India 2020: And Where Do We Stand?
By Guest Blogger • Apr 11th, 2009 • Category: Politics • 40 CommentsI happened to read a review on a book by former Indian President Abdul Kalam, titled India 2020. His book examines in depth the weaknesses and the strengths of India, as a nation, and offers a vision of how India can emerge to be among the world’s first four economic powers by 2020. And look where Pakistan stands today and what intellectuals in our country are talk about in our tv shows. We are still debating on the most primitive issues such as whether our system of government is Presidential or Parliamentarian, we are still talking about the fundamental nature of our constitution, the one adopted some 36 years ago!
While our neighbors are aiming to reach for the stars, we here in Pakistan daily hear frustrating news about gangs of Hooded Taliban taking over cities like Swat and Bunair, terrorists beheading human beings, blowing up gas pipelines, power lines, and extremists flogging women on the streets. Seems like we are headed for the stone age.
May be we have something to learn from Srilanka. This democratic developing nation has had its share of problems, since gaining independence. And yet, it has successfully surmounted all the major challenges. The literacy rate in Srilanka is the highest in South Asia. While our government, which maintains one of the best and most well equipped armies in the world, has lately been shying away from using military force against terrorist who have created a state within state in Swat, the small and not too well equipped Srilankan Army recently managed to wrest control of all of its national territory from the separatist Tamil terrorists, who are far better trained and funded, as compared to the rag tag Taliban terrorists who roam around in our mountains.
Where do we stand in terms of quality of education our universities provide? None of our Pakistani universities are ranked even among the top 1000 universities of the world. Where as, more than 7 Indian universities are ranked among the top 100, and around 60 among top 500.
Just switch on tv, and during commercial breaks on BBC or CNN, you’ll watch promotional videos by India’s tourism department, depicting rich cultural heritage, breathtaking natural beauty and diverse landscape of a country, they call Incredible India. And as the commercial break ends, we hear horrifying news from Pakistan: riots, extremists agitating in cities, gangs of Ak-47 wielding Taliban Terrorists entering cities like Bunair, Terrorist destroying schools, kidnappings of foreigners, gruesome scenes of beheadings and what not! This is all too depressing for any patriotic Pakistani. Making Progress in right direction is one thing, but we are not even facing the right direction. So what to talk of making any progress at all.
The above mentioned are just a few of the numerous bitter facts; in fact there is so much more that can be written to compare our achievements with those of our neighbors.
One really feels sorry to realize that instead of progressing, we are moving backwards. After independence, we couldn’t even properly maintain the civil infrastructure and system of justice that our able British rulers bequeathed to us. Instead of expanding its writ to lawless tribal regions, our state is now losing control over areas where none could dare challenge the writ of government during the British Raj. Some times I really feel that we were better off under the British Raj. Needless to say that many here share the same view.
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News from Pakistan: riots, extremists agitating in cities, gangs of Ak-47 wielding Taliban Terrorists entering cities like Bunair, Terrorist destroying schools, kidnappings of foreigners, gruesome scenes of beheadings and what not!
Let’s call the above - Incredible Pakistan !
Congratulations to people like Imran Khan, Qazi Husain, Nawaz Sharif, and the likes e.g. these jokers Hamid Mir, Kamran Khan and Shahid Masood who shamelessly support the perpetrators of such atrocious acts against us - the Talibans!
good article hassan
Comment no 2 will be a big shock for our Indian friends.
Dear Hassan
i thank you for mentioning MY PERSONAL ROLE MODEL-former Indian President Abdul Kalam.
He is a REMARKABLE MAN.
A true example of what HUMAN DETERMINATION CAN DO.
>>His father was a FISHERMAN.
>>He worked as a NEWSPAPER VENDOR to support his education.
>>From that poor condition he became one of India’s BEST SCIENTISTS OF ALL TIMES,
>>>>Dr. Kalam was conferred with the Degree of Doctor of Science (D.Sc. Honoris Causa) by MORE THAN 30 universities/academic institutions WORLDWIDE
>>>>>>>Dr. Kalam has made significant contribution to Indian satellite and launch vehicles of ISRO and also in the missile programme of DRDO. As project Director, SLV-III, he contributed for the design, development and management of India’s first indigenous Satellite Launch Vehicle (SLV-III) to inject Rohini satellite in the near earth orbit. He was responsible for the evolution of ISRO’s launch vehicles programme and configurations. He rejoined DRDO in 1982 and conceived the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) for indigenous missiles.
>>Then he became India’s 11th President who is affectionately called “PEOPLE’S PRESIDENT”……
>>>>He is also a SCHOLAR in Tamil literature’s ……
Another important fact which makes him SPECIAL is that he achieved all this by STAYING WITHIN INDIA.
@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@
Read the following books AUTHORED BY HIM:
1>>>>Wings of Fire: An Autobiography of APJ Abdul Kalam by A.P.J Abdul Kalam, Arun Tiwari; Orient Longman, 1999
2>>>>Guiding Souls: Dialogues on the Purpose of Life by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Arun K Tiwari; Ocean Books, 2005.
3>>>>Ignited Minds: Unleashing the Power Within India by A.P.J. Abdul Kalam; Penguin Books, 2003
4>>>>Eternal Quest: Life and Times of Dr. Avul Pakir Jainulabdeen Abdul Kalam by S. Chandra; Pentagon Publishers, 2002.
“You must dream. The dreams should then transform into thoughts and thoughts into concrete action.”
“You must sweat. To become great you must dream, acquire knowledge and do hard work,”
Only thing i wanna add is plz have the RIGHT KIND of dreams.
For example, if anyone DREAMS about his/her religion will RULE THE WORLD then of course it will very quickly turn into a NIGHTMARE.
Thank you all of you for commending this essay of mine….
but let me say that it was with a very heavy heart that I typed my article, in view of the ongoing chaos in our homeland……
@Devi
That’s what I want.
Indian should go in shock.
Hahahahahahhaha
And secondly please do forgive me for some typing errors
, and a few grammatical mistakes in my essay………….It even dismays me when I get to see such mistakes in a published essay……..
By the way, I’m not so good at writing, owing to 4 years of rigorous technical studies, without much emphasis on written communication skills…….just learning to write better, and expand my limited vocabulary. Transcribing my inner thoughts on this blog is just a humble attempt towards attaining that goal……
Regards
H.A.
Dear Hassan Amin
i can understand your feeling BUT you must remember that FORCES OF EVIL becomes STRONGER only when GOOD PEOPLE DO NOTHING.
GOOD people like YOU have started doing “SOMETHING”
When i look at people LIKE YOU……it gives me hope FOR A BETTER FUTURE.
Keep up the GOOD WORK.
“”Be the change you want to see in the world.”"- Mahatma Gandhi.
@Greed able indians
I also appreciate his achievement especially the PHUSS missile of India………
…..well done kalam ……tum nay ker dia hamara kaam …………hahahahhaahhah
Check my article the “PHUSS Indian Missile” India’s Biggest achievement…………
Kalaam Pakistani Zinda baad
hahhahahahhahaha
Raza boy……..for your info THAT MISSILE HAS BEEN TESTED SUCCESSFULLY and ready for Induction in the indian armed forces.
Also for ur info……an ANTI-BALLISTIC “INTERCEPTOR” missile has also been tested successfully by India.
No Regards.
http://videos.desishock.net/542447/India-accepts-that-Pakistan’s-atomic-missile-technology-is-superior-then-India
Dr. Raza and Incredible Indian:
You two are literally beating about the bush! We Pakistanis and Indians are fundamentally the same people who share the same culture, traditions and way of life. Why talk of missiles and weapons of Mutually Assured Destruction (read M.A.D.?)
Have you guys ever been abroad? I’ve lived in the UK for a while and believe me, Pakistanis and Indians co-exist like brothers there. I had a number of sincere Indian friends who were always willing to help, regardless of the fact that I was a Pakistani. Pakistanis and Indians abroad consider themselves as part of the same community. And this is not only true in UK, but everywhere, except the subcontinent itself. People to people contacts are the best means of bringing lasting peace to the region.
Then why have our two countries been at hostile terms for the past 62 years? Because of non-democratic people like Musharraf, because of a minority of extremists on both sides of the divide. Plus there are a few international players who don’t want peace in South Asia, so that they can maintain their own hegemony in the region.
Remember 1999, when Musharraf the Kargil misadventure to sabotage the peace initiative undertaken by then Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif? The worst thing is that Musharraf didn’t even inform the Prime Minister of his misadventure. And ultimately when Nawaz Sharif tried to depose Musharraf from the post of Army Chief, he orchestrated a coup to overthrow the elected government.
There should be no doubt at all that we the people of the subcontinent have a great shared history and a great shared culture. It is believed that our Indus Valley Civilization was the one of the first civilizations on earth.In fact, the word India is derived from Indus. The same Indus river that is the lifeline of agriculture in our country. One of the first universities in the world was set up at Taxila. There is so much more.
If countries of Europe who differ so much in their language, culture, and traditions can come together to form a European Union for the sake of prosperity for their people, why can’t we start a free trade zone…..for the economic benefit of the people of Pakistan, India, Srilanka, Maldives, Nepal, and Bangladesh? After all, the subcontinent is the most blessed region in the world, in terms of natural resources, agriculture, favourable climate, hardworking and intelligent people……..
Why always talk of weapons of Mutaully Assured Destruction, when we have the potential of becoming once again the power centre of the world, just as our bless subcontinent was once a great centre of civilization and learning …..
Dear Hassan,
Everything that u said i TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU.
Yeah Indians and Pakistanis are the SAME PEOPLE.
As i said earlier, when i see PEOPLE LIKE YOU ……..i become more and more hopeful for a better future for entire South Asia.
May God bless you.
Regards.
But still,,,,,,,,,iam there as hindrance in your better future incredible…………….hahahahahahahah
Dear Hassan
Read COMMENT 14 by raza.
This guy,RAZA ONLY WANTS HATE…….and he gets JUST THAT.
Regards
CALM DOWN …CALM DOWN…..
By the way this essay was probably my last one here…….as I’ll be too much pre-occupied with my technical work in future.
Wish all of you all the best.
May GOD Almighty Bless you all!
Regards,
H.A.
Bye bye Hassan! Great future with happy endings. Regards
Hahahahahah……………….. Indians now you are alone ……………..a lone wolf……………one more good man gill man off the road ……………now just one supporter of your idealistic ideology left …………..miss India;……………….hahahahah
“kalia toe kehta thaa doe hai……………array kaha hay rai teri dooja saathie………oooooooooooooonnnnoooooooo
Lets restart ……………..Mutually Assured Destruction…….my favorites…………….hahahahahahah
Hi Dr.Raza,
Your father of Islamic Bomb had education in India in Bhopal. Our exPresident Abdul kalam is from my school in a small town of Ramnad( the most draught stricken dt in south) the Schwartz high school.He also studied in my college St.Josephs college trichy.He is the main reason i voted for BJP in last election.He is also a tamil scholar apart from being an Islamic scholar.