For An India to Turn Into Industrious Self

I had written a similar one on U.S. where I mentioned the enhanced toil in the recent past after coming to U.S. If I need to say it, before reaching U.S., the period in India was also marked by continuous activity in mission mode. Obviously, when you are so engrossed in these regular rigorous routines in continuous employment and performing consistently every week, over a period of five years, it can be termed as nothing short of hard work. Many a times, I felt a lofty example of high standard is showcased back in India to the onlooking public by this multi-year stint. I also felt this is revolutionary in the way the nation is activated, energized and stimulated by hardworking individuals like me. If this doesn’t turn into on-the-ground, practical changes in the way the nation and its residents rise to higher echelons than nothing else will. The period back in India cannot be stated as nothing short of revolutionary in its potential to uplift the nation. That is the kind of efforts put into that particular period and the hard-working standards for which everyone is the direct audience. This simple vision of mission mode work you saw during the past period will convert into concrete action in the ongoing and future years to come. This vision of what you saw and felt should propel the common citizens to reach better destinations and circumstances in their life.  

While the reactions and results from the time in India is secondary, the primary take home is the input of hard-working action. The output from this reaction mechanism should also be better. For example, when a youngster sees someone who has achieved leaps and bounds for not just five years but for more than a decade of consistent, inspiring activity there will be a definite effect sometime, somewhere. The youngster who sees it all will be a bomb waiting to implode in making a mark in his own life. Given an opportunity, the hunger which has been accumulated will turn into robust action. People like me have worked to create this well of hunger which needs a good vent in the form of an opportunity and platform. When the output at the individual level increases and when multiple individuals participate in action, the collective output of the nation will reach higher levels. That is how the nation progresses and outgrows its own self successively and iteratively.

The Prime Minister is a grave example of high standards of work ethic and rigorous routines. I already mentioned this work ethic of working on the day of his mother's demise in an earlier post. Those are the standards set by the PM in the past 9 years which are there for everyone to see. The question is - will these standards and order catch up to the rest of the nation. The nation cannot be silent spectator forever. Time will propagate these virtues through the veins of the nation contagiously. The people will become like the rulers, which is the reason why these rulers work so tirelessly. We had seen the hardworking prototype leaders working their way through to create a young nation with full of desire to excel. When there is hard work as a visible indicator and desire to emulate the same, you can say the nation is at an opportune moment to become industrious.

 

While U.S. need to become industrious to succeed its seekers, elevate the standards and become sustainable; India needs to become one for success of the homegrown population and country as a whole, set high working standards, seize the potential, seize the moment and restore the status. Thus, India needs to become a toiling nation for five reasons again 1. Success 2. Standards 3. Seize the moment 4. Seize the potential 5. Superior Status. All of these are self-explanatory and let us quickly tackle each of them.

Coming to the first, the nation needs to succeed its young and working population by giving ample opportunities and providing them a shot at success. India is a young nation with 65% or more than 900 million below 35 years. These youngsters need to achieve their goals and be content with their lives. If the rest of us are lethargic and dull, the young nation cannot succeed in their lives. It is also highly imperative that an array of opportunities needs to be available to everyone who seeks to prove their worth. The youngsters cannot vie for government jobs in the ratio of 1:100. A plethora of alternate pathways need to be brought in to curb unemployment and gainfully employ every individual. Hardwork is one of the factors to create employment opportunities. For a nation to succeed, being industrious is a virtue which cannot be overlooked.

 

The second reason talks about the standards which is already discussed earlier. In addition, a nation with 1.4 billion population needs to have a definite standard to discourage permeating substandard living. When you are American, you have a certain criteria and certain expectations to live by. The same isn’t case when an average Indian is considered. An ordinary Indian doesn’t follow any standard or expectation and generally lives as per his own wishes. The expectations cannot be forced upon but must be an inner drive or desire to live as per a high standard. When more than 50% follow a certain set of rules, the rest will also follow suit rather than living haywire.

 

The third reason is seizing the moment. This is also apparent in that the country which is on a path of evolving significant prototypes over a period of time, will also follow the examples. Hence the moment presents an opportunity and a huge vacuum to seize. We need to mend the iron when it is hot. The country has witnessed a silent revolution and a tremendous leadership at the top taking active policy decisions to benefit the multitudes. If there is any moment, it should be now after 9 long years of a PM who has the best approval ratings in the entire world. All those concerned should grab the moment, make best use of it to toil and follow the examples in sight.

 

The fourth reason is seizing the potential. This is once again true that India is a land of huge potential waiting to be tapped. The efficiency of the country is very low and there is a significant wastage of human resources. For eg. India pales in comparison to its sister state China in manufacturing and Industriousness. The output is very low for its population. Unless India ramps up its manufacturing by many fold and reach optimum potential, the country can never make the most of its population boon. A toiling India is a resounding manufacturing India as well and India needs to be manufacturing capital of the world with its huge resources. 

The fifth reason is reaching superior status. If India ever wants to become a top nation in the world, the secret lies in becoming industrious. Consider the statement on China which has become the top global player by virtue of its industrious standards. “China has emerged as a global manufacturing hub over the past few decades due to several factors, including a large and highly skilled workforce, low labor costs, favorable government policies, and a robust infrastructure.” Aren’t these factors true in case of India. When China, true to its population, accounts for a leading 28% of global manufacturing output in 2020, why can’t India achieve at least 25%. But India accounts for just 3% of global manufacturing output. A very smaller Japan accounts for 7% and U.S. bags 16%. China and U.S. are first and second largest manufacturers of the world. India needs to travel a very long distance to become industrious and provide a leading output to the world. For an India to become superior and world leader, it needs to become industrious first.

 

More than U.S., the necessity for India to become industrious is much larger. The ‘Make in India’ needs to be visible widely across the world. For all the clamor India makes, there has to be solid results to make the nation effective and efficient. The stories of our generation unfolded in India needs to succeed with high standards and the air is ripe now to tap the potential to make a leading nation. India needs to dish out the successful stories in plenty which revolve around ‘Make in India’. Our transient joy can wait, our happiness can wait, our emotions can wait when we can attempt to reach the destination which is very very far.