Triumphs and turmoil of 2015

On this chilly and foggy dawn of New Year we look back at the year gone by and search for milestones that we crossed and destinations that we missed. In The high light of 2015 was emergence of India and Modi as front runner in the race of development. Narendra Modi flew the flag of the country high to travel to all right destinations in the world and establish the country as investment friendly committed to ideals of freedom and equality and responsible democracy of the world. His championing the national cause with connectivity to the world brotherhood and peace won the hearts of world leaders so much that Barack Obama went to the extent of publically acknowledging his stature and friendship. Time magazine announced him to be one of the top ten leaders and twitter found him the most searched leader of the world.

Diplomatic attainment of last year included our choice of establishing close relations with the world’s largest power United States of America and virtually creating a block of Japan, South Korea and US to develop a shield against China. He has been able to create world opinion against terrorism and isolated Pakistan. Still he managed to keep Russia on his side by reassuring them of friendship. The policy followed by Modi is dynamic foreign reach rather than passive gentlemanliness followed earlier by Manmohan Singh who was hardly noticed abroad. But Modi touched all front from Indian Diaspora to corporate world and international concern on climate change. His successful first visit to US connected him to all and even he addressed UN twice. It is credit to any leader that India got recognition of its ancient health aids like Yoga when UN declared it as international day and most of the countries of world followed it.

From day one when he invited all SARC nations , tried to develop good neighborly relations with all neighbors. Later he carried forward his mission with historic Bangladesh border accord and scour to human suffering by helping Nepal in times of crisis of earth quack. Although later due to Medhavi issue there are misgivings of recent origin but in times to come he is bound to heal the irritants. The biggest problem remains Pakistan.

Recent dive of Modi to Lahore to meet Nawaz Shreef on social occasion raised the hopes of moribund relations with Pakistan due to its inaction in containing terror forces. Nevertheless for world to appreciate India’s peace loving policy Modi made this unscheduled stop over in his risky sojourn in Kabul and Pakistan. It seemed things might turn to better the relations and solve long pending issues between two nations. But as it happened earlier too the terror outfits in Pakistan did not want to lose their élan and roaring business by abandoning the path of violence. Soon Pathankot became a flash point and the attack by handful of professionally trained and heavily armed terrorists led to the lot of bloodshed. The attempt did not succeed in their objective of causing damage to the air base and the fighter MIGS but they succeeded in scuttling the dialogue and consequent repercussions.

On economic front in spite of four droughts the growth rate remained upward when the world was facing depression and ten times increase in FDI as well as measures taken to curb leakages helped the economy. Biggest saving was by opening the mining sector and re-auctioning the telecom spectrum that has become virtually scams in the past. World rating on ease to do business in India went up by many notches and investment friendly message was transmitted to the business. Make in India and skill India projects are going to make difference to the corporate world and economy. Major economic and diplomatic success in securing cheap fuel from Qatar will boost the economy of the country.

The turmoil of the year  related to the functioning of legislation in Parliament where in spite of absolute majority in Lok Sabha the lack of it in upper house of Parliament held up laws that are going to boost the economy and lot of common man. Another major area of operation that remained slow was the speed of taking action against the black money. Modi also failed in reigning in bureaucracy and impediments in administrative red tape significantly. But no one except him can ensure meritocracy and efficiency that needs lot toning up. Modi must appreciate that Nations are not built by promoting the party people to various positions of power but to attract the best talent to man such posts. Half of his problems can be solved if he has such meritorious people at right jobs instead of stuffing the government with party or ideologically rooted people only. That is why people who changed the nation like Napoleon or Jefferson, Washington and others brought the best minds of merit to give their countries best governance.

--Prof N.K.Singh former Chairman International Airports Authority of India