Yangtze River (on the Soviet build bridge) according to whether your license plate is even or odd that day. One can use the other Chinese built bridges if they want to drive far out of the way. India does have it's issues, as does the US and Europe, etc. Here's something India has got over China... they don't tick off the US nearly as much as China does. Of course that could all change if you sell us consumer products the cheapest and buy a huge portion of our debt.

on Sep 28, 2010

They even have crazy rules like you can only cross the Yangtze River (on the Soviet build bridge) according to whether your license plate is even or odd that day.

We have similar rules - on watering our lawns during droughts!

on Sep 28, 2010

We have similar rules - on watering our lawns during droughts!

Yes, but hopefully there isn't a drought every day of the year.

on Sep 28, 2010

Nitro Cruiser

We have similar rules - on watering our lawns during droughts!
Yes, but hopefully there isn't a drought every day of the year.

And the penalty is not a dunk in a river.

on Sep 29, 2010

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